Operations Department Newsletter

Welcome to another exciting school year at Oak Park Schools! Over the summer, our Operations team worked diligently to prepare our facilities, transportation, technology, food service, and safety systems for a successful start. Thank you for the essential role you play in supporting our students and families every day.

We are grateful for your dedication and look forward to a great year ahead.

Have a wonderful school year!

Tiffany Cavill

Oak Park Schools

This summer, Nova underwent a major facilities improvement project focused on upgrading critical building infrastructure and enhancing the learning environment. Significant progress was made throughout the building, including the installation of new HVAC and mechanical systems designed to improve building comfort, air quality, energy efficiency, and long-term reliability.

As we begin the school year, the majority of construction work has been completed, allowing students and staff to return to a significantly improved facility. Over the coming months, contractors and engineers will continue with testing, balancing, and commissioning activities to ensure all building systems are operating efficiently and performing as designed. Final punch-list items and minor finishing touches will also be completed.

These improvements represent an important investment in the future of the Nova campus and will provide a more comfortable, modern, and efficient learning environment for students and staff for years to come. We appreciate the patience and flexibility of our Nova community throughout this transformational project.

This summer, we completed significant interior improvements at both Einstein and Pepper Elementary Schools to provide brighter, more welcoming, and more durable learning environments for our students and staff.

✨ Einstein Elementary

Renovations at Einstein included:

• New luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring throughout the hallways, replacing existing carpeted areas.
• New cafeteria flooring and fresh paint.
• Upgraded hallway lighting with energy-efficient fixtures and controls.
• Ceiling repairs, painting, and improvements throughout areas of the building.
• Fresh paint in all classrooms to create a consistent and refreshed appearance.

✨ Pepper Elementary

• Renovations at Pepper included:

  • New LVT flooring throughout the hallways and cafeteria.
  • New hallway ceilings and upgraded lighting systems.
  • Fresh paint throughout classrooms and common areas.

Over the summer, Oak Park Schools completed a comprehensive Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) across district facilities. This process involved detailed building walkthroughs and evaluations of our roofs, mechanical systems, electrical infrastructure, building interiors, site features, and other critical assets. The goal was to develop a clear understanding of the condition, age, and remaining life expectancy of major building components throughout the district.

The FCA provides the District with valuable data that will guide long-term facilities planning, capital improvement priorities, and future investment decisions. By identifying facility needs proactively, we can better plan for repairs, replacements, and modernization efforts while maximizing the use of district resources.

In addition to supporting ongoing maintenance planning, the assessment serves as a foundational step in the development of a potential future bond program. The information collected will help the District identify priorities, establish project scopes, and create a long-range roadmap for facility improvements that support student learning, staff success, safety, security, and operational efficiency.

The Operations team is currently working with our planning partners to analyze the assessment findings and develop recommendations that will help position Oak Park Schools for continued success well into the future.

Oak Park Schools is excited to welcome Lagarda Security as our new security services partner for the 2026-27 school year. Lagarda's team is working alongside district leadership and school staff to support a safe, secure, and welcoming learning environment across all of our buildings.

Throughout the summer, the Operations and Security teams collaborated to prepare for a smooth transition and to establish safety expectations. Security personnel will be visible throughout our schools and will continue to work closely with building administrators, staff, students, and families to support districtwide safety efforts.

The addition of Lagarda Security is part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing school safety while fostering positive relationships within our school communities. We look forward to partnering with the Lagarda team as we continue to strengthen our culture of safety, preparedness, and support for all.

Safety remains a shared responsibility, and we thank everyone for their continued commitment to creating secure and welcoming schools for our students and staff.

The Transportation Department is excited to continue offering FirstView®, our bus tracking and parent communication app designed to provide families with real-time information about their student's transportation.

Through FirstView, families can:

• View their student's bus location in real time.
• Receive notifications when the bus is approaching their stop.
• Stay informed about delays, route changes, and transportation updates.
• Access information through a user-friendly mobile app available on both Apple and Android devices.

By utilizing FirstView, families can better plan for student arrival and departure times while staying connected to important transportation information throughout the school year.

If parents have questions regarding FirstView enrollment or transportation services, they are encouraged to contact the Transportation Department for assistance.

Helping families stay informed, connected, and confident in their student's daily transportation experience.

To ensure maintenance and service requests are tracked and prioritized appropriately, please note that FMX access is limited to Building Principals and Administrative Assistants. Staff members should submit any maintenance, custodial, grounds, or operational concerns directly to their Principal or Administrative Assistant, who will enter the request on the building's behalf.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain an efficient and organized work order process.

💻 Need Technology Assistance?

If you need help with computers, Promethean boards, classroom sound systems, email, MiStar, or other technology issues, please contact the Oakland Schools Service Desk using one of the following methods:

✅ Submit a Ticket
Access the Technology Service Desk through the Helpful Links menu in Chrome or visit Staff Links > Technology and MiStar Service Desk Ticket on the district website.

💬 Start a Live Chat
Connect with a Service Desk representative through the Service Desk Request page during business hours using the link below

📞 Call for Support
248-209-2060
Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM

For the fastest response, please submit a Service Desk ticket whenever possible.

To help prevent plumbing issues and avoid unnecessary service disruptions, please remember that only toilet paper should be flushed down toilets.

Do not flush:

• Rags
• Paper towels
• Gloves
• Feminine products

These items can cause serious blockages and damage to our plumbing systems.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping maintain our facilities.

Thank you to our custodial, maintenance, transportation, technology, food service, and safety teams for their hard work throughout the summer preparing our facilities for students and staff. Their dedication behind the scenes ensures a successful start to the school year.

The Operations Department remains committed to supporting safe, efficient, and welcoming learning environments for all students and staff. Thank you for your partnership and support as we begin another successful school year.

Your voice shapes our story! If there’s something you’d like to see in a future newsletter, please let me know at tiffany.cavill@opsk12.org