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Facilities walkthrough finds maintenance gaps and custodial shortages; district proposes preventive program and staffing review
Summary
District facilities staff showed the board deteriorating roofs, HVAC filter backlogs, pigeon infestations and nonfunctional water fountains during a walkthrough. Administrators recommended more preventive maintenance, repairs and a review of staffing models after identifying about 18 fewer custodians than pre‑COVID levels.
District operations staff reported multiple facilities issues uncovered during recent site walkthroughs and proposed a stepped plan to expand preventive maintenance and reassess custodial staffing and central oversight.
Director of Buildings and Operations John Mir showed photos of foam roofs with blisters, a corroded chiller tower, compromised roof drains and pigeon infestations that have damaged roofs and solar arrays. Mir said the maintenance program has been largely reactive and described current field staffing: a small trades team (one locksmith, one carpenter, one painter, dedicated plumbers and electricians) and night sweepers who typically work limited hours. “We have one locksmith, one carpenter…three HVAC techs…three plumbers,” Mir said as he outlined the available district trades staff and the volume of work across about 22 school sites.
Why it matters: Deteriorating facility conditions can affect student health and safety and influence family perceptions of district schools. Board members repeatedly linked facility condition to enrollment and urged faster corrective action.
Key findings and proposed responses: - HVAC and filters: Mir reported the district had fallen behind on filter changes, which can cause HVAC units to freeze up; the maintenance team has completed an initial catch‑up and will maintain a regular replacement cycle. - Water fountains: Many drinking fountains were not functioning or were located in direct sun; Mir pledged district plumbers and temporary fixes would restore chilled and sanitary water access before school starts. "Our commitment is to get every drinking fountain in the entire district functioning," Mir said. - Pigeon control and roof repair: The district contracted outside vendors for safe pigeon remediation and began netting around high‑risk areas such as solar arrays; long-term roof repairs were prioritized by risk and funding availability. - Custodial staffing: Administrators compared current staffing to FY2018–19 and reported approximately 18 fewer custodians districtwide than in that pre‑COVID benchmark, creating capacity limits for both day‑to‑day cleaning and preventive projects. Dr. Ethridge said the district is exploring centralized supervision options and reallocation models to ensure preventive maintenance is completed while principals retain instructional focus.
Board reaction: Several members expressed shock and concern after visiting sites. One board member said the conditions were “devastating” and urged accountability for sites that did not report hazards. Administrators said they plan more site‑level training, to equip custodial closets, to pursue state facility dollars where eligible, and to develop staffing proposals to present to the board.
What’s next: Administration will assess options to increase custodial and maintenance capacity, refine preventive maintenance schedules, and return to the board with staffing and funding proposals. The board also discussed how to prioritize capital repairs (roof replacements and major system fixes) within the recently adopted FY27 budget.
