Maintenance & Facilities

However, district leadership also felt that our students, staff and community should enjoy a fully enhanced gymnasium that includes a fresh paint job on the walls and doors and new audio/video equipment. Our capital levy has funded the painting and any other enhancements beyond replacing the floor and bleachers.

At this point, the painting and installation of banners, flags and student recognition signs are nearly complete. Installation of the maple flooring is underway. In late November and early December, the new bleachers will be installed. Our hope is that the gym will be fully functional by the New Year. It has been a huge project made possible by responsive contractors, patient staff and students, as well as community partners who have shared the South Whidbey Community Center gymnasium with us. Thanks to everyone for helping us navigate this challenging time.

We had a crane on the high school campus last week raising a large coil onto the roof, designated for the HVAC unit over the auditorium. Along with repairing this unit, we have been repairing all of the units districtwide in a comprehensive repair project that will ensure heating and cooling until we replace most of these units and control systems under the bond.

Along with HVAC repairs, we are replacing aging water heaters in each of our buildings, either that cannot wait to be replaced or are not covered under the bond. In fact, this coming week we are beginning the replacement of the water heater that serves the boys' and girls' PE locker rooms, as well as the water heater serving the North Wing of the high school/middle school campus.

We are also trying to beat the atmospheric rivers in the forecast by repairing roofs in all of our buildings. We have had James King Roofing in to repair roofs at our transportation and maintenance building, as well as the high school and school district offices.  

Capital Levy - Facilities:  Details by fiscal year
This levy provides approximately $2.25 million per year to fund ongoing technology efforts and capital improvements throughout the district.

These pages provide detail on past and future facilities capital levy projects. These projects are organized by fiscal year.

This chart shows the percentages of levy costs by general categories.  Updated June 2019.

High School Walk-in Freezer

New HVAC compressor and coil for the kitchen walk-in freezer.  Both the inside and outside units were replaced in this project.  The freezer now defrosts correctly, holds temperature, is more efficient and uses newer environmentally friendly refrigerant.

South Campus Walk-in Freezer

New HVAC compressor and coil for the south campus kitchen walk-in refrigerator.  This unit has had problems for some time and was at end of life.  The freezer will be due for replacements in the near future.

Elementary Kitchen Walk-in Shelving

Shelving was purchased for the new walk-in refrigeration unit at the elementary school kitchen.  We worked with staff on their needs to maximize storage.  The new shelving has locking casters to facilitate cleaning and inspections.

Elementary and South Campus Plumbing Fixtures

New plumbing fixtures for all locations at both the elementary and south campus sites were purchased in November 2018.  Installation began in December with high priority locations, and will continue into spring 2019.

HS/MS Climbing Wall

A new climbing wall was purchased and will be installed this summer in the HS/MS mat room.  This wall and other new equipment for the mat room has helped make this a flexible facility for P.E. instruction.

Elementary Furniture

New library and tech lab furniture was purchased for the elementary school.  The new furniture provides more flexibility and meets health department requirements.

New Heat Pump

A new heat pump was installed at the elementary for a classroom unit that failed.  This was one of the remaining original units scheduled for replacement in the near future.

New Intercoms

The intercom systems at the elementary school and south campus are being replaced this summer.  The new systems address a number of concerns and limitations, including:  Inability to synchronize clocks and schedules between sites; clocks that no longer work; existing digital clocks do not help students learn to read analog clocks; lack of support for multiple bell schedules.

The new systems, like the new HS intercom, will resolve these issues and provide better communication support for emergency notifications.  The systems at all three sites can now interact to coordinate messages in the event of an emergency.

Portable Removal

One of the portable structures between the South Campus and garden area has not been used for years and had fallen into disrepair.  It was removed in June.  The area will be graded, seeded and used as additional field space.

HS/MS Readerboard

The old HS readerboard is being replaced this summer with a new digital readerboard that meets county requirements and offers us much more functionality.  We can create custom headers in full color and update the message content remotely. 

We will be able to display both high school and middle school messages.  The new board is scheduled for installation later in July. 

Elementary Dumpster Move

The current location of the elementary garbage and recycling dumpsters at the elementary site creates a number of problems for the school.  These include access, safety, noise, cleanliness and odor in adjacent classrooms.  The new pad location will be on the east side of the school, across from where the buses park.  The new location will make access to the dumpsters easier and in an area where students are not present.  It will remove the odor problems, be easier to clean, less noisy and will allow us to reduce costs by combining garbage pickup for both schools at one location.  This project will be completed in August.

New Exhaust Fans

The rooftop fans at the south campus are wearing out.  Many are not operating and others are failing.  They serve an important role in the indoor air quality of the facility by providing needed ventilation in work areas and restrooms.  This project will replace 10 fans.  The work will be done at the end of July / early August.  The new fans are quieter and more energy efficient as well.

New Mat Room Floor

The carpeted mat room floor at the high school has been a concern for some time.  It is difficult to clean, has an unpleasant odor and is nearly impossible to sanitize.  It has also seen 24 years of heavy use.  A new hard floor surface will eliminate all of the issues we have had with this floor.  A number of products were evaluated and the Robbins/Pulastic floor solution was selected.  It will provide a durable, easy to clean surface with lines for a variety of activities.  It is backed by a rubber pad, providing good shock absorption.  It will be installed in July and comes with a 25 year warranty.

Other Projects: 

Door exit devices for our access control projects;  staff furniture;  computer lab furniture;  gym equipment;  hot water tank for HS

South Campus Septic System Improvements

The south campus septic system was upgraded with new pumps, floats and controls to allow better monitoring and control.  As part of this project, repairs and other improvements were made to the septic tank and drainfield.

South Campus Gym Flooring

The south campus multipurpose/gym facility was carpeted many years ago.  The carpet was old and difficult to keep clean.  The gym is now used exclusively for 5th/6th physical education.  As such, carpeting is not the preferred flooring for PE activities.  Over winter break, the old carpet was removed and the floor prepped and covered with a high density, foam backed synthetic floor.  It was lined for a variety of sports and anchors for volleyball standards were installed.  The new floor and equipment has been greatly appreciated by students and staff.

Video Security Multiple Sites

The district began installing video security cameras back in 2008-09.  Individual cameras have been added over time, but coverage is still limited.  This project expands coverage at both elementary school sites and the community center.  Video coverage complements what we are doing with access control and provides an additional level of security for our students and staff.

New Doors and Locks

As part of our improvements with building security and access control, outside doors at the high school were re-keyed.  Staff and authorized guests now use their ID card to enter the building.

Additional broken doors were replaced as well.

Access Control System Multiple Sites

As we begin to accommodate more and more users in our facilities, ease of access and control of access to buildings becomes increasingly important.  In order to better control facility access and deal more cost-effectively with lost keys, an electronic access control system using proximity cards is recommended.  This project addresses access into buildings from the outside as well as limited general use interior areas such as gyms and libraries.  These controls already exist at the high school.  This project extends the system to the elementary schools and the community center.

New Cooler Door

As part of the reconfiguration of the cooler facility to make it more flexible as a rental space and to provide a separation between the two rented sides, the district installed a new fire/safety exit door in order for the modified space to comply with fire exit requirements.
This project involved cutting a hole in the cooler wall, building a landing with safety railings and stairs for the exterior side of the exit and installing the new door.

New Roof South Campus Portable

One of the portable buildings at the south campus needed a roof replacement.  Some decking and fascia boards were also replaced.  This was done in the spring.

School Gym Wall Padding

The protective padding on gym walls has deterioriated over time.  This project repaired or replaced padding in 6 district gymnasiums.  It also expanded coverage along walls to make our facilities safe for a wider variety of activities.

High School Main Gym Audio System

The existing main gym audio system was damaged and not working correctly.  The main speakers, amplifiers, and input devices need to be replaced and installed in such a way as to avoid future damage. Additional equipment to protect the system was needed as well as new microphones.

This purchase provided four new main speakers, new amplifiers, new media player with bluetooth and direct cable input options, two wireless hand-held microphones and one headset microphone, new rack and a digital signal processor with remote control to protect the system.

New Risers For Gyms and Stage

The district built plywood risers many years ago.  These risers were used for a variety of events,  most notably at high school and middle school graduation.  The old risers were difficult to move and took up a huge amount of space when stored.  They also required frequent repairs and re-painting.  With continued deterioration, the decision was made to replace them.

This purchase provided a flexible and portable riser solution for district use.  The risers come from Wegner’s StageTek line of products.  The units are 4’ x 8’ (like the old risers) and come in four heights.  Some are adjustable, allowing us to arrange them into a large, single-height platform if needed.  They come with safety railings, and carts for efficient storage and transport. 

Elementary School Kitchen Remodel

The elementary kitchen remodel project was delayed one year due to lack of bidders.  We successfully bid the project and the remodel work was completed over the summer. 

The original kitchen was built for serving meals that were prepared at another site and delivered to the kitchen.  It never had a range, exhaust hood, sufficient cold storage and other equipment needed for a fully functional kitchen.

This remodel completely rebuilt the kitchen from floor to ceiling.  They now have a proper range, ovens, exhaust hood, walk-in fridge and new walls, floor and ceiling.

Floor Maintenance Equipment

A new floor machine was purchased for use at the south campus, primarily for maintaining the new gym floor.  It has proven to be a huge time saver over hand mopping.

Elementary Flooring

The last remaining areas needing new carpet at the elementary campus were completed over the summer.  The areas included the library, music room, office spaces and the technology lab.  The new carpet matches carpet already installed in the building.

HVAC Equipment for HS and South Campus

Rooftop HVAC systems at the High School and South Campus sites were due for replacement.  6 of the units were non-functional.   The other 6 had partial functionality. The units are well past their expected lifespan.  The units serve the high school auditorium, main office and library as well as the South Campus office areas.

This project replaced 11 existing heat pumps with new Trane^TM equipment with higher efficiency and of similar heating/cooling capacity.  All 11 were rooftop units requiring placement using a crane.

Other Projects

 Waste treatment system improvements;  ice machine for nurses and athletics;  new plumbing fixtures where needed;  water storage tank improvents at water plant;  electrical improvements;  furnishing for nurse's clinic;  classroom whiteboards and furniture;  hvac pumps and other equipment;  other staff furniture;  new fridge for nurse clinic;  new fencing;  fire hydrant improvements;  audio equipment for HS auditorium.

HVAC Controls

Replaced obsolete hvac controls hardware and associated cabling.  This was the second and final phase of controls upgrades for the high school campus.

Elementary Heat Pumps

Heat pumps for the elementary multipurpose room/gym failed and had to be replaced ahead of the intended schedule.  This work was done during the school year with minimal impact on school activities.  The remainder of the heat pump replacements will be done in the near future.

HS Portable Removal

The three old portables at the high school campus dating back to the 1980's were no longer needed and were surplussed.  They were offered out to other districts and agencies, but we were unable to find a buyer.  They were torn down and the space they opened up may be used for other projects.

Room and Office Painting

Approximately 40 offices, gyms and classrooms were painted during the summer of 2017.  This included areas at both the high school campus and the elementary south campus.  This work gave classrooms a fresh look as students from the Langley Middle School campus transitioned to our Maxwelton sites.

Carpeting at HS and South Campus

This project replaced old carpet at both the high school and elementary south campus sites.  29 classrooms, the office and library were done at the high school and 7 classes at the elementary south campus received new carpet.  Walk-off areas also received larger permanent carpet, helping to keep debris out of the schools.

HS Intercom System

The high school intercom was the oldest in the district, dating to the 1980s.  It had become increasingly unreliable over the years and was not capable of running the multiple bell schedules required for both the high school and middle school programs. 

The new intercom provides much more flexibility in terms of scheduling, is easier to use and incorporates new technology to allow us to respond to emergencies more effectively.

South Campus Roof, Soffit and Fascia Repairs

A number of issues related to the roofing at the south campus were addressed in this project.  Flashing and drainage issues were corrected.  Soffit damage was repaired and soffits painted.  Fascia boards were replaced and fascia painted.

This work greatly improved the look of the campus and will extend the life of the structure.

High School Scoreboard Replacements

The main gym and athletic field scoreboards were replaced.  The old boards had deteriorated to the point that bulbs could not be replaced and the controls were not reliable. 

The new scoreboards use LED technology, are brighter, easier to service and provide much more flexibility for different types of athletic events.  The displays are digital and can be programed for basketball, soccer, football, track, volleyball and basically any other sport or activity.  They can also display still and video images.

A significant portion of the cost for the new scoreboards will be coming through advertising.  Local businesses have signed up for fixed and video advertising contracts.

Science Storage Cabinets

Two classrooms serving the middle school science program did not have adequate storage cabinets.  New cabinets were purchased and installed by the maintenance department.

Elementary Kitchen Design Services & Equipment

The elementary school kitchen was originally designed as a "serving" kitchen.  It lacked proper cooking and refrigeration equipment for regular food service preparation. 

In winter 2017, a firm was hired to provide design and engineering services for a full kitchen remodel.  Equipment for the project was purchased as well, including a walk-in fridge/freezer, stove, ovens, dishwasher and other items.  The district did not receive bids on the project, so it was completed in summer 2018.

Breezeway Enclosure at High School

The high school breezeway was an open hallway on the second floor above the kitchen area.  It was a chronic source of blown debris as well as water which would leak down into the kitchen/cafeteria areas.  This open area was also responsible for a significant amount of heat loss in the building. 

The district had the breezeway enclosed with thermal pane windows trimmed to match the existing windows.  The end result is a much more comfortable indoor environment for our students and staff and increased our energy efficiency in the building.

Student Furniture

This project completed the last big purchase of new student furniture for middle and high school classrooms.  These desks and chairs matched previous furnishings which have been found to work well for staff and students.

Water Bottle Filling Stations

The district received a grant to purchase and install new drinking fountain/water bottle filling stations.  These new devices track water use and also include filtration.  They were installed at the high school and elementary school sites.

Septic System Risers

Much work has been done on the waste water system at the south campus.  Risers (not required when the system was built) were installed on the septic tank and distribution boxes.  These additions greatly enhance our ability to inspect and service this important part of our infrastructure.

New Lockers for MS Students

When the 7th and 8th grade students moved to the HS/MS campus, additional lockers were needed.  They were purchased and installed upstairs in the MS wing.  The new lockers blended well with existing lockers in design and placement and the students were thrilled to have their own new lockers.

Other Projects

Other projects this year include:  Misc. office and staff furniture;  new fire alarm power supply;  misc. hvac work;  new ice machine for the kitchen; new plumbing fixtures for the south campus and high school;  new outside lighting timers;  other waste treatment system improvements;  soffit heaters for the high school;  new hot water tanks;  electrical metering equipment;  whiteboards for classrooms;  new doors and locks.

LMS Student Furniture

Most of the student furnishings at Langley Middle School date to the 1980s and 90s. New furniture was purchased for about half of the classrooms. The new furniture provides much more flexibility for teachers, looks great and is more durable. Feedback from students and staff has been great.

Elementary Playground Equipment

This new playground equipment was chosen for its variety of components that will help with strength, balance and endurance exercises. Several years ago we expanded our PE program to include a 45 minute daily period where students are outside participating in the PE program. This equipment will allow the PE instructor to incorporate specific strength, muscle endurance, and cardiovascular workouts.

LMS Readerboard

The old LMS readerboard was replaced by a new readerboard. It is closer to the main entrance, is easier to use and looks great.

Elementary School Flooring and Hallway Painting

The hallway carpeting at the elementary school has been in poor shape for years. Our new flooring replaced the carpeting with hard rubber flooring and larger carpeted walk-off areas near entrances. It also included a logo in the main entry area.

In addition to new flooring, the hallways were painted last summer and new tag board installed on the walls.  The new hallway colors are bright, colorful and have given the school a whole new look that students, parents and staff are excited about.

High School Backstop Replacements

The existing baseball backstop was damaged in a windstorm in 2015. Some of the original structural elements were sub-standard. Similar problems were found at the fastpitch backstop. Both were replaced with heavier and taller structures with heavier fabric.

Elementary School Fire Monitoring System

Our original fire monitoring system dated back to 1988. It began having problems in fall of 2015 and was replaced that winter with a new system. Our new monitoring system is compatible with current fire code requirements and has been working great.

High School Tennis Court Resurfacing

The high school has 7 tennis courts. All were in need of resurfacing. The concrete courts in particular had serious cracking to address. One of the asphalt courts will need work on the base before resurfacing can be done. This project repaired and resurfaced the 5 north courts and included new netting. We also adopted the new color scheme used today in tennis.

Elementary School Heat Pump Replacement - Phase II

The first phase of heat pump replacements was completed last winter.  Last summer (2016) an additional 15 units were replaced.  The new units provide greater efficiency, are quieter and control the indoor temperature and CO2 levels very well.  This project completed the south end of the school.   The remaining old units on the north side of the school will be replaced in a future project.

One heat pump at the primary school campus was also replaced after failing last spring 2016.

Fence Safety Cap

The district installed approximately 2,000 feet of safety cap on fences at the elementary and high school sites. This cap reduces safety risks to our students and keeps us in compliance with health department safety recommendations.

Garden Program Irrigation and Water System

The garden program needed a permanent solution to their watering needs at the south campus site. The district installed a permanent, buried frost-free watering system for the garden. It is used for irrigation and for washing the harvest.

Floor Maintenance Equipment

A new floor machine was purchased for the high school. The old machine was transferred to the elementary site for use on their new hallway floors. The new machine is faster, works better on edges and helps the HS staff with their large amount of hard floor maintenance.

High School Reach-in Refrigerator and Freezer

One of the high school side-by-side commercial refrigerators failed and was replaced by a new model.

Other Projects

Other improvements include:  hot water heater for kitchen;  crawl space insulation at Bayview School;  fastpitch dugout improvements;  staff furniture;  electrical work;  field restoration materials;  drainfield improvements;  microwave for kitchen;  outside lighting;  outside soffit heaters for high school;  grounds equipment;  new soccer goals;  plumbing fixture replacements;  portable generator and pressure washer;  misc hvac equipment.

HS Atrium Roof 

The South Whidbey High School roof in the old commons (atrium) was a glass roof which suffered leak problems for years. The glass roof was removed and replaced by a solid metal roof. The new roof has performed well. No more leaks and the remaining glass wall has preserved the light and openness of the space.

HS Stadium Roof

The HS stadium roof had multiple leaks and some areas of rust. Repairs were made to damaged areas and the roof resurfaced.

South Campus Roofing

Most of the primary school roof was replaced a few years ago. Two sections remained to address: The gym/kitchen and the covered play area. Both were addressed in this project.

Garden Program Portable Roofing

The school garden building enjoyed a number of improvements. Volunteers painted and made many repairs. The district put a new roof on the building.

LMS Carpet and Painting

We finished the the classroom carpet replacements that began a few years back. Hallways and walk-off areas were also carpeted. The halls and office in the main building were painted as well, giving the entire building a fresh look for the new school year.

High School Student Furniture

Most student furniture at the high school dated to the 1980s and 90s. A significant percentage was damaged and in need of repair or replacement. New furniture was purchased for about half of the classrooms. The new furniture provides much more flexibility for teachers, looks great and is more durable. Feedback from students and staff has been great. Remaining classrooms will receive new furniture in a future purchase.

High School Access Control and Video Security

To better control facility access and deal more cost-effectively with lost keys, an electronic access control system using proximity cards was installed at the high school. 29 doors were fitted with card readers and lock controls. This system will provide better building security, more flexibility when working with different facility users and will greatly reduce the cost of re-keying the building when keys are lost or stolen. Future projects will incorporate access control at our other school sites.
Additional security cameras were also installed at the high school as part of our safety improvements.

Safety Lighting

Numerous high efficiency (LED) safety lights were installed at all of the schools to provide better outside visibility at night.

LMS and PS HVAC Upgrades

The district upgraded the middle school and primary school HVAC control software and installed controls in the middle school two-story building. The new controls provide better temperature control as well as monitoring and controlling CO2 levels in the classrooms. In practice, the new controls have met or exceeded our expectations. Future upgrades to the HVAC systems will include these modifications.

Elementary School Heat Pump Replacement - Phase I

The first phase of heat pump replacements at the elementary school was completed this winter. Five units were replaced along with new thermostat controls which monitor CO2 levels as well as room temperature. The new units are quieter, more energy efficient and modulate the room temperature much better than the old ones. They also control the intake of outside air as needed based on the CO2 levels in the room. At this point, we plan to continue replacements this summer with the same models.

LMS Dumpster Pad

The dumpster pad at Langley Middle School was in poor condition and difficult to use. The district designed and built a new concrete pad and ramp for both garbage and recycle collection. The new system is safer and easier to use, less prone to damage when containers are exchanged and provides a model for similar improvements at other school sites.

Gymnasium Safety - All Sites - Backboard Straps

Basketball backboards that can be moved out of the way when not needed provide much needed flexibility in our gym spaces. The single cable mechanism on our backboards did not provide a safety backup in the case of a cable or mechanical failure. This project installed safety straps on each of our gym backboards as a backup in case of such a failure. They operate much like a car seat belt to prevent the backboard from falling.

HS Practice Field Tree Removal

Over the years, our practice field and retention pond at the high school have been encroached upon by the growth of alder trees. Up to 30 feet of the practice field had been lost and the retention pond perimeter had become blocked and the fence damaged by tree fall. This project cleared back the trees to reclaim those areas.

Fuel Management System

Our existing fuel management system was becoming unreliable and was replaced by a new system which provides better monitoring, reporting and access.

Drainfield Improvements at HS and Elementary

Lateral cleanouts provide an important tool for drainfield inspection and maintenance. Our HS and Elementary drainfields were not built with this feature. We can now monitor and service these facilities better.

HS Fastpitch Batting Cages

Along with other improvements for fastpitch at the HS, two new outdoor batting cages were installed on the south side of the fastpitch field.

LMS Fencing - Dalton Rd.

The old cable fence along Dalton road was worn out and unsafe.  It was replaced by a new cyclone fence.

Other Projects

Other improvements include:  New grounds mower;  new fire hydrant; hot water tanks;  auditorium lighting and sound controls;  field restoration; other HVAC work;  doors; plumbing fixtures;  paint machine for field and parking lot striping;  classroom window shades;  intercom/clock improvements;  fire monitoring equipment;  fencing;  HS dugout improvements;  home ec dryer; f loor maintenance equipment;  LMS long jump pit;  irrigation system improvements; electrical improvements.

LMS Gym Roof

The Langley Middle School gym roof was in poor shape and began leaking.  It was replaced summer 2014. 

HS Track Resurfacing

The South Whidbey High School track had been in poor shape for several years.  Delamination and other safety concerns has prevented track competitions from being held at the high school.

The old track surface was removed and recycled.  The surface prepared and a new polyurethane track surface applied.  The long jump events were also moved off of the infield.  This work was completed summer 2014.

Elementary Carpet 

This project completed the classroom carpeting efforts which started several years ago.  This work was done summer 2014.

Hallway and office carpeting will complete this project in coming years.

School Entrance Security

Entrance security devices were installed at the HS, LMS and Elem sites.  These devices allow school staff to manage front door access from inside the office area.  They would be used during lockdown events or at times of increased safety concern.

LMS Field Restoration

The main field at the Langley Middle School has had serious drainage and settling issues for many years.  Only half the field was usable and athletic games could not be played on the surface.  This project identified and repaired the damaged drainage system, filled settled areas, graded and seeded the south west section of the field.  Work completed summer 2014.

Fencing Projects

Several fencing projects were completed including new fencing at the kindergarden playground to meet health and safety standards, perimeter fencing for the middle school, access gates at the high school and water plant.

LMS Track Restoration

The Langley Middle School track has a basic crushed rock surface.  Grass and weeds had taken over the surface, leaving little more than a trail around the track.  This projected scraped off the grass, added new crush rock material and graded/compacted the surface.

HS Field Restoration

The condition of the main field at the HS had declined over the years.  Through a combination of top-dressing, aerating, reseeding, irrigation improvements and soil conditioning, the turf was brought back to a healthy condition.

Other Projects

A variety of other projects were completed this year, including: 
LMS cafeteria flooring;  new washer and dryer for LMS and Elementary schools; classroom whiteboards and other furnishings;  new doors and locks;  improved outside lighting; a variety of HVAC improvements; new kitchen equipment;  new risers for septic system at south campus site;  new fire monitoring system for Bayview School;  new eyewash station for HS shop areas;  new hot water tanks;  new dumpster pad for LMS site.