Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) hitting the states this spring, most schools have closed until the fall. This has caused turbulence in the school system for students and staff alike, but these challenges have also presented several opportunities.
During the extended school closure, teachers and staff can work on enhancing the student experience for the next semester. In addition to the curriculum and activities for students, school building maintenance can be scheduled for the extended summer period.
Building maintenance is often overlooked at school facilities. Depending on funding and maintenance resources available to the campus, certain tasks are put on the back burner until they become major issues. Some examples of these maintenance tasks include:
- Checking function and electrical safety of alarm systems
- General classroom electrical, lighting, and interior preventative maintenance checks
- HVAC equipment and systems checks
- Restroom and kitchen plumbing maintenance
- Gutter and roof drain cleaning and maintenance
- Asphalt and roofing preventative maintenance
- Backflow testing
- Emergency generator electrical maintenance
Each of these tasks incurs a small expense that the school board or faculty might not have budgeted for. However, these tasks can save your school hundreds or even thousands of dollars in emergency repairs when taken care of routinely. Something as simple as planning for preventative maintenance on your roofing, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems can help you create a better student experience year-round.
So, as you plan to make use of this extended summer, think about your maintenance plan. Is it integrated into your operational plan and budget, or is it more of an afterthought? Are you working with your maintenance team to address specific problems and find cost-effective solutions? Or are you leaving it to a handful of janitors to do the very basics?
MaintenX offers turnkey solutions for facility maintenance on campus. Whether you’re creating a preventative maintenance plan or want to work on renovations for fall, we can provide best-in-class service. Contact us today for details!
