District pauses middle-school HVAC work after concrete spalling; structural review ordered

MSD Bluffton-Harrison told the board it has paused middle-school HVAC duct work after crews encountered concrete spalling in the ceiling beneath the pool area. District staff said the condition raised safety concerns and that they will obtain a structural review before resuming installation.

Presenter said the chiller-system work at the high school continues and that parking-lot lighting is nearly complete, with one unit outstanding and controls training planned. The district noted the concrete issue under the pool has been on a prior facility study by Barton Co Villa and may be moved up on the district’s work list.

District staff said they will meet bi-weekly to manage both middle-school and high-school HVAC projects through completion and will return to the board with recommendations following the structural review. No timetable was given for resuming the paused middle-school work.

Next steps: obtain structural engineering assessment and then present a recommended path forward to the board.