Administration at Albert Lea Area Schools is working on the steps necessary to upgrade mechanical systems at the district’s older schools.

Though the project has an anticipated budget of almost $15 million, Lori Volz, district finance director, said she doesn’t anticipate more than a 5 percent increase on the total district levy in the fall.

“It’s a pretty low percentage impact given the magnitude of the project,” Volz said.

The bulk of the money for the project, about $13.8 million, would be in the form of an alternative facilities bond, which the district could get if the project is approved as a health and safety project by the Minnesota Department of Education. Volz said she’s looking for different programs that would offer low interest or other benefits for the district.

“There are different things out there that are available,” Volz said.

Currently administration is completing the tests necessary before submitting an application to the Minnesota Department of Education. Volz is hopeful that approval would come sometime in June, at which time the board would have to approve moving forward with the project. Then bids for three separate projects would be presented to the board.

The entire mechanical systems upgrade would be most likely split into three summers’ worth of work. If the project is approved, construction would begin in the summer of 2012 and continue in the summer months of 2013 and 2014.

Eric Hudspith, director of facilities for the district, said six of the district’s buildings are all about the same age. All have original heating and ventilation, which he said are past their normal life expectancy. He credits maintenance staff for keeping the systems working this long but is worried that the systems could fail at any time.

“It no longer makes financial sense to maintain the equipment,” Hudspith said. “We’re putting a great deal of pressure on the current equipment.”

Hudspith worked with consultants who did a complete survey of the buildings in August. The buildings that would need upgrades are Hawthorne, Sibley, Halverson and Lakeview elementaries, Brookside Education Center and Southwest Middle School.

Hudspith said the older boilers in the district have less than five years left before major repair or replacement is needed. He said schools are being used for different purposes, which is taking a toll on the ventilation and heating systems.

“The schools are being used more and for more things,” Hudspith said.

The district has been upgrading certain things in some of the buildings, and Hudspith said they would capitalize on those other projects. He’s also looking forward to more control of the heating systems.

“Efficiency will be key,” Hudspith said. “We can program the system based on usage.”

While the project has a hefty price tag, Hudspith said it’s need-based and that the district will have to upgrade these systems in the near future anyway. He hopes planning it this far in advance will make the project more feasible. Superintendent Mike Funk is hopeful the project is approved as well.

“Any time you have any sort of home or business that’s that old, you’re eventually going to have to update the heating system,” Funk said.