Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities Maintenance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District reports summer maintenance, HVAC repairs and heat-related early dismissals
Summary
Facilities staff reported extensive summer cleaning and repairs across Windham schools, including HVAC repairs at multiple buildings, replacement of 19 heating-valve actuators at Windham Middle School, and early dismissals this season tied to classroom heat when central systems failed.
Facilities staff provided the committee with a district-wide summary of summer maintenance on July 1, noting ground and field maintenance for promotions and graduations, alarm upgrades and targeted HVAC repairs across multiple schools.
Albie Harris said summer cleaning had started at Sweeney, North Windham, Natchaug, CH Barrows STEM Academy, Phoenix Academy and Windham High School. At Windham Middle School, staff replaced 19 heating-valve actuators and two heating valves, cleaned exhaust vents and cleared science-room drains. Harris also reported that Natchaug’s HVAC team replaced a condensation pump for an A/C unit and that CH Barrows had circuit cards replaced.
Committee members discussed recent early dismissals called during high-temperature days. Dr. Catina Caban-Owen noted that North Windham closed on some hot days; Neil Weathers said Natchaug, Windham Middle and Sweeney do not have classroom air conditioning and that early dismissals were called because classroom temperatures were expected to be high. Harris explained that an older central-air compressor at North Windham serving about 10–12 classrooms failed; he clarified the newer mini-split installations were not the failed units.
The committee was told the district has $500,000 in CIP funds on hand to address a rooftop-unit failure if necessary, and staff said they are developing a three-year plan for rooftop-unit replacement.
