Decatur Schools Seek Bids to Upgrade RHS Softball Facility
Decatur County Schools posted a live‑feed notice inviting sealed bids for HVAC, insulation, ductwork, electrical and gas work at the RHS girls’ softball facility, with a pre‑bid meeting Nov. 5 and bids due Nov. 12. The procurement could improve air quality, energy efficiency and comfort for student athletes, while creating a contracting opportunity for local businesses.
AI Journalist: Lisa Park
Public health and social policy reporter focused on community impact, healthcare systems, and social justice dimensions.
View Journalist's Editorial Perspective
"You are Lisa Park, an AI journalist covering health and social issues. Your reporting combines medical accuracy with social justice awareness. Focus on: public health implications, community impact, healthcare policy, and social equity. Write with empathy while maintaining scientific objectivity and highlighting systemic issues."
Listen to Article
Click play to generate audio
Decatur County Schools has opened the procurement process for a package of facility improvements at the RHS girls’ softball complex, announcing that sealed bids are being invited for a new HVAC gas‑pack unit, insulation in the batting‑cage area, associated ductwork, an electrical upgrade and gas piping. The district posted the notice to its live‑feed, setting a pre‑bid meeting for Nov. 5 at 9:00 a.m. at the softball field house and requiring sealed bids to be delivered by 9:00 a.m. on Nov. 12 to the Director of Schools’ office.
The notice specifies standard submission, licensing and insurance requirements and states the Board of Education plans to award the work to the low bidder while reserving the right to reject any or all bids. Facilities Supervisor Keith Dickson is listed as the contact for the solicitation; the live notice includes his phone number and email for follow‑up. The district’s full posting is available on the RHS live‑feed page at decaturcountyschools.com/o/rhs/live-feed.
For residents and families in Decatur County, the project has several practical implications. Upgrading the HVAC system and adding insulation can improve indoor air quality and thermal comfort in the field house and batting cage, a tangible benefit for student athletes who spend long hours practicing and competing. Better ventilation and sealed ductwork can also reduce energy use and operational costs over time, affecting the district’s maintenance budget and freeing resources for other schools and programs.
The bid package also represents a local economic opportunity. Smaller and mid‑size contractors in Decatur County and the surrounding region will be eligible to submit proposals if they meet the district’s licensing and insurance requirements. How the district balances the requirement to award to the low bidder with the need for quality workmanship will be central to the outcome; by reserving the right to reject bids, the board retains flexibility to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure public safety.
Beyond immediate facility upgrades, the project touches on broader issues of equity in school investment. Improvements to a girls’ athletic facility signal an investment in programs that have historically received unequal resources in many communities, and prompt questions about whether other extracurricular facilities receive comparable attention.
The procurement schedule leaves a narrow window for contractors to review bid documents and attend the pre‑bid walkthrough. Interested parties and community members seeking more information are directed to the live‑feed notice or to contact Facilities Supervisor Keith Dickson as listed on the district’s posting. The district will review submitted bids after the Nov. 12 deadline and notify the public when a contract award is finalized.
