​The staff at SJASD's maintenance facility in the St. James Industrial Park don't just keep the lights on, the faucets running, and the heat blowing in all the Division's 26 schools and three outbuildings. They also address predictable and emergent building maintenance and safety matters and coordinate a variety of renovation and retrofit projects.

MAINTENANCE

Doug Darr, responsible for Grounds, Play Structures and Gyms puts it this way: “Without Maintenance, how do the buildings run?" he asks. “It starts here."

Doug started with the Division 13 years ago working at various schools in caretaker roles. Last year, the 5th Class Power Engineer moved into a Divisional role overseeing maintenance and inspections of play structures and grounds and gyms. He gives all components, including but not limited to pulleys, swings, chains, cables, back boards, and platforms, a very careful and thorough annual review (caretakers also do regular checks throughout the year). If anything is broken, damaged or worn, Doug ensures it's dealt with immediately.

Since coming to Maintenance, Doug says he's really enjoyed working as part of a larger Maintenance team as a Shop Hand. He's also a relief caretaker for the Division.

“I'm a mechanical guy, so I like the mechanical aspect and being out in the field," he says, adding “Everyone works together to help each other out."

While he'll be applying pea gravel around play structures until freeze up, he's looking forward to operating the Division's first Snowdog—a vehicle that looks like a motorized dog sled—to create cross-country skiing trails on all school grounds this year to facilitate outdoor physical education classes for students.

Lawrie Caron is a Certified Journeyman Carpenter and has worked for the Division for 22 years and in construction for almost 40 years. He's responsible for exterior and interior doors, exit dividers, windows, washrooms, bathroom partitions, cabinetry, drywall repairs, flooring, and locks. He started in caretaker and courier roles before accepting a carpentry position in 2008.

“It's a broad job. My priority is the safety and security of the buildings," he explains.

Problem-solving also figures heavily in his work. “I'm often asked to come up with a solution to fix a problem and do it in a cost-effective manner," he says. “Most of the Maintenance staff live within the Division, so we have a vested interest in doing our jobs well, not just for our families, but for all the families in the community."

While most school-based staff are 10-month employees, maintenance employees work throughout the year.

Summer is a good time for Randy Valeri to work unimpeded. The certified Gasfitter and HVAC Mechanical staff member works on a variety of boilers, motors, fans and pumps, as well as forced air, air conditioning and ventilation systems.

He's been with the Division for two years and regularly tears down and rebuilds boilers. He's also been connecting HVAC systems to digital controls for enhanced monitoring and control.

Last spring, Randy worked with other staff members from across the trades to provide heat relief to buildings undergoing HVAC maintenance.

“We went to pick up portable A/Cs. It was a team effort to cool folks down," he says.

He notes that each building is unique, and it takes time to change the temperature of a building. “We have 29 buildings and do our best to make everyone as comfortable as possible," he says.

Kelly Hruska has been a Divisional Electrician for about 20 years and has approximately 30 years of experience in his trade. He is responsible for maintaining electrical systems, including lights, panels and hot water tanks. He also assists mechanical and plumbing trades and oversees alarm and efficiency systems.

“It's a very fluid job," he explains. “[Electricity] touches every aspect of the building."

Over the years his responsibilities have grown to include employee training in areas including preventative maintenance, and project coordination.

For Kelly, it's normal to visit a school for one project, and have someone ask for help with something else. And children are not shy about finding out what he's working on, which makes community relations another part of his job.

“Your day constantly changes. But the safety of the kids and the schools is our priority," he says.

PLANNING

Melanie Andrushko is a Project Officer with the Maintenance Department and holds a Master's Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Manitoba.

Along with Mari Aguirre, Manager of Facilities & Future Development, Melanie works with schools to identify needed building repairs and renovations.

Melanie began working with the Division last February and enjoys getting out to all the schools. “Right now, we're doing walk throughs," she says. “We are trying to identify what each school needs to keep the buildings operating properly and safely, as well as what the schools need to create the best learning environments."

Larger projects go to tender and are built into a five-year planning cycle. While the list of wants is long, safety comes first.

Recently completed or almost complete projects include repainting Sturgeon's interior building, resurfacing and repainting Westwood's gym floor, and reconstructing the parking lots at Heritage and Athlone.

Other major projects include portable classrooms at Phoenix school, a new staff room for Lincoln, and an accessible washroom at the Board Office.

THANK YOU

In total, approximately 20 staff work out of SJASD's maintenance facility on planning and maintenance projects, while another 90 or so caretakers and cleaners maintain SJASD's schools and divisional facilities.

As School Support Staff Recognition Week comes to an end, we thank all our Maintenance staff for keeping our buildings and grounds well kept, safe and great places for learning.