November 2018 Bond proposal targets greatest needs

Facilities and Operations Director Mike Kay reported on the district’s Asset Preservation program during Tuesday’s school board meeting. This OSPI mandate requires school districts to complete a facilities review annually. The report is based on a 52 point facility evaluation and scored from excellent to unsatisfactory. Many of the district’s facilities have not had significant construction improvements in 40 to 50 years and scored in the poor range despite an ambitious maintenance program.

Walla Walla High School, Pioneer Middle School and Lincoln High School scored among the lowest in the district and have been selected by the Community Facilities Task Force for improvement consideration on the November 2018 bond proposal. Kay said the Asset Preservation report is an excellent tool for his maintenance team to help strategically stage maintenance projects.

“We have an aggressive preventative maintenance program,” Mike Kay, Director of Facilities and Operations. “Our maintenance staff is working hard to ensure our students have safe learning spaces. The challenge is many of our facilities are showing their age and systems and materials are wearing out.”