HARLINGEN – It’s hemorrhaging.
The air-conditioning system at Harlingen High School has some serious wounds. Rather than just stick Band-Aids on them, the Harlingen school district will soon begin a major renovation.
The Harlingen school board awarded a contract in November to Central Air and Heating Services of Harlingen.
The $3.1 million contract will renovate or replace a system which is about 20 years old.
“We are going to be replacing all of the units of classroom wings 1-8, science rooms, administration building and gymnasium as well as the dressing room areas,” said Oscar Tapia, assistant superintendent for district operations.
The district is paying for the system with extra money accrued through the recent 10-cent property tax increase. Voters narrowly approved the tax increase through the Tax Ratification Election last year.
Tapia said the contractors are currently ordering the materials and will begin work right after the holidays.
“We’re going to meet with the school principal because a lot of this work is going to happen around classrooms that are being used, so we need to work out a plan with the principal,” Tapia said.
Some of the logistics to be worked out include possibly moving students into other classroom and doubling up with another teacher.
“We are going to be repairing some chill water lines, replacing air handling units that are inside the classrooms, redoing some of the duct work, replacing thermostats,” Tapia said.
“All this has to happen with the schedule we’re working out with the school.”
A chiller removes heat from a liquid.
Tapia said work is expected to begin in January and be completed by May.
“We’ll prioritize which areas need the work first, which areas are the worst and then we’ll move on until we finish,” he said. “By May we will have worked on the worst ones, the worst units we’re having problems with that shut down.”
Other TRE-funded upgrades are occurring at Travis, Zavala, Lamar, Milam, and Bowie Elementary Schools along with Early College High School.
