The Manatee County School Board’s Oct. 27 agenda lists the next contract steps for Lakewood Ranch High School’s HVAC renovation, a project intended to replace aging equipment after years of mold concerns.

The listed actions would authorize negotiations for architectural and engineering services and construction-management services. Those steps are separate from awarding a final construction contract or approving a final price.

The district’s meeting page listed the Oct. 27 session as in progress when checked. The outcome of the HVAC items has not been confirmed.

Work is being phased

The project includes underground supply lines and above-ground equipment and ductwork. In July, district Construction Services Director Reginald Goff described approximately $6 million for underground work and another $30 million allotted for above-ground work, according to the Business Observer.

Those figures describe the phases discussed in the July report; they are not a new $36 million contract award. Underground work was already underway at the time, while design was still needed for the HVAC system.

Goff said design would take about four months after architects and engineers were selected. The district’s targets, as reported in July, were fall 2027 for underground work and fall 2028 for the above-ground work. An updated completion schedule has not been confirmed.

Mold concerns preceded overhaul

The Business Observer reported 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.

The publication reported that an initial inspection found mold but that results from more than 120 samples indicated indoor levels were lower than outdoor levels. Those findings describe that inspection, rather than current conditions throughout the campus.

The Oct. 27 agenda provides a contract-process follow-up to the HVAC work previously described. Families can check the board agenda and subsequent meeting records for confirmed actions.