GCS Insider - Making a Difference

Maintenance – Not Just Hammers and Nails

Every group in GCS has its own way of making a difference in our students’ learning environment. But one that might not come to mind is the Maintenance Department, or as Gerald Greeson, director of maintenance, likes to refer to it – Building Services.

“Many people think of the Maintenance Department as just hammers and nails, but we are so technically advanced now. I can look at the temperature of all the schools using computers,” he says.

The department’s highly skilled employees provide a quality environment on many levels. In addition to ensuring classroom temperatures conducive to learning, about 70 degrees, the department does everything from repairing and replacing air conditioning and heating units to providing curb appeal for schools to cleaning bathrooms, classrooms and hallways.

Healthy Learning

The department also has an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) group that deals with mold and mildew. Evidence provided by the U.S. government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that poor IAQ can cause illnesses effecting school attendance and can cause acute health symptoms that decrease performance in the classroom. In addition, the EPA’s recent data suggests that poor IAQ may directly reduce a person’s ability to perform specific mental tasks requiring concentration, calculation or memory.

“It’s an awesome responsibility we have, and we don’t take it lightly,” says Greeson.

Teachers, administrators and staff can also play a part in keeping a clean classroom, office or kitchen:

• Turn lights off when the room is not in use
• Close windows during times of rain to keep moisture out
• Keep the thermostat at a constant temperature
• Don’t let things pile up, which encourages dust, mold and mildew

In Rain or Shine

When the area was struck by severe weather on May 8, Greeson and many others from Maintenance were up all night and morning visiting schools to check power and make sure no trees or power lines were down on morning travel routes.

“Our goal is to have schools open every morning,” says Allen Bailey, assistant director of maintenance.
With over 10 relief custodians in the department to provide a helping hand in an urgent situation or substitute for a normal custodian, school are sure to open on time and be safe.

Working Hard in the Summer

Every summer, Maintenance hires about 150 part-time employees who help paint 16 schools. The summertime paint project works on a seven-year rotation in which that year’s 16 schools, including facilities and any landmarks on the property, receive a fresh coat of paint.
“This is a really great thing we have because we give a lot of people some part-time work over the summer like college students and single parents who have lost their jobs,” says Greeson.  

 
Work Orders – Easy as 1, 2, 3

Wondering what to do if you have a leaky faucet or a dead light bulb? It’s actually a very easy process. Visit the maintenance page and click on “Work Orders” on the left-hand side. Log in with your username and password and fill it out! The order in which work orders are fulfilled is based on an urgency/priority system. There are more than 45,000 work orders filled every year – that’s almost three work orders per employee!

 

 

In compliance with federal laws, Guilford County Schools administers all educational programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination because of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, color, age, military service, disability or gender, except where exemption is appropriate and allowed by law.  Refer to the Board of Education's Discrimination Free Environment Policy AC for a complete statement. Inquiries or complaints should be directed to the Guilford County Schools Compliance Officer, 120 Franklin Boulevard, Greensboro, NC  27401; 336.370.2323.