Summer school work recapped
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FAIRMONT - The Fairmont Area School Board learned from Buildings and Grounds Director Tyler Garrison about the full status and information regarding this summer’s projects at their Tuesday board meeting.
The biggest piece is the mill and overlay tennis court project, which fixes the surface without needing a total replacement. Garrison said they are nearly done.
“We are near completion,” he said. “We have two punch list items left. We were here today working.”
Board Member Michael Edman asked about the board and individual slats that are usually placed inside the fences that make up the walls. Garrison said they would be going back in, but Edman encouraged that they ask whether or not they should go back in.
“There’s been a lot of people sitting in places that they never be able to sit to watch,” he said. “I think it goes back in, they won’t be able to see it.”
Along with the CER Move, Garrison said another big piece of what they were able to do this summer was refurbishing part of the Fairmont Elementary School roof.
“The roof above the old pool, that gym area now, was refurbished along with a couple other little roofs beside those. The maintenance shop roof is currently being replaced, with a few more days of work left on those, and then we’ll do a walk-through at both projects and get a punch list for repairs.”
Six replacements of HVAC controllers and a large circulating pump for the boiler room were also installed.
“We continually try to update the different areas that are not getting remodeled with the HVAC, so that’s a continuing item,” Garrison said. “Installation of a large circulating pump was put in here at the boiler room, that’s another one we continue to try to do every year; try to get some of the big pumps replaced.”
Work was also done in the elementary and high school cafeterias and kitchens.
“New controllers and rooftop condensing units for the walk-in cooler and freezer here at the elementary were completed just in time for school to start," Garrison said. "All new cafeteria tables were ordered on the west side of the cafeteria here as well, so those are in place. We’ve added new serving lines on the west side of the elementary kitchen. We’ve installed large commercial shelving at the high school kitchen in the back room where they store their items. We did a lot of stainless steel countertop workstations in that area."
Also, 23 ash trees are currently being taken down by the school district. When those are gone, Garrison said there will be 45 left they need to remove.
Superintendent Andy Traetow said they hire extra help for the summer work, but the leadership and staff consistency is what makes these projects go.
"When people come into our buildings, they never comment on the age because of the work that Tyler and his team keep them looking the way they do. The investments that have been made with people that have gone before all of us in our district, the school boards, the leadership, our custodial maintenance staff have put us in a position that’s just been carried on by Tyler and his crew, and they do a phenomenal job."
In other news:
-- Seniors Emma Pockrus and Allie Streit were selected to be student school board members. Streit was present and said she likes to be informed and is very excited to join the board.
-- After further review of a potential February 2027 referendum with ICS, Fairmont's planning partners, Traetow said there is no guarantee this will go back to voters; they are aiming to start the process of potentially sending out another referendum at the next board meeting.