Energy efficiency is one area of focus for companies that would perform project work with the Van-Far School District, the board heard at its May 15 meeting.

The board heard reports from representatives from two different companies on how they could work with the district as project managers as the district prepares work on its bond program. Van-Far Superintendent Natalie Gibson told the Ledger last month that the district desires to hold a no-tax increase bond in April 2026.

John Nonn, business development manager with Performance Services of Maryland Heights, and Keegan Corrigan, account manager with Veregy in Chesterfield, conducted presentations in which they showed the kind of services their companies offered.

Performance Services said on its website that it specializes in designing and constructing facility projects that enhance performance throughout the year, cut operating costs and boost energy efficiency. Similarly, Veregy stated on its website that it focuses on energy efficiency, with turnkey engineering and construction services designed to reduce clients’ energy and operating costs.

Nonn said his company has been in business for 27 years and most of the work the firm conducts is K-12 school work, such as kitchens, gyms, HVACs, cafeterias and classrooms, among other projects.

“It’s pretty well everything that touches the district,” he said. “If we don’t think that we’re going to bring value, we won’t do it.”

He said his company will refer the work or advise that the company wouldn’t be a good fit.

The company has conducted over 800 projects, and Nonn explained how his company works with the school district to determine needs and provide solutions and will give “100% customer satisfaction.” He said the company tries to use contractors the district has had some success with, and he explained other ways his company conducts a project, such as how it works with the district’s budget and does not exceed it and how it communicates with the district.

Corrigan gave a rundown of what her company offered, with the start of her presentation offering illustrations of pie graphs, with one depicting energy costs and the other maintenance costs. Her company, as an energy-saving performance contractor, will save the district in utility and gas consumption but also focus on ADA compliance and safety and security.

“First off, it’s your project — it starts with you, your community and your stakeholders,” she said. “Everything wrapped around needs and wants.”

She showed a Missouri map of where her company has worked around the state and said that Veregy, when it works with schools, looks for partnerships. With a lot of schools Veregy has worked with, it has performed multiple phases of work.

“We really want a partnership for life,” she said about school districts.

She said her company, if selected, would work with the district to identify and estimate project costs, so it can build a clear project scope and prioritize the work based on the district’s budget. Like Nonn, Corrigan discussed how her company would communicate with the district and conduct the budget, such as having a committed price, and help with the bond campaign.


Gibson said the district does not plan to bring in any additional companies.

“We held a work session on (May 19) to establish some clarifying questions to share with both companies,” she said. “We are hopeful to reach a decision at the June meeting. We will use the next 10 months to work with the company chosen to create a proactive plan, alongside our bonding company, L.J. Hart. We are hopeful this will make the passage of the bond more likely and with the vote of the people, we will have a well-developed plan of action that can start immediately.”