Putnam Schools exploring options to replace aging HVAC control systems at six schools throughout the county.
Deputy Director of Schools Tim Martin said these systems monitor heating and air units and keep them running efficiently like the computer system in a car. Martin said the company behind one of these programs went out of business so the systems cannot be upgraded at the schools using that program.
“We don’t feel like we’re in an emergency situation right now but we don’t want to get in an emergency situation,” Martin said. “There are already things happening at Monterey High School that we should be able to fix from the office but that we can’t and we have to go on site in order to fix them.”
Martin said the upgrades for Monterey will cost some $32,000 for new software and another $10,000 for hardware. Martin said the district wants to replace the old systems before they go down entirely and negatively affect the classrooms at each school.
“What I’m told is that would be the cheapest school for me to upgrade,” Martin said. “All the other schools would require more hardware in order to make the upgrades so I really don’t have an idea other than it would be more than $42,000.”
The schools that need a new system are Burks, Cane Creek, Cornerstone, and Sycamore Elementary Schools, as well as Upperman and Monterey High Schools. Martin said he needs to determine whether he needs to take bids or put out a request for proposal to learn what the district’s options are.
“Hopefully I can get that information within a month’s time but then I’ll have to ask (for) the board’s permission at the next board meeting and then if the board gives permission then we’ll have to go through the bidding process or whatever we do,” Martin said. “So we’re talking at least two to three more months.”
Martin said the district would like to equip Upperman and Monterey High Schools with the program used at Cookeville High called Automated Logic. Martin said the smaller schools may end up with a system called Pelican in order to save money.
“It will do most of the things that Automated Logic will do for about forty percent less in cost,” Martin said. “But it’s just not up to operating one of our larger schools.”
