Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Aberdeen operations director outlines summer projects and says lead tests were below federal action level
Summary
Operations director Ben Schnell presented a district-wide summer projects update June 8 outlining renovations, replacements and an ongoing lead-testing program; he reported the highest lead reading was about 7 ppb, below the 15 ppb federal action level.
Ben Schnell, the Aberdeen School District 06-1 operations director, presented a detailed summer projects update to the board on June 8 that covered building renovations, playground and parking lot maintenance, boiler replacements, a new backup generator purchase and a district-wide lead-testing program for drinking fountains and sinks.
Schnell told the board the district had tested all sites except Central High School (Central requires an eight-hour no-use window for testing) and said the federal action level for lead is 15 parts per billion. "The worst site that we had was half of that… about seven parts per billion," Schnell said, adding most other sites tested in the 1–3 ppb range. He said the district will replace fixtures at sites showing moderate concern and will retest Central once the building is unused for the required interval.
On capital work, Schnell described ongoing projects including gym floor restoration, cabinetry for new special-education classrooms, asphalt and chip-seal work on parking areas, replacement boilers at Central High School, and a backup generator procured through Sourcewell. He reported the recent furniture capital outlay budget was $150,000 and that the operations team spent $143,000 for requested classroom and office furniture.
Schnell also highlighted construction at Simmons Middle School (addition and interior renovation), a Holgate Middle School remodel that reconfigures office and special-education space and a new STEM room, and plans to replace the Michael J. Healey field scoreboard with an LED wireless unit. He noted procurement choices and grant-funded items (for example Perkins grants for career and technical CNC equipment).
The update included a technology demonstration of an autonomous, GPS-guided mower the grounds crew will use to reduce labor on athletic fields. Board members thanked Schnell for decades of service to the district as he transitions leadership in operations.
