Planned upgrades to heating and ventilation systems at Fort Dodge Senior High will have to wait.

The work would have addressed rooftop heating units located in the southeast corner of the school. It was anticipated to be done this summer.

Instead, the Fort Dodge Community School District board rejected all bids on the project at a special meeting Monday night.

That’s because two identical bids were received.

And those bids were higher than the architect’s estimate.

Jensen Builders, of Fort Dodge, and Woodruff Construction, of Fort Dodge, each submitted bids of $1,230,000.

Those bids came in about 32 percent higher than ISG’s estimate of $932,692.95. ISG is the engineering firm the district uses for project estimates.

Lisa Shimkat, FDCSD board member, said she favored putting off the work.

One of the alternatives would have been to flip a coin.

“I am completely not in favor of a coin toss,” Shimkat said. “I am more in favor of combining this with some additional projects if we could put this off for a period of time.”

Dan Hansen, FDCSD board member, agreed.

“The flip of a coin bothers me,” he said.

Dr. Jesse Ulrich, FDCSD superintendent, said although the work is much needed, he didn’t want the board to overspend to get the work in.

“While it may be needed, it’s not to the point where I would push you to spend $250,000 to $300,000 more,” Ulrich said.

Shimkat made a motion to reject the bids. It was seconded by Hansen. The board unanimously passed the motion.

Travis Filloon, FDCSD director of buildings and grounds, said some of the high school’s rooftop heating units almost completely failed last winter.

He said it’s likely there would be failures next school year and that space heaters may be needed to heat that portion of the school.

Following the rejection of the bids, the earliest the project can be completed is the summer of 2020.