In 1994 the SACS committee recommended that certain repairs and improvements be made to the physical plant at Grady. Accreditation was withheld until the System made certain critical maintenance. Once accreditation was obtained no further work towards those recommendations has been performed. This subcommittee undertook to review the entire Grady block. It divided itself into seven task forces: Walls and bellings; Floors; Lighting and Electrical; Doors, Windows, and Hardware; Accessories; and Grounds. Visual surveys were conducted by each task force and their findings were documented in writing and photographs.
In both the rennovation of 1987-88 and the work done in reply to SACS, the basic workmanship appears to be very poor. Paint was applied to walls which were improperly prepared and is now peeiing. Conduits within walls were seldom repaired properly with sheetrock or plaster. Ceiling tiles were not matched to existing tiles producing an unattractive haphazard look. Continuing maintainance on plaster surfaces has been deferred, resulting in cracking which furthur erodes surfaces. No effort has been made to repair/paint stains on ceiling resulting from HVAC condensation. Neglect has resulted in water infiltration: one room on the third floor is closed for use due to roof drainage and water stands in the locker room of the old gym. Areas under windows have been damaged by water which encouraged subsequent student abuse.
Wiring in the building has been done in a piece-meal fashion without adequate record keeping. This results in an inability of an electrician to trace the wiring. Some sockets work and others do not, switch locations are in awkward positions, some sockets lack proper covers. We found insufficient outlets to service any school planning to use the latest in high technology. Telephone and intercom wires are exposed in places and telephone connections are inadequate for computer linkage. Mechanical and electrical systems are woefully inadequate. Temperature and climate control are continuing and daily problem detracting from the learning environment.
Exterior doors are in need of handles for handicapped access to meet legal requirement. Some doors are difficult to operate and need some general maintainance/replacement handles. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of the interior doors are in need of repairs such as hinges, locks, closing sets, handles, wire glass. Ninety-six percent (96%) of the windows are in need of repairs (windows do not open, do not stay open, panes are missing or broken). Improper cleaning has damaged the plastic windows. Almost none of the windows meet fire safety requirements since they take two people to open them and maintain the opening.
Room furnishings have been accumulated over Grady's fifty year history. They represent a hodgepodge collection and many are in a poor state of repair. This results in unattractive and sometimes ill-equipped classrooms. Locking file and storage cabinets, teacher desks with adequate drawer space, and desk chairs which are comfortable and supportive, as well as adequate bookshelves are needed. Student desks/tables should be uniform in each classroom (Creating a clean and attractive environment gives both the teachers and the students an incentive to maintain this environment.) All rooms are not equipped with permanently mounted projector screens, dry-erased boards, a TV & VCR, or computer stations. Restrooms present special problems relative to toilet paper and hand drying facilities (Toilet rolls which dispense.only a limited amount of paper at a time and electric hand dryers recessed into the wall are currently available.) Other problems are a lack of mirrors and no hot water. Privacy doors on stalls are missing or damaged. Grafitti is a major problem which needs to be addressed by faculty, students, and parents.
The school and stadium occupy a major piece of valuable inner city real estate. With its proximity to Piedmont Park and the many citizens from within as well as from outside the city/state who visit the Park, Grady holds great potential for creating a positive impression of APS. However, the lack of maintainance to the grounds (proper grasses, well trimmed bushes and seasonal plantings) as well as the ruts and mud holes created by Board maintainance and contracted construction teams repeatedly create a negative impression. There are areas on the school ground which, with adequate seatings and landscaping could be used for an outdoor classrooms. The current chain-link fences and crumbling granite walls give the impression of a penal institution rather than an attractive place to team (The Grady Foundation is currently developing a plan which will address some of these concerns.)
Virtually every aspect of the physical facilities at Grady suffers from neglect, distress and abuse. There is little or no preventive maintainance on any part of the facilities. The system apparently provides no policing of its contractors for damage to the property as is demonstrated by the current elevator construction and roof repair -- mud holes in front and construction debris in the parking lot and in the front. Lack of planning by the System results in a waste of money as illustrated by replacing the new gym door prior to stopping the roof leaks resulting in a need to repair the new floor.
This sub-committee recommends that Henry W. Grady High School actively pursue Charter Schools status. As part of the negotiations for that status the APS should commit to providing adequate maintainance and improvements required by SACS and State Facilities studies in a timely manner. Appropriate budget allocations from the Charter Schools budget will be made to address the above problems and such fund should be linked with the Grady Foundation plans/budget. The subcommittee is of the opinion that improvement to the physical facilities will improve the behavior and performance of the students at Grady.