As we prepare to welcome staff back next week, and students on Aug. 26, maintenance and custodial staff have been working carefully with professional inspectors to ensure that school buildings in close proximity to the recent wildfires are safe for work and learning.
Following the downgrade of Level 3 Evacuation orders at Flett Middle School and Indian Trail and Woodridge elementary schools on Aug. 9, district staff worked with Fulcrum Environmental Consulting to conduct visual inspections and air-quality testing at these sites. More than 100 interior and exterior locations were tested, with indoor air quality within the Good-to-Moderate range under the EPA Air Quality Index. Inspectors also found no indication of unusual ash, soot or other settled particulates inside or outside the buildings. You can read the final report here.
All HVAC filters at these schools are being replaced and Custom Energy is bringing systems back online while monitoring indoor air quality in real time. Custodial teams continue precautionary cleaning measures with sites cleared for building staff and authorized contractors to return on Monday, Aug. 17.
SPS Chief Operations Officer Travis Schulhauser and Director of Facilities & Operation Kevin Grimm share about the process in a video:
Staff from schools located at least 1.4 miles from the fire can work at these sites while maintenance and custodial staff complete standard end-of-summer inspections to make sure all buildings are clean and ready for the first day of school.
All families can expect to attend Launch Conferences at their schools on Aug. 24 and 25 with grades 1-12 beginning school on Aug. 26 and kindergarten students beginning their A/B rotation on Aug. 27 and 28. Visit Back to School for more dates and details to prepare for the new school year.
If your family has been displaced by the fire, please complete an Impacted Family Survey so we can support with transportation to your school of origin and other resources. SpokaneCommunityResources.org has more information about organizations offering support.