At Monday nights Williamson County School Board Meeting, school cleanliness was one of the topics discussed.
Fairview resident, Fred Reinfelder, spoke to the Board during the Public Comment portion of the evening regarding his concern about hygiene and cleanliness at schools in the Fairview community. He explained that he observed instances that concerned him while at Fairview High School and Westwood Elementary. He provided the Board with pictures he took of Fairview High School and Westwood Elementary.
While at Fairview High School on Aug 7th, he described the landscaping as looking like a “state fairgrounds” instead of a school campus and that it looked as though it had been neglected. In the bathrooms, he described seeing mold, dirty vents hanging loosely from tile and walls and holes in the walls.
Mr. Reinfelder sent an e-mail to the Board, voicing his concerns. A week later, when visiting the school again, he said that the grass had been mowed but he still noticed safety and hygiene concerns.
Also, at Westwood Elementary, he noticed things that concerned him. He said the carpet that children would sit on did not appear clean and that “in one of the classrooms…there had been feces on the wall and there had been multiple requests to have it removed but instead of removing it, the solution that was offered was to paint over it.”
Mr. Reinfelder praised the work of the staff at Fairview schools and parents for all they do for their schools and that he wants to create awareness about the issue. He asked the Board for “adequate resources for renovation and/or deep cleaning, an audit of current maintenance roles and responsibilities and new processes be instituted so this doesn’t happen again.”
Board Member Kenneth Peterson responded to Mr.Reindfelder’s statements by saying that “maintenance and cleanliness is just as important as classroom performance” and Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney seconded those thoughts and said that the contracted landscaping and cleaning services had been put on notice and higher standards were expected. Dr. Looney said the community would see improvements and by the next school board meeting, on Sept 21st, there would be more information on this progress.
In other School Board News:
Dr. Looney’s contract, with $250,000 yearly salary, was approved with 8 yes votes and 3 no votes.
Textbook Adoption of Art and the American Identity as the text for a special course was approved with 7 yes votes and 4 no votes.
The City of Fairview dedication of Westwood Elementary Schools Tiger Trail to the City as a public road was approved with 10 yes votes and 1 no vote.
