The South Barber Board of Education held a special meeting last Wednesday to further discuss details of a plan for needed physical improvements primarily at the high school building.

The meeting lasted near two hours as members questioned many details, such as concern about possible hidden costs or running into abatement issues, regarding the proposed project by P1 Group of Wichita. After lengthy discussion, the board formulated questions to ask of P1 representative Dana Dunn in a conference call later in the meeting.

All members attended the meeting, including Steve Allen, Mariah Doherty, Deb Helfrich, Dooli Rugg, Melissa Simpson, Mark Pollock and Mike Miller. Superintendent Dr. Andi Williams sat at the board table along with Technology Director Luke MacKinney.

Superintendent Williams mentioned a scaled back version of the four-phase plan that can be done separately. “Anything we don't do is subject to inflation,” she said.

The superintendent said she received financial options from several lenders which the board discussed.

Most everyone agrees it's imperative to fix a gas line at the high school for an estimated $125,000. “There is corrosion on the piping and it needs replaced before it's not safe, so we want to be proactive about that,” Williams said.

Replacing crumbling plumbing at the elementary building is also a top priority.

HVAC units need replaced, but is not urgent. Pollock mentioned air flow issues, saying “something is wrong somewhere” and “The plenum is filthy.” The plenum is a separate space provided for air circulation for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning and typically provided in the space between the structural ceiling and a drop-down ceiling.

Allen said, “Our violation is we're not recirculating the air. We're not bringing in any fresh air.” Code compliance is an important factor.

“Much of what we have is not compliant,” Williams said.

Several board members expressed concern if P1 has been thorough enough in going over the building. “I'm concerned P1 didn't check in some of the walls to know what we're facing,” Allen said. There's concern of running into abatement issues.

Doherty voiced concern of spending now on a $2 million project. “Do we even want to do this project at all?”

Rugg said of the $2 million, 15-year project, “What else will come up?”

Longtime board member Helfrich said she remembers when the bond issues were voted down and that brought realization boards would have to start making some improvements to the buildings.

Allen said, “I am against patching anything together. If we want to do this and spend $2 million, we want to do it right.” He favors doing some improvements this summer.

The board dialed P1 rep Dunn and asked six main questions regarding: Exclusions that might cost USD 255 money; Abatement issues; Permits (city permits); Overtime (Who pays for it if overtime happens?); How is a completion date determined; HVAC and air duct systems details.

Dunn answered some, but not all of the questions, then found the answers and answered in a second phone call. Some of the answers left the board members not completely satisfied. For example, the district wouldn't have overtime unless ….

After much discussion, Miller suggested the board get bids on projects like the gas line so they will have a more accurate feel for the cost. Williams said she'll get feelers, not bids or quotes so the board won't be locked in to any particular one at this point.

Board members agreed it's good to see more figures on cost of these improvements before taking action. The board plans to address this at their regular monthly meeting March 13.