ANSWER:

Following an investigation of a reported gas odor, staff in the Division of Maintenance and Operations (DMO) has completed and closed 19 work orders since November 27, 2023.  During the initial evaluation, the DMO team subsequently discovered operational issues with several of the 59 individual roof heating and cooling units. A. Mario Loiderman Middle School is unique to other Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) schools due to its use and operation by a private school during the late 1990s and its role in completing infrastructure replacements. While this equipment is relatively new compared to many other systems, its equipment is residential in nature and has shorter life spans, therefore requiring this school to be placed on the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) replacement schedule. This HVAC infrastructure upgrade is currently scheduled to begin design during 2024 with construction commencing in 2026, pending approval of the Board of Education’s Capital Improvements Program request. 

Since the initial diagnosis in November 2023, DMO teams have continued weekly repair and maintenance of the systems. This work has been completed with the support and assistance of Boland HVAC, a private Montgomery-based HVAC supplier and contractor. Boland has supported with troubleshooting, diagnostics, and repair of the HVAC system. In addition, DMO staff has continued supporting the school as work order requests are entered by school-based staff, as well as self-monitoring space temperatures and indoor air quality conditions. Currently, there are five open work orders, and the new heating units serving the locker rooms are anticipated to be installed in the next two to three weeks.