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Two Lansing school districts score 100 on Health/Life Safety Inspection

LANSING, Ill. (February 3, 2020) – Two Lansing school districts, District 158 and District 171, were among only 12 out of 146 school districts to score a full 100 on their annual Health/Life Safety Inspections.

Each year, the South Cook Intermediate Service Center inspects the facilities of every member district. The rigorous process takes several teams—including members of district building and grounds and South Cook Intermediate Service Center staff—about four hours to thoroughly inspect everything.

Dave Fortin, Director of Building and Grounds for District 158 said, “We take it very seriously because it’s about the safety of the children in the district.”

No closet is passed over, no nook or cranny is ignored as the teams check off hundreds of items on a seven-page document. Not only must everything be up to local building and safety codes, it must also be in good repair, clean, and well organized. Is the air filtration system functioning, and with the proper filters? Are emergency lighting, sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers all in working order? Does the cooking lab have a stove vent? Are there welding glasses in the metal shop? Are stairs and rails in good repair? Are there vapor-proof lights in the swimming pool area? Are stage curtains fire resistant and hung securely? Is the ceramics kiln properly wired and insulated? Is there anything, anywhere, that could cause a tripping hazard or block pathways? From the building structure to how crayons are stored, it is all inspected for safety and functionality.

A District 158 Facebook post reads: “A big #158Strong congratulations to our Buildings & Grounds Team for earning BACK-TO-BACK Perfect Facility Inspections from the South Cook Intermediate Service Center! For the second year in a row, all five of District 158’s schools have been designated perfectly safe, clean, and conducive for learning.” (Photo provided)

Superintendent Dr. Nathan Schilling joined District 158 two years ago, and is proud that the district has achieved a perfect inspection score in both years. “This is the second consecutive year of no violations in any of the District 158 buildings. The District 158 community should be very proud of this outstanding accomplishment! It illustrates the district’s commitment to being safe and providing positive learning environments for its students.”

Erin Nauta
Erin Nauta
Erin brings a variety of experience — both creative and practical — to her work with The Lansing Journal. Whether she is designing ads, writing articles, answering phones, or doing pre-press proofing, her goal is excellence with a servant's heart.