New Lenox School Board Awards $5.2 Million in Contracts for Tyler School HVAC Upgrades

New Lenox School District 122 Board Meeting | December 16, 2025

Article Summary: The Board of Education approved three major construction contracts totaling over $5.2 million to overhaul the HVAC system at Tyler School during the summer of 2026.

Tyler School Construction Key Points:

• Contracts were awarded to RB Construction, Amber Mechanical, and Excel Electric.

• The total cost of the approved bids is $5,273,000.

• Funding for the project comes from previously approved Life Safety Bonds.

• The board discussed implementing a preventative maintenance program to avoid future system issues.

The New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, unanimously approved more than $5.2 million in construction contracts for upcoming capital improvements at Tyler School.

Business Manager Robert Groos presented the bid results for the Summer 2026 Tyler HVAC project. The board awarded the work to the lowest responsible bidders across three trade packages:

• General Trades: RB Construction, Inc. ($1,859,000)

• HVAC: Amber Mechanical Contractors, Inc. ($1,892,000)

• Electrical: Excel Electric, Inc. ($1,522,000)

According to Groos, this initiative marks the fourth HVAC project completed within the district. The work will be fully funded by the Life Safety Bonds approved by the board in November 2025. Groos noted that the necessary equipment was already approved for purchase in August 2025.

During the discussion, Board Member David Rush inquired about any surplus funds from the bond issuance. Groos explained that any remaining funds would stay in the Life Safety Bonds account and must be utilized for Life Safety projects over the next three years.

Board Member Fay Bowie raised concerns regarding the longevity of the new systems, citing current issues with the HVAC system at Haines School.

“We are looking into a preventative maintenance program where we are outsourcing maintenance to make sure we won’t have problems,” Superintendent Dr. Lori Motsch replied. She indicated that the board would discuss a proposed preventative maintenance program for all district HVAC systems at an upcoming strategic meeting in February.

The construction work is scheduled to take place during the summer break of 2026.