The Opportunity
The Hickman Mills School District has been challenged with maintaining State accreditation and educational success. The new leadership had an aggressive plan to become fully accredited and along with other solutions, the Ervin Early Childhood Center was a key part of this plan. Getting kids into an educational environment early is key to setting the foundation for interest and success in learning and life. This effort provided value in the Hickman Mills school district and played a role in re-establishing the district’s full accreditation.
The Hickman Mills School District was determined to resolve challenges presented by limited funding resources, rising utility costs, old equipment, and an aggressive construction completion schedule for Ervin Early Childhood Center. Previously closed down as a Junior High School, the District wanted to bring it back into use to meet the needs of a Preschool. The primary objectives were to collaborate on the best facility solutions with consideration of educational needs, design elements, implementation cost, operational expense, and constructability.
The Technical Solution
Our success really starts with the right work being done in the consulting phase and carried through the construction phase and into the performance phase. Through our facility auditing and design, we identified the type of upgrades that need to take place. Some of these upgrades included lighting and lighting controls, heating and cooling mechanical systems (air handlers, boilers and chillers), a new temperature control system, electrical upgrades, sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems. The district also completed other improvements such as asbestos remediation, bathroom improvements, demolition work and new carpet and paint. Together these improvements provided a completely renovated building to meet the educational needs of their preschool program.
The Financial Solution
Navitas to help Hickman Mills School District implement an energy program that reduced energy usage, energy costs, and related operational expenses, which enabled these funds to be redirected to pay for the facility improvements. In addition, The school district obtained lease purchase certificates of participation, which are paid for with energy and operational savings over 15 years. Together these funding sources provided significant infrastructure improvements and modernization of older, inefficient equipment and systems.
