Unavailable supplies could delay construction projects in Hillsborough County (Fla.) district

As they await income projections from the state of Florida, Hillsborough County School District leaders are sweating some details in important construction projects.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that supplies are one area of concern as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts commerce around the nation.

Sumner High School, now under construction in the Riverview area, is supposed to get auditorium seats from Michigan, where the governor has shut down manufacturing.

Construction managers also are waiting for flooring materials for Sumner and are hoping they will arrive in time for the school’s August opening.

Supplies also could be an issue as the school system works to replace air conditioners. Trane, one of nation’s major air conditioning manufacturers, informed the district in writing that it is experiencing delays of 30 days or more.

Other suppliers also are hinting at delays. To be safe, the district is not removing any existing equipment until it has verification that new machines have arrived.

Sixteen new air conditioning jobs are planned this summer, along with followup work on five from 2019. Deputy Superintendent Chris Farkas says that because buildings are closed for the remainder of the school year, workers can actually get a four-week jump on some projects.

Depending on sales tax revenue, the district might have to pare back next summer’s 20 air conditioning projects to 10 or 15.

The bigger picture concerns state funding for education as a whole.

Superintendent Addison Davis says he is bracing for a 10% to 15% cut in state funding.

Back at Sumner, Farkas and his team are holding out hope that the flooring arrives on time.

As for the auditorium seats, they might go with another vendor.