SCHOOL TAX REVENUE RISING … Charts released in advance of a full report on the Swanton School District’s five-year forecast at the school board’s upcoming November 8th meeting show income tax withholding collections rising for the third consecutive year.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
An ongoing issue of leaking HVAC pipes at Swanton High School and the potential for more throughout the school system was the subject of a maintenance report to the Swanton School Board this week.
According to Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds Glen Dominique, the leaking issue is due to a variety of issues, from 20 years of system use to the constant expansion and contraction of rubber gaskets, but also due to issues relating to the systems installation.
“In talking to (a chemical analysis consultant) more, they have said that when the system was commissioned 20 years ago, that it probably wasn’t done right,” Dominique said.
“Because what they do is they put a chemical in there that is supposed to help with the system but then it’s all supposed to be flushed out.”
“And the reason these ends of the pipes did that was because that chemical sat in there for all this time. You’d think it would get washed out, but it did not.”
Dominique said he expected to run into more of the same issue throughout HVAC pipes across the school system.
Board Member Kris Oberheim asked who did the initial installation and mused that the school may have basis for a claim against them.
Dominique was unaware of which contractor did the work, but Superintendent Chris Lake said that information should be in the archives.
Dominique also reported that Swanton’s water apparently caused some issues. Board Member David Smith was not as guarded about his concurrence.
“Swanton water sucks,” Smith said. “It’s so hard it’s not funny.” According to Dominique, any time water is turned back on after being shut down to any of the school buildings for work, maintenance has to go back through and check all the toilets because sometimes sediment that normally sits in the pipes will get pushed into the toilets and cause them to run.
OTHER BUSINESS
Lake reported that the school district report cards issued by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) rated the overall district 3.5 stars out of 5 (with 3 representing “meets expectations”), with the elementary and high schools individually earning 3.5 stars and the middle school earning 4.5 stars.
The board approved policy language updates recommended by educational consulting firm Neola, but tabled updates separating the ODE from the Department of Education and Workforce created by Governor Mike DeWine until courts make a final decision on a challenge to its constitutionality.
New donations of $9,329.58 for sports programs, prom, and the baseball/softball complex were accepted.
It was reported that the schools received their back order of 300 Google Chromebook laptops for students, and that they had all been set up and distributed. Early graduation in December was approved for Avery Duncan.
The school board will receive a full update on its five-year forecast at its next meeting on November 8 at 6:30 p.m.
Jesse can be reached at jesse@thevillagereporter.com