Bids Due On 3 Van Buren School Projects Over Next Month

Van Buren County Schools Director Jared Copeland said bids on three school upgrade projects should arrive within a month.

The project list includes new boiler equipment for Spencer Elementary. Copeland said the old boiler has been patched at least ten times due to performance issues.

“What they’re going to replace it with are three smaller units that are redundant,” Copeland said. “And so they’re supposed to be energy efficient with two, if one goes down, the other two will pick up the slack. So we shouldn’t have as much of a problem.”

Bids are also coming for new gym flooring at Spencer Elementary. Copeland said the gym will get wooden flooring instead of the rubber tile it had before.

Copeland said the final project will upgrade HVAC systems at Van Buren County High School. Copeland said the air conditioning units in the high school will be moved away from wood flooring to a locker room area near the gym to reduce damage from leaking.

“Brand new units in a different place, coming out of the wall,” Copeland said.

Copeland said they hope to have bids for all of the projects within a month. He said the architect fees for the projects totaled some $25,000.

“We got to get this process going because we have to obligate these ESSER funds by September and be expended by December of this year,” Copeland said.