Standard IX
- Physical Facilities
- Documentation of compliance of the physical plant regarding applicable regulations governing heating, ventilation, asbestos, illumination, etc. can be found in such report in the school office.
- Three custodial workers do regular and effective maintenance and housekeeping. Their efforts provide a safe, sanitary, attractive environment for learning. Regularly scheduled improvements such as carpet replacement, carpet cleaning, painting, repairs, and installation of ceiling fans are carried out by this work force.
- The movement of the students is adequate on a normal school day. When the entire student body is required to gather in one area (gym, auditorium, church), the entrances to said area are few and all students channel into one traffic pattern.
- The exit routes for fire are described in the teachers’ handbooks and are posted in each room. The regularly inspected fire extinguishers are posted throughout the building. Their location and number meet the recommended amount for the building as per the guidelines of the Madison Fire Department.
Strengths:
The maintenance of school facilities is maintained adequately. It is a clean facility.
The facilities are sufficient to permit the school to pursue its stated philosophy and purpose.
Equipment is maintained to be useful and safe for the students and staff.
The school plant meets fire and safety regulations.
Provisions have been added to the building to accommodate handicapped persons.
Concerns:
Storage for the students (Grades2, 3,4,5,7 &8) is inadequate; therefore their personal belongings spill out into the hall, which constitutes a safety issue.
Air quality and ventilation in halls and classrooms is a concern in the lower level (Primary Unit), on the second floor (Intermediate Unit, Library, Art, Computer, and Science Lab), and in the Spanish Room located on the 3rd floor.
Lighting in the halls of the lower level and the second floor is inadequate.
Bathroom facilities need to be updated and in some cases additional stalls provided.
Present use of all spaces (classrooms, offices, and resource rooms) needs to be evaluated to address the need for additional space to meet the needs of the students.
Summary Report for Physical Facilities:
1.Accomplishments:
Ceiling fans have been installed in six classrooms on the upper level (Middle School) and on the second floor (Intermediate), two of the four classrooms have ceiling fans installed.
New carpeting, bathroom remodeling, and ceiling renovation has been put on a yearly rotation basis.
Additional wiring has been installed in the classrooms to accommodate the technological improvements the school has implemented.
Resource rooms have been equipped with heating systems and operable windows.
An additional stall in the girls’ bathroom on the lower level was installed.
Two dehumidifiers were installed in the gym.
2. Concerns:
There is a definite need for replacement of student storage areas for the students of Grades 2, 3,4,5,7,8. This improvement impacts the replacement of the flooring tiles, which in itself is a major health concern. It is unknown what will be found when the old lockers are removed. More storage is also needed in the new first grade classrooms.
Air quality issues are a major concern. Inadequate ventilation on the second floor and lower level is evident and requires immediate attention. This concern also applies to the Spanish Room that has no ventilation system presently. The heating ventilation system adversely affects the noise level in the classroom.
Inadequate lighting in the halls of the lower level, second floor, and third floor (Middle School). This would encompass the lowering of ceilings and new light fixtures installed.
Present use of all spaces (classrooms, offices, and resource rooms) needs to be evaluated to address the need for additional space.
There is no uniformed system of posting emergency procedures in each classroom so as to inform the occupants of the correct procedure to follow in the event of an emergency.
3. Recommendations:
Due to our concern, we recommend that the lockers for grades 2,3,4,5,7,8 be replaced with suitable storage cabinets, lockers, or cubbies. We also recommend that the other concerns of flooring, lighting and ventilation be addressed at the same time as one impacts the other. This improvement encompasses the lower level, the second floor, and the upper level. The additional storage for the new first grade rooms needs to be looked into also.
Due to our concern, we recommend that the heating /ventilation units be updated to insure that good air quality is maintained in the school building and that this improvement will decrease the noise produced by these units.
Due to our concern, we recommend that uniform printed signs be designed describing the emergency evacuation plans and that these signs be posted in each classroom and room in the school building. It is also recommended that periodic drills be conducted when the students are in the auditorium during the lunch schedule.
Due to our concern, we recommend that the space that the Art room now occupies be evaluated as to whether that is the best location for said class. The safety issue of the kiln needs to be addressed also.
Due to our concern, we recommend that the present use of all spaces (classrooms, offices, and resource rooms) be evaluated to address the need for additional space.
Report prepared by: Bernadette Zwettler, Alice Battista, Mary Pat Braun
Faculty Committee
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Street address: 418 Holly Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53711
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