Johnston Regional Education Center Update

We’d like to again provide you with an update on the status of our agency facility in Johnston.

As you may recall, in January 2009 the Heartland Board of Directors passed a resolution allowing for improvements to be made to the Johnston 6500 Office (Johnston Regional Education Center). Those safety and health improvements included new carpeting, updated restrooms and a new heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system. Improvements were also to be made to the building to make services more accessible to clients and to align the building with the definitions of the new Regional Education Center model, including more space for professional development classes. Click here to see the proposed layout of the building.

This winter the Johnston REC Planning Committee submitted its layout recommendations to the REC Committee and Executive Council for approval. The recommendations were accepted and remodeling plans and specifications were presented for approval to the Board at its June 2010 meeting. At that meeting the Board requested that a study be done to determine the feasibility of installing a geothermal heating and cooling system at the Johnston REC instead of a new conventional system. A study was completed and presented at the July board meeting. The study results indicate that the geothermal system has significant cost savings over a 25-year life cycle than conventional heating and cooling systems. Unfortunately, the budget parameters of the 6500 capital project preclude the installation of a geothermal system during Phase I.

Taking into consideration the study findings, the Board approved a modification to the original Phase I plans and specifications to keep the building’s current boiler system, improve ductwork and a return air system to upgrade the existing HVAC system. These improvements will increase efficiency and comfort levels for staff until a geothermal system is installed during Phase II of remodeling.

The Board passed a resolution to move forward with Phase I of the remodeling project to improve safety and healthy concerns and enhance service delivery. The resolution calls for a tentative start date of Phase II remodeling to be in the summer of 2014 when safety and health concerns will be completed, the building layout will be further improved and a geothermal system will be a primary project.

The tentative start date for Phase I construction has been pushed back due to the time needed to complete the geothermal study. Construction is now slated to begin in October 2010 and be completed in February 2011. The budget for Phase I remodeling is still set at $1.5 million and will be funded through a lease purchase agreement.

Thank you for your patience as we’ve moved through the process to improve the Johnston REC. If you have any questions, please contact Steve Prall at ext. 14423 or spall@aea11.k12.ia.us.