Maintenance issues have been piling up at IHS, inconveniencing students, teachers, and staff. Broken air conditioners and heaters, leaking pipes, and rodent infestations around the building have become commonplace, creating safety hazards and distracting students from their learning. Teachers report that these problems are not being fixed promptly, and that requesting a maintenance ticket can take up to two years to get worked on. The Tattler Editorial Board urges the district to address these maintenance issues that are negatively affecting student and teachers’ school environments.
IHS technology teacher Jonathan Shyne reports that issues in his classrooms have been outstanding for as much as two years, and that there isn’t enough communication from maintenance about when they will be fixed. “There is a leak in the F41 computer lab that has been providing a nice steady drip for two years on and off…I first made the report two years ago, and they said they would fix it over the summer. I emailed about it in September when I still saw it was leaking…This week was the first time in the two years that it was actually given a straight answer from maintenance.” Computers in Shyne’s classroom situated close to the leak were inaccessible to pupils for the duration of the leak. Additionally, the water affected people with specific mobility needs in his classroom.
The G- and H-buildings at IHS have had a long-standing rodent issue, with several sightings by many teachers and students. English teacher William Asklar reported that “Even during the regents exam, a mouse came in [to my classroom].” Rodents create an uncomfortable and unhygienic environment for everyone in the classroom, and many students and staff are troubled by the possibility of a rodent running into a learning space. Teachers are also unsure about how they would address a situation like Mr. Asklar’s, and are concerned about the possibility of rats making an appearance during standardized testing in the near future. As far as teachers are aware, there is no protocol for this situation.
The multiple maintenance issues around IHS are also creating safety problems. For example, Mr. Shyne’s continual leak is directly above an electrical outlet, creating a risk of electrical shock and a short circuit. The leaky pipes and ceilings around the school are slipping hazards and potentially dangerous. The heating and cooling systems around the school violate the New York State Building Codes, as stated by Mr. Asklar: “The heat in certain A building spaces is sporadic and it violates New York state building codes because classrooms are supposed to be sixty-five degrees and above, and some of them are under sixty-five degrees.” Despite these issues having been brought up to the administration already, there have been no further updates on this matter, nor has a plan of action been implemented.
In light of Earth Day, more action needs to be taken to mitigate wasted heat energy at IHS to lower IHS’s environmental impact. Along with broken cooling systems, many classrooms have inconsistent heating systems that heat rooms to unsafe temperatures, forcing teachers to open windows to keep the room temperature normal. Extra heat control for teachers in their rooms is needed to help keep classrooms from overheating, or a central thermostat should be installed to help keep the temperature down in negatively impacted areas.
Leaky pipes impose a negative environmental impact, as it wastes water with the possibility of contaminants getting sucked into the pipe, leading to unsanitary drinking fountains.
Unattended maintenance problems around the school have been harming students’ learning and ability to pay attention in class. Students deserve an adequate environment in which to learn, and without proper maintenance, the school remains unsafe. Maintenance issues may not always be evident, yet repairing such problems is still essential to every student’s and teacher’s day at IHS.