The Albert Lea school board heard a proposal for an upgrade of mechanical systems in the district’s older schools Monday night.

Eric Hudspith, director of facilities and transportation, and Lori Volz, director of finance and operations, presented to the board the condition of some of the district’s older buildings. Volz urged the board to move forward with the proposal, which has an anticipated budget of almost $15 million.

“We could be without operation at Hawthorne at any time,” Volz said to the board.

Recently Hudspith hired consultants to look at the facilities in heating and air quality in some of the district’s older schools. Hudspith said regular maintenance has been increasing and the facilities are currently doing things they weren’t designed to do.

“We want to reduce the risk of buildings having challenges all at once,” Hudspith said.

In a worst-case scenario heating and air quality systems could fail at any time, and if multiple schools’ systems failed at the same time the district wouldn’t be able to fix it immediately. For now the plan will go on to the next phase, which will include approval paperwork and possible acquisition of a facilities bond of almost $14 million.

Volz said the proposal would affect the levy, and she would be looking for the lowest interest rates and try to find options that affect the levy the least. Construction would tentatively be in the summer months of 2012, 2013 and 2014.

“We really don’t have a choice,” Volz said. “We need to move ahead.”

The board will be involved again during construction bids and levy approval.

The board also heard from Superintendent Mike Funk. He shared his thoughts about continuing an alternative teacher-pay option commonly referred to as Q-Comp. It’s an incentive-based program that teachers in the district are using.

The district receives almost $600,000 in state aid and almost $300,000 local dollars for the program. Teachers meet weekly in professional learning committees and are paid a stipend, of which 10 percent is based on meeting building goals.

Funk led the board in looking at slides with data comparing district and state reading and math scores for several grade levels. Funk said he will be reviewing the program, and it may need to be upgraded.

“We should have seen some numbers above the state average, and I don’t see where we’re getting the benefit of the money,” Bill Leland, board chairman, said.

Funk said he wasn’t sure he wanted the program to go away as it funds several positions in the district, but that it might need to be reevaluated with more district input.

“I’d like to get an opportunity to rework it and try that,” Funk said.

Funk also wanted to update the board on the fire that happened at Lakeview Elementary School Thursday evening. He said he knew all classes met Monday except a special ed class of 11 children who couldn’t meet because their classroom had water damage. He expected them to be in school today. He also said he had no new information from officials. He commended the custodians and the teachers for their work after the fire.

In other action, the school board:

• Approved board positions making Bill Leland chairman, Sally Ehrhardt vice chairwoman, Jill Marin clerk and Linda Laurie treasurer.

• Named school board members to various committees and established school board meeting and workshop dates for the next school year.

• Approved a support staff contract that will freeze their pay for three years.

• Approved an application to the Minnesota State High School League asking for $5,000 to defray transportation costs.

• Saw policies for first reading from Mary Williams, director of curriculum. Funk said she will be presenting the board with multiple policies at most meetings as she reviews all policies to update or remove policies as needed.