The Hazard Independent Board of Education voted to accept a proposal for a survey of district facilities.

Superintendent Sandra Johnson explained that the district is required to complete a facilities survey every couple of years, which in turn evaluates everything from electrical and HVAC to structural soundness to determine what the district’s needs are in terms of building repairs.

Board member Grady Varney said the board is hoping to be able to use the survey’s results in order to reduce the district’s utility costs, especially at the high school.

“What we’re basically doing is seeing if we can’t reduce our utility costs so we can put it into education,” said Varney.

“Our utilities for the high school are double what either of the other two buildings are, and that’s just the type of heating they have up there,” added Johnson.

Varney said the school’s heating system needs to be upgraded, and the facilities survey could show that, but the survey will also list other priorities as well. Those priorities will be forwarded to the planning committee which will in turn make recommendations to the board as to what upgrades or repairs are most needed.

“We think that one of the things we can do is our HVAC systems. We think we can get some savings there, but they may tell us we need something else,” said Varney, adding that board members are looking to plan for the district well in advance.

Following discussion, the board voted to approve a proposal from Clotfelter/Samoker, an architectural firm. Johnson said the proposal estimated a cost of $9,000 for the survey.

And the survey results for the high school building are also of interest to district officials for another reason. Johnson noted during a special called meeting on Monday that the Hazard High School building is still gradually settling, and if the survey finds that the building needs to be replaced, there could be money available for that purpose from the state. Johnson stressed that while the building has settled, there is no concern for its structural integrity and it is perfectly safe.