The Woonsocket School Board approved during the July 10 school board meeting to hire Midwest Boiler Repair, Inc., of Sioux Falls, to rebuild the existing gymnasium boiler. The Gymnasium/Armory steam boiler is 55 years old and needs replacement due to inside deterioration. The boiler, which runs on fuel oil, delivers steam heat throughout the 1962 Armory building. It also separates and condenses steam to hot water, which is then pumped to the Elementary addition. The school board approved G&R Controls last fall to investigate possible solutions.
G&R Controls proposed options for replacing the boiler, which estimated between $650,000 for new propane boilers to a $1.3 million geothermal system. After much investigation and consideration, the school board decided that for now it would be appropriate to rebuild the existing boiler and replace new areas where the deterioration is occurring. The cost of this project was approved for $24,900 and will extend the life of the boiler for another 10-15 years.
Both the school board and I feel this is the best decision at this time until we can plan appropriate funding for a new heating system in the future. The school board also hired Evers Excavation through G&R Controls to do test drilling for geothermal at the cost of $4,000. This will allow the school board to plan for a future decision whether or not geothermal is even a possibility.
We believe the decision of rebuilding the boiler allows the school board to make the best decision possible for the future of the district. It also allows additional time to accumulate extra yearly funds to finance a new heating system.  One possibility is completing the project in stages, which could help out in financial planning. The goal is to have a new system paid for in 10-12 years.
The labor/work detailed description that will be completed by Midwest Boiler, Inc., in August is:
A complete replacement of the bottom mud ring approximately six to eight inches high on the boiler. Provide jacks to support the weight of the boiler in order to remove bottom mud ring. Once all the old material has been removed, it will be measured up for new plates to be sheared. After the plates have been sheared, all the new plates will be put in place and welded as per original code of construction. When all the plates have been welded in, they will re-pipe the back four inch return line to better accommodate flow, and then all the welded areas will have a hydro test done. The hydro test will be performed in front of our inspector to ensure no leaks, and after the test has been performed, the boiler will be stamped per the SD Code.
Please contact Supt. Rod Weber if you have any questions or concerns about the project: 350-5374 or Rod.Weber@k12.sd.us