District facilities report: greenhouse delays, auxiliary gym progress, playground resurfacing and audio enhancement rollout

District facilities and the superintendent provided a multi-part update covering construction progress, maintenance work and staffing needs.

Facilities staff reported that two school greenhouse projects are underway but behind the original schedule because an electrical panel for Franklin County has not yet arrived; Western Hills’ greenhouse is expected to finish sooner. The auxiliary gym construction has walls on all four sides and interior work, including restroom stalls and painting, is underway; gym flooring deliveries and A/C work were reported as either in progress or imminent.

Facilities staff described additional summer work across campuses: sidewalks connecting playgrounds to car lanes, replacement of worn carpeting with more durable flooring in offices, new hand dryers, installation of rubber surfacing on preschool playgrounds (to address recurring insect/worm issues in mulch), new lighting at the Franklin County baseball facility, and press-box repairs at Western Hills. The staff credited custodians, maintenance crews and many community volunteers for summer prep work.

The superintendent described the audio-enhancement rollout as nearly complete, noting translation services, safety features and relief for teachers’ voices. The district also created a diagnostician position to perform functions similar to school psychologists where certified candidates are hard to hire; the superintendent said the move is intended as an interim staffing strategy while recruitment continues. The district is still seeking an athletic trainer and is continuing a contract with a private therapy provider to cover services until a hire is made.

No formal board actions were taken as part of the facilities update; the report was informational and accepted by the board.