Page 94 - Superintendent Report 2021-22

Maintenance & Plant Operations

Maintenance & Plant Operations (MPO) executes the work program for the general maintenance
and repair of 29.9 million square feet of District facilities utilizing a prioritized work order system.
MPO’s primary responsibilities include maintaining and operating the central infrastructure for all
District facilities.

In addition, department staff directs vendors to execute projects funded by the sales tax referendum
passed by Palm Beach County voters in 2016. MPO operates with a budget of $57.75 million and a
staff of 352.5 employees. The workforce consists of various tradespersons, managers, and support
positions. Some significant sections within MPO include Grounds, Building Envelope, Utilities,
Financial Applications, Logistics, Minor Projects, Compliance, and Call Center.

Over the course of FY22, MPO initiated and completed numerous impactful projects, including:
• 213 minor capital and sales tax referendum projects, including the replacement of 62 chillers,
23 air handlers, 19 VAV boxes, eight cooling towers, 363 concretable HVAC (Qtec/Bard) units,
31 playgrounds, 11 intercom head-end units, 17 tracks, nine perimeter fences, six marquees,
modular BEMP and roofing at 11 campuses, ten play courts, stage curtains at seven schools, and
custodial equipment at 82 schools
• District-wide roof assessment utilizing thermographic and visual inspections to prioritize roof
replacements and repairs
• Calsense $100K grant was approved and work began to upgrade numerous irrigation systems
• Enhanced COVID-19 custodial cleaning plans (including purchase and delivery of partitions,
masks, and cleaning chemicals and additional training on Clorox-360 machines)
• District-wide monthly Custodial Newsletter
• Staff augmentation using temporary services contract for custodial and trade services
• Continued FEMA recovery efforts for Hurricane Irma and COVID-19 pandemic
• Air purifiers installed in more than 13,600 classrooms
• Building automation modules installed in more than 50 portables/concretables
• Participated in the Lock & Window and Custodial Principal Leadership Academy
• Hired three Student Teen Employee Program (STEP) Summer 2022 interns; program returned
after two COVID-19 years
• Exterior school painting project has started. The goal is to complete 100 schools by December
31, 2022

Maintenance technician hard at work Maintenance crew performing an
responding to a school plumbing issue. emergency roof repair.

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