SULPHUR BLUFF—Though Dr. Robert Jolly with Gallagher noted the entire Sulphur Bluff ISD campus was “well-maintained,” he also pointed out “significant” issues with certain campus areas in his report to the school board Thursday night.
“Especially for the age of this building, this is in great shape as far as the maintenance and the cleanliness,” Jolly said. “Obviously you take a lot of pride in your facilities, and I know the state doesn’t just hand over money left and right for improvements. Kudos to your custodial and maintenance staff for doing a great job.”
The nurse’s office and vocational-agricultural (vo-ag) building had the more significant issues, Jolly said. The nurse’s office is only accessible through the computer lab currently, and Jolly, a former superintendent at Crandall ISD, worried about student privacy and possible exposure.
“Let’s say it’s 10:15 in the morning, and you’ve got a special needs student taking medication,” Jolly said. “Every day at 10:15 the same students walk through a populated classroom.”
The vo-ag building lacks proper ventilation, according to the report. Ventilation is crucial when welding components together, as welding fumes contain various metals and chemicals, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“[There’s] no portable hoses, no way to get the fumes out of the building which is a requirement now,” Jolly said.
Violations of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) were common in many areas, but Jolly said it was common in older buildings and were minor issues. The main campus was built in 1975, and the ADA was enacted in 1990.
“That’s not a fault,” Jolly said. “That’s the era in which the buildings were built.”