These new chillers were placed atop Sullivan Heights Middle School, part of a more than $1 million project to replace equipment at the end of its useful life, according to Sullivan County school system maintenance manager Charlie Hubbard. They are part of capital projects funded by more than $16 million in federal ESSER 3.0 funding.
These new chillers were placed atop Sullivan Heights Middle School, replacing old chillers at the end of their useful life, according to Sullivan County school system maintenance manager Charlie Hubbard. They are just more than a$1 million part of capital projects funded by more than $16 million in federal ESSER 3.0 funding.
This is a new Sullivan East High School science lab renovation, funded from federal ESSER 3.0 funding. At $786 for paint, it was the smallest line item in the federal Elementary and Secondary Schools Relief funds spent by Sullivan County Schools.
This is a new Sullivan East High School science lab renovation, funded from federal ESSER 3.0 funding. At $786, paint for the project was the smallest line item in the federal Elementary and Secondary Schools Relief funds spent by Sullivan County Schools.
These new chillers were placed atop Sullivan Heights Middle School, part of a more than $1 million project to replace equipment at the end of its useful life, according to Sullivan County school system maintenance manager Charlie Hubbard. They are part of capital projects funded by more than $16 million in federal ESSER 3.0 funding.
These new chillers were placed atop Sullivan Heights Middle School, replacing old chillers at the end of their useful life, according to Sullivan County school system maintenance manager Charlie Hubbard. They are just more than a$1 million part of capital projects funded by more than $16 million in federal ESSER 3.0 funding.
This is a new Sullivan East High School science lab renovation, funded from federal ESSER 3.0 funding. At $786 for paint, it was the smallest line item in the federal Elementary and Secondary Schools Relief funds spent by Sullivan County Schools.
This is a new Sullivan East High School science lab renovation, funded from federal ESSER 3.0 funding. At $786, paint for the project was the smallest line item in the federal Elementary and Secondary Schools Relief funds spent by Sullivan County Schools.
BLOUNTVILLE — Sullivan County Schools is getting the last of its projects funded by COVID-19 relief money finished as the post-pandemic funding program is nearing the end of its life.
But county school officials said the most of the millions of dollars that went to project will benefit the lives of current and future county students, teachers, staff and schools for decades.
All told ESSER 2.0 and 3.0, short for the federal Elementary and Secondary Schools Relief fund, gave the school system more than $25 million in funding, more than $9 million from ESSER 2.0 and more than $16 million for ESSER 3.0.
All the 2.0 money has been spent, and the 3.0 money must be used for things that must be started by September, although Assistant Superintendent Angie Buckles said the deadline for finishing those projects has been extended a bit.
Of the money, most all went or is going to capital improvements or related expenses, such as architect fees, except for a little more than $2 million in ESSER 2.0 funding that went to one-time employee bonuses, as allowed by the federal program to in effect reward employees who worked through the COVID-19 pandemic that shuttered in-person learning. ESSER 3.0 funds also include more than $390,000 for textbooks.
In addition, more than $22,000 in 2.0 money went to nursing, and almost $42,000 to summer camp transportation, while other 2.0 money included more than $580,000 for math and science textbooks.
HVAC AND ROOFING PROJECTS ABOUND
Heat, ventilation and air conditioning, commonly known as HVAC, took up much of the ESSER spending, with the largest single project the Sullivan Central Middle HVAC project costing $7.208 million from 3.0 funds in addition to $436,915.95 in 2.0 money spent on engineering fees and state permits. Another $16,350 in engineering and architect fees are to come out of 3.0 money.
Charlie Hubbard, maintenance manager and overseer of ESSER projects for Sullivan County Schools, talks about more than $16 million in ESSER 3.0 HVAC, roofing and other projects done or underway in the school system, including a more than $7 million project at Sullivan Central Middle School. ESSER stands for Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief program, which came from the federal government after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Charlie Hubbard, who heads maintenance and custodial services and is overseeing the ESSER capital projects, said the project includes no contingency funding but has progressed well.
Hubbard said the Central building in Blountville, built at Sullivan Central High School that opened in 1968, was long overdue for an HVAC replacement.
The efficiency of the new equipment also will save money in utility bills and help ensure comfortable temperatures inside year round.
Hubbard said the Central HVAC project, listed as 90% complete in a document Buckles provided to the board during its March 7 work session, is actually ahead of schedule but is awaiting the arrival of a new switchgear, which provides power to the vast majority of the building and dates back to the times of President Lyndon B. Johnson.
The company providing the switchgear has repeatedly delayed its shipping date, most recently to April, and Hubbard said the contractor and subcontractors may have to leave the work site and come back in the late spring summer to finish hooking up the HVAC equipment to the new switchgear.
Other HVAC projects include $1.6 million for Bluff City Elementary, almost $2.5 million for Indian Springs Elementary and just more than $702,000 for chiller units at Sullivan Heights Middle, in the former Sullivan South High building.
Also, Rock Springs Elementary is getting $317,000 in HVAC work from ESSER 3.0 fund.
Among ESSER 2.0-funded projects, roofing projects included the Sullivan East vocational area, part of Indian Springs Elementary and roofing at Miller Perry, Bluff City Emmett, Ketron and Mary Hughes elementary schools.
Among the most expensive were the Miller Perry project, costing more than $628,000, the East project at more than $482,000 and Mary Hughes at more than $408,000.
OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS
A new West Ridge High multipurpose room, costing almost $1.03 million, is 95% complete.
However, plans remain uncertain about the proposed Sullivan Gardens Elementary walkway, and the Sullivan Heights track renovation came in higher than the estimated $267,670, including bids of $322,768 for the base with alternates totaling more than $170,000.
In addition, the Sullivan Heights track and tennis court renovations came in higher than estimates.
“There’s just not enough funds to do all three,” Director of Schools Chuck Carter said at the work session.
Also, the Mary Hughes Elementary HVAC project has been abandoned for the time being because of costs exceeding the estimate and the inability of the two bidders to finish the project in time to meet ESSER 3.0 deadlines.
Money for that will have to come from non-ESSER sources, which school board members said would be difficult since the system no longer has a County Commission-funded renovation and maintenance among of $1.6 million each year.
As an aside, the projected $391,765.88 to replace the cracked boiler at Mary Hughes, needed to heat the building by the time heating season returns the fall, is an ESSER 3.0 project listed as 5% complete. Or the board could pursue an HVAC system and LED lights that would save long-term on energy bills but would require non-ESSER money.
Hubbard said the price may fall if the new boiler can come in through a doorway instead of having to deconstruct and reconstruct part of the building.
In addition, Carter said Miller Perry, which has window air conditioners like Mary Hughes, will need HVAC funding soon.
Board member Randall Jones asked about fixing the parking lot at Central Heights Elementary, but Hubbard and Buckles said no ESSER money is left for that and other needs across the school system.
On a bright spot, Hubbard in answering a question from board member Paul Robinson said the new outdoor sports concessions building at Ketron Elementary is all but done and awaiting a power pole installation by American Electric Power.
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