Wake Schools Face $800 Million Maintenance Backlog as HVAC Problems Mount
Wake County Public School System leaders are planning a major overhaul of how the district manages its facilities as it faces about $800 million in deferred maintenance, including roughly $200 million in HVAC needs. New facilities chief Veronica Hill said WCPSS is handling 25 to 50 critical work orders per day, reflecting years of maintenance needs that have accumulated faster than they have been addressed. District leaders acknowledged that growth, staffing shortages, lower maintenance pay, complicated HVAC equipment, and inadequate preventive maintenance have contributed to the problem. WCPSS is considering outside assistance to develop a new facilities strategy, changing the types of equipment it purchases, using longer warranties, and creating a dashboard showing planned HVAC upgrades, with Hill expected to present a broader plan to the school board in December.