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Superintendent reports septic backup at Granite Falls High fixed; district adds security cameras and readies health inspections
Summary
Superintendent Dana Giesland told the board the high school's septic backup that disrupted several classrooms has been cleared, the district installed two new cameras and is preparing required Snohomish County Health Department corrective actions at four schools.
Dr. Dana Giesland, superintendent, reported on facilities, security and health inspections at the Granite Falls School District board meeting on Oct. 8.
Giesland said the district installed two campus cameras this week — one at Crossroads (near the preschool outdoor area) and one at the Transportation facility — to improve coverage where staff had previously reported security gaps. She said the board is considering additional building-security upgrades in connection with an upcoming capital/maintenance levy (M&O/EP&O) planned for February and that staff are emphasizing nightly door checks and latch repairs to reduce inappropriate after-hours access.
Giesland also reported a significant septic backup at Granite Falls High School that affected four classrooms, including culinary and biology spaces. Maintenance staff and outside contractors cleared the blockage and restored water service; teachers temporarily relocated to other rooms during repairs. Giesland thanked maintenance staff, Roto-Rooter and administrators for their response.
The Snohomish County Health Department is conducting its biannual inspections at four of the district’s five schools, Giesland said; Montecristo and Crossroads already received reports and Mountain Way and Granite Falls Middle School inspections were scheduled for the coming weeks. Giesland said administrators will develop building-specific timelines to correct findings and that corrections are mandatory.
Why it matters: security-camera coverage, functional building systems and health-inspection compliance affect daily operations, instructional access and the district’s liability and compliance with county and state requirements.
Speakers and context: Giesland described the incidents and repairs. The maintenance response restored classroom water and helped return affected classes to instruction. No fines or enforcement outcomes were reported at the Oct. 8 meeting; health-department findings will generate follow-up timelines from building principals.
No formal board action was recorded on these items at the Oct. 8 meeting.
