The Gooding Elementary/Middle School which is nearing 15 years of age is in need of new paint to seal the block and prevent moisture from entering the interior walls.  A tan paint scheme has been chosen to withstand fading and to appear newer, longer.  Because the block was not “waterproof”, the driving winds and rains encountered in the past have caused water/moisture damage to the interior in 12 classrooms located on the West and East ends of the school.  Painting and resealing of the building is scheduled to occur the end of July through mid-August.  In addition, we are in the process of replacing the building materials that were wet or contaminated with mold or mildew, upgrading the heating and air conditioning, tuning up the cooling tower and HVAC units, improving the ventilation system, and replacing carpets in a dozen rooms.  Both buildings are seeing lighting upgrades in the gymnasiums and other energy savings upgrades. Working with Idaho Power, it was determined that hundreds of dollars could be saved each year by installing light sensors in each classroom and installing new energy efficient lighting in the gymnasiums.  Should no movement occur in a classroom, the lights will automatically shut off and turn on again once movement is detected.

While the above described actions are in an effort to resolve our current situation, we will continue to monitor and improve our Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and will continue to strive to provide a safe, comfortable, and productive environment for students and staff so we can achieve our core mission – educating students. Our district is committed to improving our energy efficiency as well as our IAQ. Good air quality and energy efficiency requires an ongoing commitment from everyone in our school district, because each of us makes daily decisions and performs activities that affect the quality of air we breathe and the amount of energy we use. 

As for the high school building, in July we were notified by a provider appointed by the Idaho Office of Energy Efficiency to tune up our heating system that the system needs to be condemned.  We are in the process of working with the State offices, engineers, technicians, and local authorities to understand what are options are and how we can safely operate our facility for the coming year.  We will keep parents and patrons informed as we become more certain of our path to resolving this issue.