DERBY — The overhaul of the chiller within Derby Middle School’s HVAC system is complete, school officials said.
The repairs mean Derby Middle School students will be learning in classrooms with better climate control. In recent years the middle school had to dismiss early when it got too hot in the building. Heating the building was also a problem during the winter in some areas.
In fact, officials have said the HVAC system never worked like it was supposed to since the building opened in 2010.
Things changed Nov. 4, 2025 when voters approved spending up to $358,000 to repair the system. In March the city’s finance committee awarded the bid to Blizzard Mechanical, LLC for $299,742. The Derby-based company was the lowest bidder.
The job was completed July 22, according to an agenda packet of the Derby Board of Education.
“We are pleased to have the HVAC work at Derby Middle School completed. The project addressed long-standing heating, cooling and ventilation issues, improving temperature control and comfort for students and staff,” Derby Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Conway said in an email. “We are grateful to Derby voters for supporting this important investment and look forward to beginning the school year with these improvements in place.”
The job totaled $305,321. An extra $6,300 was paid over the bid price to deal with two issues discovered when the new chiller was being installed.
See the image below for more. It’s info that was recently shared with the public and the school board.
The first day of school is Sept. 1.
