Inspection at Jacksonville Elementary School raises student safety issues
By Peg Kenyon/Staff Writer/pkenyon@jacksonvillepatriot.com
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 6:28 PM CDT
An inspection of Jacksonville Elementary School by Jacksonville city code enforcement officers revealed “multiple safety and health violations,” according to an Aug. 11 letter to Pulaski County Special School District signed by Martin J. Sanady, senior building inspector for the city of Jacksonville.
The letter further reads, “Some of these violations are more significant than others; however, collectively allowing children back into the building gives pause.” The 2009-10 school year began Wednesday; the inspection tool place of Aug. 7.
According to Jim Durham, director of administration for Jacksonville, a serious hazard is posed by wires, which are squeezed together and run along the inside of the awnings that cover a walkway between the Jacksonville Elementary School building and its cafeteria.
According to documents from the City Code/Engineering Department, one of the conduits, which runs along the awning, is in disrepair, with a joint separated. The wiring, the papers said, could “electrify” the structure. Durham indicated that if that happened, children who touched any part of the awning could be electrocuted.
Another electrical hazard found by city inspectors was a light fixture that prevents a door from operating. The document reads, “If light is not egress required, fixture should be removed to prevent a student from electrocution.”
The inspection also uncovered other concerns with the awnings. “Portions have been crushed/kinked/buckled,” according to city officials. City code inspectors also said the structural integrity to those roofs had been compromised.
Durham also expressed safety concerns dealing with “rust metal edges” exposed where portions of concrete steps have eroded. He said that, if a child were to trip or fall, the exposed metal could cut and/or injured him.
The inspectors also cite concerns that broken tiles at the school might contain asbestos. However, they noted that it is merely a concern and has not been confirmed by any thorough tests. City inspectors also asked if the paint flaking from a ceiling could be lead-based.
The inspectors also noted a ceiling in a restroom that is “falling down.”
Wooden railings were noted as being in “disrepair” and could be as considered as “splinter/safety hazards.”
Inspectors also mentioned multiple violations pertaining to electrical outlets at the school and possible mold near air-conditioning units.
Durham also mentioned the use of plastic shower curtains as room dividers that he said “would go up just like that” in a fire.
A carbon copy of the initial findings by the Jacksonville Code Enforcement Department was sent to Lindsey Williams, state fire marshal; Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher; Pulaski County Special School District; and the Arkansas State Police.
Gary Beck, a former principal at Jacksonville Elementary School and, as acting director of support services, in charge of maintenance of the 39 school buildings within Pulaski County Special School District, acknowledged that he was surprised by some of the inspection findings. Among those, he said were ones concerning the electrical outlets and junction boxes left uncovered.
Though concerned by the possible electrical hazard of the awnings, Beck said, he believes skateboarders have a penchant for hanging from those bars and hopes to repair it in on an immediate basis.
As for the possibility of asbestos floor tiles, Beck said, certain PCSSD custodians who are trained to do so, may remove one tile if it is cracked or a piece missing from it. He added that he believes “almost all” of the flooring tile at Jacksonville Elementary was asbestos.
“That’s not uncommon and it’s happened before,” Beck said about loosened portion of the conduit.
As for the possibility of mold, Beck told the Jacksonville Patriot, “Those air-conditioners aren’t even used anymore and it’s more of a case of rotting wood.”
However, Beck also recalled that while principal at Jacksonville Elementary School, he had prepared work orders for those air-conditioning units to be removed. He also added that he believes the principal before him had done so as well. Despite those work orders, the air-conditioners units remain behind but not used.
“That building had central heat and air when I was principal there,” he added. “It’s an eyesore, but I don’t see as much of a danger, I think they should be removed, but they’re on a long list.”
Beck also added that the district has approximately 48 maintenance workers to handle that long list.
Beck said three inspections are generally conducted each year on school buildings. One before school begins, another one around Christmas vacation and a third at the end of the school year, he added.
A phone call to Pulaski school board member Bill Vasquez of Jacksonville was not returned prior to the filing of this article. PCSSD board president Tim Clark said the superintendent’s office and the director of support services usually handle such matters, but said: “We want to make sure it’s safe for the children and that we follow the guidelines set forth by the city.”
