The Nov. 4 election will determine whether or not Norwood voters pass a bond for a new school. A debatable issue, the bond didn’t pass the last time two times it was up for a vote. The Forum asked Frank Golaszewski, of Norwood, his insight on what some of the issues inside the building are. Golaszewski, who is a parent and Norwood community member, is the Norwood School’s maintenance manager.
He told the Forum his day to day routine means being stuck in the high school portion, because of its “rough condition.” That involves dealing with the state health department and local fire district weekly. According to him, there are areas literally falling apart and crumbling.
Leaks are one of the biggest issues, he said, in the inner section of the building, entering from the high school parking lot. There, above the Maverick logo, leaking persists after storms, and in the winter ice builds up. The hallway leading to the nurse’s office is another leaking area, and Golaszewski has taken ladders up into ceiling and used a pressure washer to check the sealant. Once he had it leak-free for nearly a year, but the leaking is back.
He said there are multiple points of failure in the cast, pipe and drains of the roof. He’s heard from locals it’s been an issue since the 1960s. He doesn’t believe the roof has been patched properly.
Is there mold? He said that’s a tricky question. Yes, one can see mold is growing, but when the state does their air quality samples, breathing appears to be safe because of the high desert climate, which inhibits rapid mold growth.
When asked about where the asbestos is in the building, he said it’s “everywhere.” The asbestos tile in the old all-purpose room remains safe, but he does have to seal it every year. The asbestos block walls in the high school wing have also been painted, but one cannot drill holes in the block wall, or the safety is compromised. Over the years, some didn’t know that and did drill holes.
The air handler unit in the high school had a vibration damper that tested positive for chrysotile asbestos. Golaszewski shut that down, based on degradation.
Some saw the worms found in the interior of the building on social media recently. Golaszewski said a few worms have been seen in the past, where the wall meets the foundation in the office area. Yes, there have been a few earthworms lately too, likely due to moisture in the building.
Some who’ve been in Norwood School might remember the bathroom smell. Golaszewski said that’s an issue of sewer gas coming up and back into the building. He said he pulled the toilet seats and found the metal collars had corroded. He has mostly fixed them, but when maintenance doesn’t put water down the floor drains regularly, that gas will creep up.
Most recently, the boilers are failing. The high school wing now uses space heaters. The wrestling room has no heat. Golaszewski said the gas company has been on site three times this year alone.
Golaszewski said he doesn’t have a maintenance budget to address all that needs done.
“I don’t know who built this, but it was a disaster when they laid the first brick,” he said.
He knows of some communities who’ve maintained a school safely since the 1800s, and he said most buildings can be repaired and fixed.
Many in Norwood are hoping the bond passes Nov. 4, so that the community can plan for a new school. The BEST grant would cover more than $50 million; citizens would have to contribute $8 million.
Lisa Foxwell, of Norwood, hopes the bond succeeds. She said it’s about employment, education and community. She said it “supports property values, economic stability and community pride.”
On the other hand, Sarge Morin, a building inspector, said he’s a “no." He said he can’t get behind the bond, if it doesn’t provide for new programs, affordable housing, or support for teachers. He said building a new school next to Lone Cone Library with BEST grant funds feels like a location change without a real promise of good education.
“Our educational outcome will be the same regardless,” he said.
He wishes Norwood could’ve combined with Nucla, before Nucla built its new school, also funded by a BEST grant. He said he wants what’s best for kids, but he thinks programming, arts, music and teachers should be the focus. He also said in his work over the years, he’s seen dilapidated buildings be made safe.
