Alternative Facilities Bonds will be Used to Improve Air Quality at Simley and Hilltop

Independent School District 199 sold $6,690,000 in general obligation alternative facilities bonds on Monday, January 24, 2011.

Proceeds from the bonds will be used to update Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment at Simley High School and Hilltop Elementary School.

The district's HVAC replacement project will take place in two phases. Phase 1 will occur during the summer of 2011; phase 2 work will take place during the summer of 2012. The phasing of work will assist in minimizing disruption to classroom activities.

Phase 1 consists of: Updating HVAC systems in the older portion of Hilltop Elementary School and updating Simley High School's HVAC systems in the main classroom area - the portion of the building built in 1971.

Phase 2 consists of: Updating the HVAC systems in Simley High School's auditorium, lobby, main gym, choir and band rooms, and the wrestling room.

Ceilings and duct work will be removed and replaced to optimize indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. Lighting will also be replaced with more energy efficient sources. The new HVAC systems will bring the buildings up to current code requirements. New air handing units (AHUs) will perform six air exchanges per hour, increasing the quality of air within the schools. Increased air quality will create a healthy, comfortable learning environment that will benefit students.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, improving IAQ can:

reduce absenteeism,
improve student and staff concentration,
improve student productivity and performance,
decrease IAQ-related health risks from exposure to indoor pollutants,
reduce environmental triggers of asthma,
and reduce respiratory illness.

The district plans to ready the buildings for the contractors the day after graduation to ensure that the contractor can begin the required work on time.

Architects planning the project stated that the HVAC systems that will be installed have an estimated lifespan of 40 years.

Taxpayers will see a minimal increase in their overall 2011 education taxes. A homeowner with a house valued at $225,000 will pay less than a dollar per month more in taxes than they did in 2010.

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