Verbal diarrhea

For years I have been hearing my boss complain about the cost of the floor port covers in the cafeteria.  These are the things you lift up to access plugs in the floor.

There are four of them where I work,  and they break often (2-3 times a year) and become a tripping hazard.

We don't actually use the plugs in the floor anymore, so if someone was more than hot air, they'd have an electrician come in and remove the wiring.

Or bring the over priced ($142 each from Grainger) plastic junk to a fab shop and have them make a metal one.  (2TEC5 Floor box cover, 8 -1/8 in Grey)

About a year ago I got tired of hearing about this stupidity, and created a very simple metal one of my own as a proof of concept as to how simple it really is.  Since then the remaining plastic ones have  been replaced and mine held up.  I kind of hoped this would prompt someone in charge to do something more than the same old insanity.  Guess again... so I'll be god-damned if I'll ever make another one for anyone.  If I get paid to make them, then maybe.

On the theme of verbal diarrhea, here is another annoying thing..

I noticed this years safety training includes yet more dumb crap that doesn't pertain to us, as its not in the scope of what we do, etc.  But the ultimate annoyance is the double standard.  Lock-out-tag out, never, I repeat never gets followed by outside contractors.  Right now we have a water heater contractors removed and the, electricity, gas and water for the thing have no lock out tag out on them, and will likely be this way for several more months.

A lastly a few months ago the cement steps to the auditorium were jackhammered and re-poured as they were in bad shape.  Only problem is in the process one of the upper pains of glass cracked (probably from the jack hammer debris).  I wonder how long before anyone in charge takes the time to look at the completed job and notice this.

Security upgrades

This summer most if not all the De Pere schools had their access control systems upgraded.   The work was done my ESG.  It may have not gone as smooth as it should have, but they are not the only ones making mistakes.

Over the weekend there was a small power interruption in De Pere.  This caused the fire department to receive a false call from Foxview.  (Apparently the thing doesn't have batteries)

Here is the more massive error, on the district's part.  Someone forgot to give the fire and police department a new fob/access card so they can get into the building in the event of an emergency.  And whats more is the physical key in the knox box no longer fits the door.

So while it sounds nice on paper and maybe provides some sort of assurance when part of the referendum dollars is allocated to "security upgrades", in reality is means little when those in charge don't take responsibility.

Thank god this was a false alarm type of thing to bring this issue up.  

Funny part is somehow the technology director, Michael O'Call***** still has his name attached to the whole building security thing.  I was under the impression that shifted to the director of buildings and grounds a few years back.  Quite frankly I don't understand why that guy is still employed.  Seems even more obvious after seeing more staff turnover in his department.  And when these fine folks move on, their new employers even know how bad the guy is.

That speaks volumes, combined with his staff leaving without any solid employment lined up before leaving.

Petty stuff

I see no fundamental difference between these two situations;

Staff that throws out/takes home aluminum cans

Staff that throws out items on the lost and found table at the end of the year.

In neither situation the items are the districts, nor does anyone have the permission from the real owners to take/dispose of the items. It's a case of abandon property, covered by common law.

Again the real issue is making a mountain out of a mole hill = admin not having better things to do.  Really all that comes from this is distrust with your supervisors. 

In both situations it costs the district money to deal with the abandon property.  They pay to get rid of their recyclables/trash and or take the stuff somewhere.

In neither case; can the district claim theft.  The didn't own the stuff, and suffered no economic loss from the stuffs removal.

It reminds me of a situation a few years back where an employee had permission from the wood shop teacher to take home scrap wood to burn.  The "director of buildings and grounds" gets on the guy about this.  And then takes the scrap wood home himself.

At least in that case the wood might be the districts property (though that can maybe argued as most of that is paid for by student project fees), where as the aluminum cans were not.  Either way its all pretty stupid.  As if these admin are saints and never borrow district property etc.