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Facilities director flags aging HVAC units and tight staffing as maintenance challenges; K–8 phase-two bids came in competitive

Gadsden School Board · November 18, 2025
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Summary

Mr. Hudson told the board older HVAC package units are corroded and becoming obsolete; he outlined creative, code-compliant workarounds and said the Nov. 13 K–8 phase-two bid opening produced competitive bids. Board members pressed for more grounds and maintenance resources after visible yard and parking-lot problems were described.

Mr. Hudson, speaking for facilities, told the board the bid opening for the K–8 second phase on Nov. 13 drew a large turnout and produced competitive bids. He said work on the project is progressing but that older HVAC units across the district are corroded and obsolete, requiring creative, cost-effective fixes while complying with state facility requirements.

Board members raised multiple on-the-ground maintenance concerns: temporary plumbing hooked through walls to washing machines, overspray and messy parking-lot painting, unchecked debris left around azaleas, hanging limbs near entrances, and insufficient grounds staffing. Mr. Hudson said the district is working with limited manpower—he estimated the district would need roughly nine additional grounds staff at times to keep up—and that staff sometimes borrow workers from custodial and other departments when workloads spike.

Mr. Hudson and board members agreed they will continue to identify priority repairs and try to allocate resources; several items will be scheduled for further discussion during the board's budgeting process.