Phase 1: Restoring Comfort & Reimagining the Future
Slater School District had previously invested in a state-of-the-art geothermal heat pump system, but the system’s performance had fallen short. Classrooms weren’t consistently comfortable, and operations staff spent valuable time troubleshooting. Replacing the entire system would have required a major capital reinvestment, which the district hoped to avoid.
Meanwhile, the Early Childhood School still lacked a modern building automation system, and the football field, once part of the city park, was suffering from failing HID lighting and unreliable electrical service. Game nights were disrupted, lighting was insufficient, and the district’s vision for a more complete stadium experience with safe seating, accessibility, and even a future track felt out of reach.
The District needed a partner who could help them protect past investments, optimize what they already had, and plan for what they hoped to build next.
A Strategic Plan to Protect, Improve, and Empower
Alexander Elementary & Early Childhood School
The District committed to a targeted, cost-effective strategy. These improvements enabled the district to restore comfort, enhance efficiency, and remotely monitor their facilities, giving operations staff the visibility and control they had long needed. Improvements included:
- Retro-commissioning the existing mechanical system with select equipment replacements
- Providing new HVAC controls system on existing HVAC units
- Installing new VFD’s on existing loop pumps and reprogram system to optimize geothermal system performance
- Integration of both buildings into a district-wide automation system
Football Field Transformation
Working closely with the District, Performance Services helped Slater Schools think beyond immediate repairs and envision the future of its athletic facilities. This laid the foundation for a fully modernized stadium experience—one that supports athletes, families, and the broader community. Solutions included:
- Surveying existing field and new layout for future field relocation
- Replacing existing football field lighting with LED to bring lighting up to HS field standards of 50 FC
- Demolishing existing field lighting, poles and electrical as needed
- Installing new poles as per the new design layout and feed new power underground
Phase 2: A Community-Led Gym Transformation
After the success of Phase I, Slater Schools returned to Performance Services with another high-impact need: The District’s gym floor had reached the end of its life and no longer reflected the pride of the students, athletes, community, or alumni. Beyond structural wear, the district wanted a refreshed mascot logo, updated colors, and a design that matched the passion Slater feels for its teams and traditions.
But this wasn’t just a flooring update—it became a community-wide effort.
Alumni, private donors, and long-time supporters collaborated on colors, finishes, and design decisions. To honor the district’s legacy, the new floor was named in honor of Joe Kleine and Roscoe White, the first two honorees in the Slater Legends Alumni Hall of Honor. Kleine played 15 years in the NBA, while White was an NJCAA All-American in 1961 at Moberly Junior College (now MACC). This made the project a heartfelt symbol of local pride. One community member even crafted custom cornhole boards from reclaimed wood salvaged from the original floor—a creative tribute to Slater’s past.
The Big Picture: A District Leading with Vision
Across both phases, Slater School District has demonstrated what it means to lead with purpose. They restored the performance of their high-end HVAC systems, strengthened operational visibility and control, and reimagined key athletic spaces to better serve students and the community. Their newly renovated gym—honoring two Slater Legends—now stands as a proud symbol of local heritage. Through thoughtful planning and responsible stewardship, the district is building more than just improved facilities; it is building a future rooted in pride, comfort, and community.
