Buildings and Grounds

Lead in Water Tests

In an effort to comply with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommendations, Rockford Area Schools tested the district’s buildings’ drinking water for lead content. Exposure to lead can cause serious health problems, especially in children under 6 and pregnant women. Sampling was done in accordance with EPA/MDH recommendations and analysis was completed at a certified laboratory. The EPA and MDH have set an action level of 20 micrograms per liter (ug/L). All of the lab analysis results came in below the 20ug/L level, with the exception of the Middle School Room 5; the faucet was immediately removed from service and replaced with a new faucet. Room 5 was then retested with the new faucet in place and lead levels were below the action level. For more information on the results, please click here.

Radon Testing

During the 2016-17 school year, Rockford area school buildings were tested for radon. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends that all Minnesota schools be tested for radon. Radon is a naturally-occurring, radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, and is found in soil and rocks. Prolonged exposure to elevated radon concentrations has been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer. The MDH has set an action level of 4.0 pCi/L for radon. All Rockford area school rooms tested were below this action level. For more information on the results, please click here.

The school district has developed an Asbestos Management plan. A copy of this plan can be found in the Director of Buildings and Grounds Office at the Rockford High School and is available on the district’s website.
The school district has on file a complete and updated Management Plan for dealing with asbestos-containing building materials within the school district’s buildings.  The Management Plan is available for viewing by interested parties during regular business hours at the District Office.  Copies will be made available for reproduction at a nominal cost.
Rockford Elementary Arts Magnet School was designed without specifying or requiring the use of asbestos containing building materials. Rockford Middle School Center for Environmental Studies has asbestos inside fire doors. The asbestos containing materials at Rockford High School have been abated.
As required by federal law, the condition of asbestos in our schools is surveyed every six months and inspected every three years as part of an ongoing operations and maintenance program.
Click on these links for plans for upcoming abatement projects, as well as a listing of the previous year’s projects.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Director of Building and Grounds at 763-477-9165 x4007.

Rockford Area Schools last spring (2021) decided to take on lawn services instead of contracting the service out. After doing some number crunching on equipment purchases and hiring a couple mowers the Director of Buildings and Grounds (James Leuer) decided to move forward. In April of 2021 the district received quotes to hire a service to do lawn care and after the quotes were received it was decided that by mid-July of 2021 the school district would be close to breaking even after payroll and equipment costs. It turned out that as of July 7th, 2021 was the break even point and everything after that for cost would be cost savings in the estimate of 24k for the mowing season. 

The school district was approached by Bright Schools (Noble Conservation) company regarding how the school district would save money on electric bills if the district would look into going LED lighting district wide. After several discussions between the district and the company Bright schools made a presentation to the school board as the district would save so much money on electricity that there would be no out of pocket expenses from the district and they Guaranteed their proposal. So for the past year and a half Bright Schools changed every single lightbulb to LEDs, installed more motion detection for shutting down lights quicker and installing dimmer switches in areas requested. The project was completed in August of 2021 right before school started. Jim Leuer Director of buildings and grounds for Rockford Area Schools said this is a good investment for the future of the district. The payback on projects was minimal and the district would see savings immediately to use these funds for other upgrades.