DeKalb Superintendent Norman C. Sauce visited Dunwoody High School on Oct. 20 to discuss several system malfunctions that forced the school to move to remote learning last week.
During the week of Oct. 14, Dunwoody High School had been without a fully functioning air-conditioning system for several days, and further compounding the problem, black water was pouring from sinks and water fountains because of malfunctioning water valves.
Sauce, speaking in front of about 75 parents, students, and faculty members, said, “There could have been some lapses” in communication, and that parents should have been notified of the situation before Wednesday, when the decision was made to move to remote learning.
He said he was also not made aware of the HVAC/water issues at the school until Tuesday afternoon, which was another issue he is addressing with his staff.
Sauce explained that when the water issue was discovered on Oct. 14, plumbers were dispatched to the school, and it was believed that the problem was fixed, but later, the discolored water “appeared in multiple locations, and clearly there was more to the story.”
In addition, it was made clear that the water issues, caused by a malfunctioning valve, were related to the HVAC failures, and that further investigation was needed.
“We made the decision, obviously, we can’t have the children and staff in terms of the building, and we need to get to the bottom of this and make plans for virtual learning while our plumbers do more in-depth analysis,” he said.
Further compounding the problem, the school’s chillers, which serve the HVAC unit, were installed temporarily as a stop-gap measure until “significant components of the HVAC system” can be replaced, he said.
“And since then, you know, the water has been cleared, and the HVAC is performing as it should, and it’s clear that [the water valves] were the source of the problem,” he said.
Other building issues raised
Sauce said another issue in the school’s learning cottages has also been addressed, after the administration was informed of possible black mold on the walls, which turned out to be without merit.
He said water and air quality tests have been performed, and that the air quality did not reveal any issues. The water test is expected back in a few days, possibly as soon as Wednesday.
“We are continuing to use bottled water until we have absolute clarity that there’s no toxicity or danger to the water,” he said.
Students and parents weigh in
Several parents and students said they were frustrated with the unevenness of the facility’s cooling and heating systems, with some classrooms consistently registering 64 degrees or less, while others on the third floor with no air conditioning at all.
“It’s not a fit environment,” said one student, who is a junior at the school. “It hasn’t been working ever, really.”
“At this point, kids aren’t drinking the water even though they are back, and they don’t want to eat the food, and they’re freezing,” another parent said. “And you want more money to help fund the schools that have been extended forever.”
Voters will decide on the Nov. 3 ballot whether or not to pass E-SPLOST VII, a 1-cent education sales tax renewal. Running from July 1, 2027, to June 30, 2032, it aims to raise $946,773,776 for school renovations, construction, technology, and buses across DeKalb, Decatur, and Atlanta schools.
Other parents cited a 2019 promise to install gutters in the portable classrooms at both Dunwoody and Peachtree Middle School, which never happened, adding that they don’t trust that promises to upgrade the facilities in the future will be honored.
Sauce and other personnel said they are aware of the current issues and take accountability for them. However, Sauce added that although he can’t speak for the past superintendents [there have been seven since 2019], he will be responsible for future decisions.
“We are not going to be putting forward and promising anything we can’t afford,” he said.
