The Wake County (North Carolina) school district needs $140 million to replace aging and malfunctioning HVAC systems that have caused some campuses to send students home early or close for the day.
The Raleigh News & Observer reports that early dismissals are occurring as school administrators deal with a severe shortage of technicians to maintain the HVAC equipment.
Maintenance workers say there’s only so much they can do given their limited resources.
The Wake County district has 5,600 pieces of HVAC equipment at more than 200 facilities. Half of the 5,800 emergency work orders over the past 12 months have been related to HVAC problems.
The district has only eight of the 15 HVAC technician positions filled. Both of the specialized chiller technician positions are vacant. The district now heavily relies on contractors to do much of the HVAC work.
Board members have asked about making salaries more competitive. Higher pay is under consideration, but Superintendent Robert Taylor warns that will only go so far.
“If we get into a bidding war with private industry, we’re going to lose every time,” Taylor says.
The district's HVAC needs are estimated to be $140 million; it now spends $22.5 million a year on major HVAC repairs.
