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Methuen committee reviews Timoney and Marsh air‑quality reports; boilers, exhaust fans and radon testing identified as follow‑ups
Summary
School committee members reviewed facility assessments for Timoney and Marsh schools, discussed elevated CO2 readings, exhaust fan replacements, a state‑tagged boiler repair at Timoney, radon testing and longer‑term capital needs including roofing and playground repairs.
School committee members pressed facilities staff on air quality and building systems after recent assessments at the Timoney and Marsh schools highlighted problems the committee said require action.
"A lot of our exhaust fans on the roof, belts are broken, motors are broken," Member Willett said while reviewing the facilities report. Facilities staff and committee members said work already done at Timoney included replacement of dozens of exhaust fans to improve fresh air intake and ventilation. Members stressed that some fixes are operational (cleaning vents, replacing belts) while others require capital investment.
Member Maxwell asked whether radon testing had ever been completed in district schools; staff replied that radon testing is seasonally timed (winter months) and that the district will need to schedule it. The committee also asked about high carbon‑dioxide parts‑per‑million readings in some Timoney classrooms. Facilities staff said many intake vents had been physically blocked by stored items in classrooms and that new exhaust fans should improve ventilation.
The Timoney boilers also drew scrutiny. Committee members and staff said a piece of Boiler 2 was state‑tagged and requires repair or replacement of a component between chambers; staff said this is not a full boiler replacement but may require brazing or a part replacement. The Marsh boiler was reported to have a bid opening and an anticipated replacement start date in June.
Other work discussed included removal and replacement of soiled or water‑damaged panels, replacement of broken playground elements, pest mitigation including metallic door barriers, and a program of tree pruning and landscaping that committee members urged be scheduled for the summer to reduce rodent harboring areas.
Member DeZaglio and others urged the administration to seek partnerships — for example with vocational trade schools — to help accomplish capital and maintenance work more affordably and to provide student learning opportunities. The mayor and superintendent said some upgrades will rely on the city’s capital improvement plan and extraordinary maintenance funding; committee members asked staff to prioritize projects that most directly affect student health and safety.
No formal vote was taken during the facilities discussion; staff committed to follow‑up steps including scheduling radon testing in winter months, completing the recommended exhaust fan replacements, clarifying the notation “NC” in the Timoney air‑quality writeups, and providing a timeline for playground and tree work.
