Board approves above‑ground fluid cooler fix for Eisenhower geothermal system
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Summary
The board approved purchase of above‑ground fluid coolers to address cooling issues in Eisenhower High School's geothermal loop. District CFO said the state Health Life Safety office denied a full new field solution but would approve it; the district chose a less expensive above‑ground cooler that came in well below an $800,000 ballpark.
The Decatur Public Schools Board of Education on June 24 approved a project to install above‑ground fluid coolers to address cooling problems in Eisenhower High School’s geothermal loop.
Chief Financial Officer Dr. Mike Curry explained both high schools use geothermal systems and that Eisenhower’s loop is underperforming. “It could be a design flaw…or it could also have something to do with the fact that we haven't had some really cold winters,” he said. The ground is not cooling the circulating water sufficiently in the loop, reducing the system’s effectiveness.
Dr. Curry said district staff pursued a Health Life Safety (state) review; the state would approve a whole new geothermal field but denied the proposed Health Life Safety route at the state level for a full field replacement because of cost. Instead, the district is pursuing an above‑ground cooler to reduce the temperature of the water before it returns to the loop. Dr. Curry said the district had previously ballparked a full‑field replacement at about $800,000, and the solution approved June 24 came in substantially lower than that ballpark.
Board members voted to approve the purchase; the motion carried 7–0. District staff said the above‑ground machines should restore adequate cooling while avoiding the far higher cost of replacing the below‑ground field.