Getting his fix

The ceiling tiles have been replaced throughout Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School, along with air systems and ventilation. There were five contractors working on the building throughout the summer.

Harold Phillips, head of maintenance for northern Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2), was basically the liaison between CCSD2 and the construction companies.

"Preventive maintenance is key," Phillips said. "You have to stay on top of everything to make sure everything is working correctly."

Phillips took over the head position at the beginning of the summer as Loren Young retired.

Phillips and Gary Borah are the maintenance crew for the four schools and then there is a custodian for each school.

He said communication with all personnel at the school is important.

"When something breaks, it is in everyone's best interest to let me know immediately because nothing broken gets better with time," Phillips said.

The amount of solvents he works with stored in the maintenance room would impress a chemist. There are different cleaning supplies that take up one long shelf. Another area is designated for paint and its associated chemicals. Maintenance is responsible for painting the football field.

"Sometimes you come into the storeroom, you don't realize the amount of work goes into maintaining equipment and cleanliness until you see all chemicals involved," Phillips said.

The air filters have to be checked monthly and filters changed. There are five in HEM. In Hanna Elementary School there are three and at Medicine Bow Elementary and Elk Mountain, the filters are on the roof and are different than the ones used in the Hanna schools. This requires him to know the different systems to be able to troubleshoot when something seems out of sorts.

Phillips has been working with his hands for years.

He is originally from California and prior to getting the job at the school last spring, he worked at the windmill farms between Hanna and Medicine Bow. A shoulder injury sidelined him from that job in 2014. He went through therapy for a year and went back to work on the turbines. Unfortunately, he re-injured himself and was told if he continued to work on turbines, he might ending up, crippled.

Last spring he took the job with the school under Young.

Then, Young decided to retire and Phillips found himself promoted to the head of maintenance and the point guy for HEM concerning all the renovation work to be done during the summer.

"I was so fortunate to get the job with CCSD2 and to work the excellent people I did," Phillips said laughing. "Loren is still taking my phone calls if I ever have a question."

HEM is back to normal and Phillips starts the new year with a facility that is in much better shape than when he started.

Phillips foresees himself at this job for years to come.