Inside the rigorous inspection process for Tennessee school facilities

CLINTON, Tenn. (WATE) — At schools across East Tennessee, the books are organized on the shelves, the walls and lockers decorated, and even the playdough is out and ready to be molded by the youngest of students.

“To educate a student you have to have a great environment. If the environment is not good, then there is a problem,” said Director of Anderson County Schools Dr. Tim Parrott.

For nine years, Parrott has overseen a number of projects with Anderson County Schools. One of which, keeping the county’s 18 facilities up and running.

“We do a lot of stuff in house,” said Parrott. “We have our own heat and air, our own electrician. We have our own plumbers and everything like that. So, a lot of it is done in house.”

This past spring, health inspectors graded 11 of Anderson County’s 18 schools. Nine of the eleven graded out with a score of 99 or better.

“Bottom line is, we’ve got good facilities. Climate control and all the things like that to make sure that the environment is conducive to teaching.”

To get a better idea of the actual inspection process, 6 News spoke with Lori LeMaster with the State Department of Health. She told WATE there is no statute of rules when it comes to school facility inspections.

“It is very unique in our program in that we don’t have regulatory authority in school buildings,” said LeMaster. “We do these school building inspections as a courtesy to the local school boards.”

Those surveys, LeMatster said, are normally tied in with one of two yearly inspections conducted on a school’s cafeteria. The inspection itself, carried out by a local environmental health inspector.

“So, we don’t schedule inspections of any sort in any of our programs,” she said. “Typically, while we are there doing the food inspection we will also take a look at the school building. If any areas of concern are noted. Typically what happens is, we work with the principal or the administrator who is there and usually they can correct those items on the spot. That’s ideal.”

As far as what inspectors are looking for, Six News got a look at what a typical inspection sheet looks like. The items covered everything from the schools water supply to its restrooms, ceilings, walls, doors, windows, lighting and more.

“School buildings, they are like any older existing building. You’re going to have maintenance issues and that’s fairly common,” said LeMaster.

It’s not just the state keeping an eye on where our kids learn.

“The fire marshal comes through and they will inspect every year,” said Parrott. “Sometimes a couple of times a year and if they see anything that is not right then we have 30 days to write an improvement plan and get it fixed.”

Bottom line, it’s sometimes said it takes a village to raise a child. The same can be said for maintaining the area’s schools. Several eyes, all looking for problems that could potentially impact a child’s safety and ability to learn.

To look for your child’s school inspection report, go to inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/tennessee .

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