All Manila School Board members were present for a special meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 29, as Superintendent Pam Castor opened bid packages for air conditioning units and duct work for the gymnasium.
Castor said she asked for bids just to replace the two units; an alternate adding duct work; and a second alternate installing larger units and duct work.
Kent Moore, maintenance supervisor for the school, said he spoke to an engineer and was told if the unit was replaced as is, it would probably cool the gym to 72 degrees but if it was a packed house, it would not go that low.
Moore said, "If you stay where we are, it will need the duct work and anything over the 20 ton units will need additional wiring."
Three bids, RGB, D&L and Riverbend, were opened and reviewed.
After a discussion on the work needed, Board member Paul Hicks said, “If we decide to have it done, we want it to work well.”
The board voted to accept the low bid of $121,485 submitted by D&L, for two 25 ton units and duct work, pending verification of all information.
The vote was 6-1 with Terry Carr casting the no vote.
Carr said he was not sure they were comparing apples to apples.