The Audubon School District’s Board of Education held a special, brief session early this (Wednesday) morning, to act on a “Resolution Ordering an Election on the Issuance of $7.5-million [in] General Obligation Bonds.” School District Superintendent Eric Trager said the Board held the meeting because the district has to get the Resolution to the County Auditor by this Friday. Trager explained the next steps in the process to upgrade the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Cooling) system at the Audubon High School, and the related bond-issuance: He says officials will be spending a lot of time out and about in the community to explain what the district plans to do with the funds [if approved], why it’s important, and what the tax impact will be.

Construction on the original building began in 1962, with the first classes held during the 1964-’65 School year. Trager says the boiler system is original to the Audubon High School building. He says the system has obviously been maintained and repaired over the past 55+ years. One of the two boilers is original to the building, the other was replaced about 20-years ago. Six different HVAC systems are in operation in the building. Trager says “They don’t always play well together, so that’s one of the things we want to do…is to increase our efficiency make sure that everything works as it should.” The useful life of a boiler, he says, is about 30-years.

Trager say the timeline calls for a Special Election on the bond-issuance to be held March 3rd. District patrons will vote at the Agri-Hall in Audubon from Noon until 8-p.m., on March 3rd. If the bond passes, design and engineering work will take place this Summer and Fall, with the hope that they can go out for bids later this Fall or early Winter, so they can be in a competitive bid market. Construction would begin in the Summer of 2021.

Superintendent Trager says if you have questions about the bond vote, call, or look on the District’s website for the dates and times of upcoming community meetings on the matter.