The Demopolis Board of Education approved bids Tuesday totaling more than $1.6 million to install a new energy efficient HVAC system at Demopolis High School.

The board awarded MidSouth Geothermal the bid and contract to dig the loop fields at DHS for the new geothermal air conditioning units. They came in with the lowest bid at $833,000. The board awarded the bid for purchasing HVAC equipment for the project to Hydro-Temp. Their bid came in at $468,000.

For the installation of the HVAC equipment, the board awarded the bid to Cooper Brothers for $327,000. Superintendent Dr. Al Griffin said Cooper Brothers will subcontract to a local company to do the installation.

Finally, the board awarded the HVAC digital equipment bid to Hydro-Temp for $28,000. Griffin said there will be one more bid process, which will be for the installation of the digital equipment.

He added that he is hopeful the digging of the loop fields will begin by the first week in August. The project is being funded through a QZAB grant the system was approved for last year.

The board also agreed to purchase two school buses from Transportation South in Pelham for $59,000 each. The two 2010 Thomas Built buses will be equipped with air conditioning before being brought to Demopolis. One of the buses has 59,000 miles and the other has 61,000 miles. Demopolis Middle School principal Blaine Hathcock said it’s a good deal on the two buses.

“I went up and looked at them and they’re both in good shape,” he said. “They’re built to go 350,000 miles. It’s hard to find used school buses that aren’t already in bad shape. If we buy these two buses, it will put us in good shape for transportation.”

The board agreed to purchase one of the buses outright, and they will finance the second bus.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the board approved the following personnel recommendations from Griffin:

•Accept resignation of Heather Kennedy as DHS/DMS choral teacher

•Hire Alan Kasper as DHS science teacher

•Hire Jessica Dial as central office secretary

•Hire Robert Timothy Jordan as DHS JROTC instructor

•Grant leave of absence for DMS custodian Ronny Edwards through Oct. 31

•Hire Allison Cobb as DMS science teacher

•Hire Thomasene Russell as U.S. Jones special education aide

•Hire Jillian Arthur as DMS/DHS choral music teacher

•Open DHS Spanish position through Aug. 4

•Hire Sherry Feller for five days at $25/hour to train new central office secretary

The board also approved the 2014-15 code of conduct for the school system, the 2014-15 supplements for coaches and other staff, and they approved the 2014-15 salary matrix. There were no notable changes in any of these.

The board also approved the following coach volunteers for the upcoming school year:

•Trey Thornhill – DHS football

•Ronnie Abrams – DHS basketball

•Gabrielle Essex – DHS basketball

•Mike Randall – DHS baseball

•Rodney Rowser – DHS track

•Jeff Latham – DHS softball

•Fleming Tartt – DHS tennis

In other business, the board took the following action:

•Approve 2014-15 milk bids from Borden Dairies

•Approve use of DMS athletic facilities by the Demopolis Youth Football League

•Approve modifications to allocation parameters regarding the Teacher Attendance Incentive Program

•Approve payroll and expenditures for June 2014

The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 18 at 5:15 p.m.