Facilities report: West High auditorium near completion; restroom audit finds dozens of repairs needed

Facilities staff told the committee that major renovation work at West High School's auditorium is substantially complete and that the district has finished sound and lighting upgrades at Central High School's McAlester Hall.

Mister Ramzell (facilities) said structural work and painting at West are "substantially complete," scaffolding is being removed and flooring and seating reinstallation are the next major steps; the project is on track to finish in late April or early May. He said the sound and lighting renewal at Central High is complete and that feedback from school staff has been positive.

Ramzell also described the restroom audit the district initiated. He said the audit was distributed after the last meeting (sent March 14) and that responses are due April 25. Of the schools responding so far (he excluded Hillside and the four middle schools and Beach Street because those are in Phase 1 work), staff had received reports covering 168 restrooms; 87 of those restrooms needed repair or other action assigned either to Aramark (the custodial contractor) or the facilities department. Ramzell said zone managers would prioritize repairs, Aramark had been provided a punch list and the district would generate work orders for items facilities must address.

Board members voiced frustration about cleanliness and maintenance in school restrooms and public spaces. One committee member described seeing a "filthy" women's restroom at Central High and urged quicker follow-up. Members discussed options to empower students and staff to report problems and asked facilities to make targeted, interim repairs (for instance, fixing broken hand dryers or locks) even when full renovation is planned. Ramzell noted that full renovations are costly—he estimated about $100,000 for a pair of restrooms—and that some work will be scheduled through capital improvement planning while other items can be addressed with work orders.

Why it matters: The audit results and member comments highlight concerns about day-to-day cleanliness and deferred maintenance at district schools, with members asking facilities and Aramark to improve reporting and follow-through so routine problems are fixed promptly.

Committee members asked for a plan to make reporting easier for students and staff; Ramzell said he would continue processing incoming audit results, issue work orders and meet with facilities to prioritize repairs before the summer projects cycle.