After Dennis School Closures, Decatur Public Schools released the 2013 Health, Life, Safety reports, which include detailed inspections of both the original Dennis and former French Academy buildings.
These detailed inspections are required every 10 years, per Illinois Health/Life Safety Code, Section 180.310, and the Regional Superintendent is responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with HLS.
In a June 22 interview on Byers & Co, DPS Superintendent Dr. Rochelle Clark said that in addition to the HLS Surveys due this year, they will do "in-depth studies, just like we did for both campuses, throughout the district, just because we want to know."
At the July 24th Board Meeting, Dr. Clark said plans for inspections and 2023 HLS Surveys will be on the August 8th Agenda.
Regional Office of Education #39 Superintendent Jill Reedy says "We do monitor that they do a 10-year survey," which "all districts have to do, and that's done by a certified building architect/engineer."
But Reedy says "The only thing I do is check that they've done them." She adds "I think almost every building" DPS61 inspects at the same time, so "they're all due again," by the end of December 2023.
Annual Inspections
The Regional Superintendent's office is responsible for annual HLS inspections, which involves checking that exit lights are lit, that elevators & fire extinguishers have up-to-date inspections, that fire exists are not blocked, among other things, but does not involve structural analysis.
Reedy says "We do do [annual] Health Life Safety, but it's very limited because we aren't architects or engineers."
I asked Reedy what her experience has been like with the district, with regard to annnual reports, and if they address most issues.
She said "Oh yeah, absolutely they have been great."
Reedy adds "I hired a new guy specific to focus on [HLS] so he could make that his priority cuz I am way too busy for that." but "I'll go along and I monitor and read them."
2023 Annual inspections
I reached out to Reedy's HLS inspector, Chad Ramey. Ramey says his inspections of both buildings were done on January 4th, 2023, and that "I can tell you there were no observations or violations out of the ordinary, emergency lighting repairs/installation, door stops when not allowed, ceiling tiles needing repaired/replaced, those types of observations."
Regarding the structural issues at Dennis & French, Ramey wrote "During my inspections I did not note any issues with exterior walls, stairs, or parapets at either location. As you said, those types of items are definitely out of my expertise and or knowledge. Probably more along the lines of a structural building inspector, engineer or architect."
You can review the 2023 Annual HLS report for Dennis/Mosaic and the 2023 Annual HLS report for French/Kaleidoscope, which were obtained through a FOIA Request.
One item on the annual checklist is to ensure stairwells are "Properly maintained." Reedy checked her glossary for more detail on "Properly maintained" and said "So it says stairs, walking surfaces and rail shall be maintained in sound condition and good repair. So non-slip treads are required on all stairs for one," and she says "my health life safety inspector guy is the one trained in all of this."
Ensuring Annual Compliance
For annual inspections, Reedy's office will send a list of violations found, and will communicate back and forth with the District through an online system, and the District will detail what's been fixed, if it's on the summer schedule, or whatever the plan is for addressing each violation.
For example, the 2023 Dennis/Mosaic Report shows "Storage closet by exit 'C' needs heat detector installed" and Kent Metzger, the DPS61 Director of Buildings & Grounds, responded on February 22nd, 2023 that "Heat detector will be installed as noted."
Reedy says they have to turn in a report to the State Board of Education by June 30th saying that all inspections have been done for the past year, and they have to give a letter grade indicating the level of violations.
She says some repairs are pricier and may require a contractor, but a lot of things are quick fixes like "improper door closures" or "no extension cords in the classroom."
Ensuring 10-year Compliance
I asked if Reedy's office ensures repairs are completed after the 10-year surveys, particularly with regard to water damage and masonry problems found in the 2013 HLS report, and she said that she just monitors that the survey is completed.
Reedy says she doesn't really have any role in validating the follow-up of the 10-year survey, and that "it's on the districts". I asked if the District has to report to the state, and Reedy said "You know, I probably need to learn more. I started in October 1st." She says "I don't want to tell you wrong."
Reedy elaborates: "So their 10-year surveys are submitted to the State Board of Education" through an online system called IWAS, that she "checks that [the district has] done it," and the State Board can look at and monitor it. She adds "and I don't know at [the state's] level, [how much] they follow through on."
Reedy provided me with contact information for Bob Sondergoth, who she says did all of their HLS training, works at the Illinois State Board of Education, and used to be a regional superintendent. While collecting his information, she mentions "Oh that's funny, we were talking about a 10-year survey."
She tells me that Sondergoth "is probably one of the most knowledgeable on Health, Life, Safety, so he could give you far more detail on that 10-year survey of what happens behind the scenes" and that "They've put him in charge of some of the health safety stuff cuz he is so knowledgeable in that."
I emailed Sondergoth on June 16th, asking the following questions (paraphrased):
- Do you know if water leaks, masonry damage, and improperly fitting doors were repaired since they were reported in the 2013 Dennis/Mosaic survey?
- Is there documentation to show which issues have been addressed from past HLS surveys?
- Are the above stated issues cause for concern and further investigation?
- Would you expect any of the structural issues reported by Klingner, some of which appear pretty obvious, to have been noticed during the 2023 annual survey?
- Would the state have any knowledge, documentation, or reports regarding past repair attempts to the north stairwell at Dennis, and a few repair attempts at the French building, which were detailed in the Klingner report?
As of July 25th, 2023, Sondergoth has not responded, and I have made no further efforts to reach him.
I asked Reedy if there are federal or state funds to help repair historical buildings like Dennis/French. She said Sondergoth would be the one to ask, that she could speculate, saying there's a lot of money schools have used for construciton, adding "and then there is Health/Life Safety money for repairs of these things."
District Transparency, HLS Scheduling, Past Repairs
On June 13th, I emailed Dr. Clark many questions, and the District's Communications Officer, Denise Swarthout, responded on July 24th, answering some of the questions.
- 10-year HLS surveys were due by December for both French & Dennis. When were those scheduled for? Approval for HLS surveys is on an upcoming BOE agenda on August 8, 2023.
- What other facilities were due for a 10-year HLS survey this year? no answer
- The 2013 HLS survey shows several cases of water damage to the Dennis building. Were these issues addressed since 2013? If yes, can you provide documentation? There are no documents responsive to this request.
- What policy exists to ensure routine maintenance and inspection of buildings, such as tuckpointing, checking for rust, and sealing cracks with flexible sealant or paint? If no such policy exists, what plans, if any, are there to develop one? no answer
On June 23rd, I submitted a FOIA Request to Board Secretary Melissa Bradford, asking for "Documents related to inspections and repairs detailed in the Klingner inspections," but Bradford merely directed me to Klingner's report. (see Dennis/Mosaic Report and French/Kaleidoscope Report)
I sought documents regarding past repairs. I quoted the Klingner reports stating "an [8 inch] steel W-beam was added at some time in the past" at Dennis and "Previous attempts to sister some of the water deteriorated roof joists was observed near the north wall bearing" at French and 7 other potential past repair attempts reported by Klingner.
On July 14th, I submitted a Request For Review to the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor, in hopes of acquiring documentation of past repairs. As of July 25th, I have not received a resposnse from the Public Access Counselor.