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School board presses for districtwide maintenance plan after members describe dirty, unsafe campuses
Summary
Board members urged a districtwide preventive maintenance schedule and a facilities condition inventory after citing dirty bleachers, cracked batting‑cage slabs and costly deferred repairs; they asked Facilities and the athletic director to return with a plan for the board to review.
At an informal Hernando County School Board meeting on March 24, board members pressed district staff to develop a districtwide preventive maintenance plan and a comprehensive condition inventory for school fields, tracks, courts and buildings.
Ms. Rodriguez, a board member, said the county’s campuses are routinely “dirty” and highlighted an aging stadium and bleachers at Hernando High that she called embarrassing. “I’m embarrassed as a school board member when I go to these functions,” she said, urging the board to stop being reactive and start scheduled upkeep.
Board members noted recent, individual large costs to underline the financial impact of deferred maintenance: the resurfacing at Hernando High’s tennis courts was cited at about $500,000, and an agenda item for Weeki Wachee listed roughly $1,000,000 for courts and related work. Members argued a scheduled rotation and a dedicated budget line could reduce long‑term costs and extend asset life.
Mr. Johnson asked that Facilities & Maintenance and the athletic director be invited to present options and a proposed timeline so the board could evaluate preventive steps and summer work opportunities. A member suggested a summer “deep‑clean” and a condition report produced by district staff rather than contracted consultants; another noted some tasks (roof pressure washing, lifts) require certification or contracting.
Board members agreed to have staff develop proposals and return to the board for discussion; one board member said she expects a presentation in May and recommended work to get a clean, maintainable starting point before the new school year.
