North Central heat, air systems receive upgrades

Students and staff at North Central High School will be breathing a little easier when they return in the fall.

Crews are in the process of gutting the heating, air condition and ventilation systems at the Spokane high school this summer, and replacing them with more efficient systems.

The $4.8 million project is being funded by a capital improvements bond approved by voters in 2003.

“We had a lot of complaints from staff and people that use the building about air quality,” said Greg Brown, director of capital projects for the district.

The project, which applies only to portions of the building constructed in the 1980s, will take place over two summers.

Crews are tearing out the heating ducts from the upper two floors of the bulding, which consist mostly of classrooms. The ventilation systems on the first floor and the gymnasium will be torn out and replaced in 2007, Brown said.

The district also plans to move the school’s tennis courts from the roof of the industrial arts building and replace them with a roof “that doesn’t leak anymore,” Brown said.

The roof over the gymnasium also will be replaced. The roof replacement projects will total about $1.5 million, Brown said.

The projects at NC are a small part of many school improvement projects paid for with bond proceeds. Rogers High School is getting a $59 million remodel, beginning this summer, and three new elementary schools, Ridgeview, Lincoln Heights and Lidgerwood, will open this fall.

North Central’s projects haven’t received the same attention, but some improvements already have been made. A new 100-space parking lot was installed for students, as well as an improved softball field for fast- and slow-pitch games, and new spectator seating.

“NC is getting a lot of attention; it’s just coming in little pieces,” Brown said.