Ceiling tiles dropped in Room S108 and Room 75. The problem with a leaking air-conditioning unit had been ongoing for at least a year, with tiles leaking or falling a few times last spring and with increasing frequency this fall, according to English teacher and journalism adviser Sharn Matusek. With each incident, custodians cleaned up and district workers promptly came to assess the problem.

But only recently did the district efforts apparently stop the leaks, after workmen repaired three separate problems in the unit that had contributed to the problem. Since then, the unit had to be tested after the most recent repairs so the tile could not be replaced immediately. “The alleviation of the leak is a relief,” Matusek said. “I’m actually quite impressed.”

In the ceramics room, the work order to the district was delayed. “Usually, whenever we ask for any maintenance or repair work to be done, we put in a work request to Sitenet, (the Building & Grounds online receiving portal), but sometimes people do not ask for a request to be put in," assistant principal of building and grounds Michael Yi said. Sitenet is a Web site used by district schools that seek maintenance assistance.

Ceramics teacher Kirsten Janssen says tiles have fallen before, but that “it usually happens at night or when no one is around.” She expressed concern for the fragile ceramics projects under the faulty ceiling.

Luckily, the tiles weigh around three ounces and cannot inflict bodily injuries. “The tiles are very light, they are not supposed to come down and they break only if there is a leak above,” Yi said, explaining that water retention causes tiles to drop. “The tile becomes soaked with water and drops, so you can’t put it back,” Yi said. “You have to replace it.”

One tile fell, glancing against a student during class a short while after she had moved her project. “I was quite startled when it fell on my arms, and at first I didn’t know what and where it came from,” ceramics student sophomore Vivian Lei said. “Projects in ceramics are often very fragile so if another tile falls from the ceiling, my fellow classmates and I might not be as lucky as I was when I decided to clear my project early that day.”