Facilities Chief Strickland Honored Amid Open Work Orders for HVAC Equipment

Wake County Schools' Facilities Committee meeting on August 12, 2025, highlighted pressing issues regarding the district's infrastructure, particularly concerning open work orders for HVAC systems. The committee revealed that 17% of mobile units currently have open work orders, with a total of 215 open work orders across various chillers, affecting about 150 of the district's 319 machines.

Committee members emphasized that not all open work orders indicate a complete system failure; many involve minor repairs, such as fan replacements or switch issues. Currently, 80 of these work orders are in progress, with contractors or staff actively addressing the problems.

The discussion also touched on the importance of maintaining a flexible replacement schedule for equipment, acknowledging that unexpected events, like lightning strikes, could alter planned maintenance.

In a reflective moment, committee members expressed gratitude for the outgoing facilities chief, Mr. Strickland, recognizing his leadership amid challenges like underfunding and staffing shortages. The committee underscored the need for quicker hiring processes to fill vacant positions, ensuring that the facilities team can continue to meet the demands of over 200 schools and additional buildings within the district.

As the meeting concluded, members reiterated the importance of acknowledging the hard work of the facilities team, highlighting their collaborative efforts with the county as a model for other school districts nationwide.