The $6.9-million modernization and expansion Phase 1 project at the Innisfail Schools Campus is almost complete. The much-heralded $12- million Phase 2 project to modernize the campus's École John Wilson Elementary School is just starting.
But outside of public attention are lesser known but equally important Chinook's Edge School Division projects that are ongoing every year – building new washrooms, replacing roofs, fixing doorknobs and cleaning floors.
These duties are not handed over to external contractors. They are handled by the division's facilities and custodial staff of about 100 who work diligently 12 months of the year to ensure every one of the division's 41 schools are in top shape when more than 11,000 students return from summer break at the beginning of every September.
They are, according to senior staff, the unsung heroes of the school division.
“We think so, especially when you consider their budget has been dramatically cut over the years,” said Kurt Sacher, the division's superintendent of schools. “Facilities (staff) don't get the glory and the glamour, and unfortunately for politicians, it is sometimes an easier area to cut, and I am talking about government. They have to make do with less.”
The responsibility to ensure schools are well maintained and that all facilities are in good running order year-round, rests with Darrel Dyvig, director of facility services for the division. Dyvig has been on the job for the last five years. He is tasked with making sure all operations are safe for students and staff and there is the highest quality maintenance in every Chinook's Edge facility.
“We go out and work with the principals at each school and get their input, as well from their maintenance staff and the government,” said Dyvig, whose department operates on a $9-million annual budget. “We do that earlier in the year and we go through and build a plan on what we are going to do. Planning with the money we are spending is key to make sure we are being as efficient as possible.”
And while students and teachers are off for the summer, it's typically the busiest time of year for Dyvig's department.
He said his staff is tasked to handle regular day-to-day maintenance, and IMF -- infrastructure, maintenance and renewal, the bigger projects that are typically done in the summer to take advantage of the better weather.
Over the past year these projects included 10 roofing overhauls at different schools across the division, including Elnora, Bowden, Sundre, Innisfail, Delburne, Olds and H.J. Cody School in Sylvan Lake. There was also a major project at Cremona School to upgrade a boys and girls washroom.
“That was a big project. We redid the whole washroom which was about 30-plus years old,” said Dyvig.
As well, the exteriors of every division building are cleaned and overhauled, including the work done by grass crews, which typically has summer university students mowing lawns.
“The custodians bend over backwards in the summer to really help get schools set up so they can move forward in a timely fashion,” noted Sacher. “We get little quirky situations like portables in Sylvan Lake where we get disappointed in some of the timing of the arrival of the actual equipment but it had nothing to do with our people, and our people went out of their way to make sure those places are set up as quickly as possible.
“They will work through weekends, put in long hours in key times when we need them to,” said the superintendent, adding Dyvig's crews can be called at any time to handle an emergency, like a flooded gymnasium.
And while their essential day-to-day jobs and the seasonal work is always ongoing, Dyvig, along with his senior staff and Allan Tarnoczi, the division's associate superintendent, are always available to lend help and guidance to outside contractors handling the mega projects, such as the ones currently being done at the Innisfail Schools Campus.
“I can say without a doubt that the role our facilities people played in Phase 1 and Phase 2 as it moves forward has made me very proud of our people,” said Sacher. “The reports I've had have been very positive about our facilities team.“
