Manhattan School Board Approves Summer Roofing Contract, Prepares for Lighting and HVAC Upgrades

Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education Meeting | April 29, 2026

Article Summary: The Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education unanimously approved a summer roofing repair contract for three of its school buildings and outlined an extensive capital projects schedule. The work includes roofing, seal coating, Phase 2 LED lighting upgrades, and preparation for a major HVAC overhaul at Anna McDonald and Manhattan Intermediate School.

Capital Projects Key Points:

• Roofing repairs will span from June 9 to August 12 across Wilson Creek, Anna McDonald, and MIS.

• The district added a $50,000 to $60,000 shingle replacement at Wilson Creek based on architectural audits.

• The modular classrooms at Wilson Creek will be removed the week of June 20.

• A $19,000 seal coating project is slated for Wilson Creek in late July.

The Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education on Tuesday, April 29, 2026, unanimously approved an independent contractor agreement to execute comprehensive roof repairs across Wilson Creek Elementary, Anna McDonald School, and Manhattan Intermediate School (MIS).

The roofing project, coordinated between STR Partners and Anthony Roofing, is scheduled to commence on June 9, the first week after students are dismissed for the summer. Crews will start at Wilson Creek, move to Anna McDonald, and finish at MIS, dedicating roughly three to four weeks to each building. The target completion date is August 12, roughly a week before the new school year begins.

Administrators confirmed that the approved contract includes an added scope of work for Wilson Creek. Based on a 10-year facility audit conducted by STR, the district opted to replace the building’s shingles for an estimated $50,000 to $60,000 while crews are already mobilized on-site.

“Considering we’re doing everything else, it would be kind of silly to come back and do that,” Board President John Burke said before the 5-0 roll call vote.

The roofing contract is just one piece of a packed summer capital improvement schedule. District facilities staff updated the Board on several imminent upgrades, including a $19,000 seal coating project at Wilson Creek scheduled for the week of July 20, which will require subsequent Board approval due to the bidding threshold.

Inside Wilson Creek, district custodians are currently working to paint classrooms for the first time in 20 years. Priority is being given to the rooms designated for the Preschool for All (PFA) program. The PFA classes will be moving out of the temporary modular classrooms, which are scheduled to be physically removed from the campus the week of June 20.

The Board also reviewed plans to stagger Phase 2 of the district’s lighting upgrades to avoid triggering legal bidding thresholds. The district plans to approve lighting for MIS in May, Anna McDonald in June, and break Wilson Creek’s lighting into two parts spanning July and August. Administrators noted Phase 3 will likely target the district’s dim bathroom spaces.

Looking ahead, the district is preparing for its most expensive upcoming capital project: a full HVAC replacement at Anna McDonald and MIS. STR Partners and 2010 Engineering are currently developing the scope of work based on a recent facility walkthrough.

When Board Member Erica Aultz asked what season HVAC repairs generally occur, staff confirmed the work is strictly relegated to the summer months due to the highly intrusive nature of ripping out unit ventilators and potentially updating the boiler systems. The district expects to put the HVAC project out to bid in the fall to lock in pricing for next year.