Beecher School Board Approves Over $42,000 to Remediate Elementary School Tunnels

Beecher Board of Education Regular Board Meeting | October 8, 2025

Article Summary: The Beecher Board of Education has approved a $42,645 contract with Allied Services to address long-standing moisture issues in the crawl space tunnels beneath Beecher Elementary School. The project aims to improve air quality and protect the building’s infrastructure by installing a comprehensive encapsulation system, a new sump pump, and multiple dehumidifiers.

Elementary School Tunnel Remediation Key Points:

• Action: The board approved a contract with Allied Services for $42,645.63 to remediate moisture issues in the elementary school tunnels.

• Scope: The project includes installing a vapor barrier encapsulation system on the floor and walls, a new sump pump for water removal, and dehumidifiers in the north tunnels.

• Problem: The tunnels, which have gravel floors in some sections, have been a source of moisture, leading to concerns about air quality and the building’s structural integrity.

• Process: The board reviewed three proposals, with Allied Services being the lowest bidder for the comprehensive scope of work required.

The Beecher Board of Education on Tuesday, October 8, 2025, unanimously approved a proposal from Allied Services for $42,645.63 to remediate moisture issues within the crawl space tunnels at Beecher Elementary School.

The decision follows an investigation into the condition of the tunnels, which in some areas have gravel floors and have been a persistent source of moisture. The remediation project is designed to create a healthier and more stable environment under the school. Superintendent Dr. Jack Gaham explained that the approved proposal was the most comprehensive and lowest-priced of the three bids the district received for a comparable scope of work.

“My recommendation would be Allied because they are the lowest of the three,” Gaham told the board, noting that the other proposals were for $49,000 and $38,700 but did not include the same full scope of services.

The project involves several key components. A new sump pump will be installed in the tunnel system beneath the first and second-grade wings to actively remove water. The core of the remediation is an encapsulation system, which Gaham described as a vapor barrier that will be installed on the ground and run partway up the tunnel walls to prevent moisture from seeping into the space.

“It does a encapsulation system,” Gaham explained. “Allied… is floor and up. Allied goes halfway to 3/4 of the way up.”

The board opted for the most comprehensive version of Allied’s proposal, which also includes the installation of dehumidifiers in the north tunnels. While some parts of the tunnel system were previously addressed with concrete, other sections remain gravel. Gaham recommended including the dehumidifiers to ensure the entire system is addressed.

“I think that last little piece would really [help] because even though it was addressed with concrete, as Brad saw, it does stop and it goes back to gravel,” Gaham said. “Being able to catch anything that would even come through there with a dehumidifier, it’s out of sight, out of mind… it’s a good piece of mind that I would recommend doing.”

The final cost of the project increased slightly from an initial estimate after Allied was provided with official schematics of the tunnels, which showed a larger square footage than originally calculated.

The district sought outside validation for the remediation plan. According to Gaham, representatives from both Servpro, a restoration company, and Ideal, an environmental consulting firm that recently conducted fiberglass testing at the school, reviewed the plan and affirmed it was a sound solution to the problem.

The board’s approval was unanimous, reflecting a consensus to move forward with the necessary infrastructure improvements at the elementary school.