HVAC upgrade at Bethel, Conn., high school would cost about $9 million

The HVAC system at Bethel High School in Bethel, Conn., needs major upgrades, which could cost the district about $9 million. 

The system, which was not updated when the school was renovated from 2007 to 2009, has posed problems for several years, reports The News-Times. 

The preliminary cost estimate for the needed improvements is more than $9 million--significantly higher than an initial estimate from an engineering consultant.

About $1.5 million in Covid relief funds has been allocated to update the high school’s HVAC system — $700,000 from the school district and $855,000 from the town. The district is seeking more funding through the state HVAC Indoor Air Quality Grants for Public Schools program.

Freezing temperatures in January 2018 caused the heating and air conditioning unit in the school’s gym, as well as other systems across campus, to fail — forcing the school to move some classes and install temporary heating systems until permanent repairs could be made.