A recent issue at GEMS occurred but has since been resolved. The problem involved the gas being shut off for several days, which meant the heaters and gas stoves could not be used to prepare breakfasts and lunches. This also affected some mornings in the cafeteria, leading to colder meals and chilly conditions. To learn more about the situation, I spoke with our school principal, Mrs. Fernandez.
First, I reached out to Mrs. Fernandez to ask when the issue began. The gas outage left the heaters nonoperational for several days. She explained, “The issue began last Thursday, 1/22, in the evening.” Because of this, the heaters and gas appliances were inoperable and needed to be repaired as soon as possible.
Fortunately, the problem did not last longer than necessary. Mrs. Fernandez said, “Yes, the regulator had to be replaced and it was replaced on the night of Wednesday, 1/28.” Once the regulator was replaced, the issue was resolved and no further problems occurred.
Mrs. Fernandez also played an important role in helping fix the situation. She explained, “I worked and communicated with Fire and PG&E, who diagnosed the problem. I contacted our head of maintenance and notified the district office, food services, families, and staff of the issue. The head of maintenance worked with a plumber to get the part ordered, which had some delays in shipment due to weather. When the part arrived, the plumber came on campus to replace and repair it.”
Some areas of the school were affected, but not all classrooms. Mrs. Fernandez clarified, “There were no classrooms affected. It was localized to the kitchen (Food Services) and the Spirit Center. This required food services to make alternative plans for breakfasts and lunches that did not require gas appliances for the four school days, and there was no heat in the Spirit Center on some chilly mornings and lunches.”
In conclusion, although the problem was ultimately resolved, it required several days to identify and correct. During that time, it disrupted food services and caused some inconvenience. This situation highlights the importance of quickly identifying issues and communicating clearly to ensure everyone stays informed and safe.
