Lakewood Ranch High School's long-awaited HVAC renovation appeared as a new-business item on the School Board of Manatee County's Oct. 27 meeting agenda.

The item would authorize the district to negotiate architect and engineering services and construction management at-risk services for the project. Official minutes from the meeting had not been published as of Oct. 29, so the vote outcome has not been confirmed.

If approved, the authorization would move the district toward selecting the firms that will design the new system. The step is separate from awarding a final construction contract or approving a final price, as we reported Oct. 27.

Years of mold concerns

The project follows years of air-quality problems at the school. The Business Observer reported in July that a professional cleanup costing approximately $1.6 million was completed in March after students, parents and teachers raised concerns about mold. The school had also closed a building because of visible mold in 2017.

An initial inspection found mold was present, but mold levels in more than 120 samples were lower indoors than outdoors.

Two-phase project

Reginald Goff, the district's Construction Services director, described the renovation in two phases in July. Underground supply lines would cost about $6 million. Another $30 million was allotted for above-ground equipment and ductwork.

Underground work had already begun at that time. The HVAC system still needed a design. Goff said selecting architects and engineers would be followed by about four months of design work.

The district's targets as of July were fall 2027 for underground work and fall 2028 for the above-ground portion. An updated completion schedule has not been confirmed.

Other items on the agenda

The Oct. 27 agenda also included a consent item for a $950,442.50 Unified School Improvement Grant. A separate new-business item listed the same A&E and construction management negotiations for a Bayshore High School HVAC renovation and Career and Technical Education addition. Whether those items were approved has not been confirmed in published minutes.

Board member Kennedy was listed to read the purpose statement at the meeting, which was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Walter Miller School Support Center.