About Maintenance & Operations
As a department, Maintenance and Operations is committed to providing a clean and safe learning environment for Oak Ridge students and staff. With over 60 employees, this department provides mechanical and custodial services for over 1 million square feet of building space, care and upkeep of all athletic fields, and landscaping services on 233 acres.
Our maintenance group consists of 16 skilled electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, carpenters, groundskeepers and general laborers; each of whom provide an invaluable service through their knowledge and years of service. Each year hundreds of work orders are completed on jobs ranging from fixing leaking toilets to installing new HVAC units. In addition to preventive maintenance work, repairs, and new equipment installation, maintenance personnel enthusiastically respond to emergency calls or last minute installations.
The custodial department has a long and proud history of serving the students, staff, and community of Oak Ridge. Our custodians provide services for all school buildings, historic Blankenship Field, and for numerous athletic and school related events. These men and women are on the front line in providing a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for educating our students. When visiting one of our schools you may encounter a custodian directing traffic, mowing and trimming, putting up signs, painting, or any number of general maintenance tasks in and around the school in addition to their normal cleaning activities.
Maintenance and Operations activities go well beyond providing general repair and cleaning services for the district. We are also responsible for such things as maintaining regulatory compliance (AHERA and OSHA being two examples), overseeing contracted services and construction projects, monitoring indoor air quality, maintaining fire/sprinkler systems, ensuring building safety/security, controlling utility costs through energy management and building automation, and complying with all necessary laws and building codes during repairs and renovations.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the work we do, please give us a call or email us. We are proud of the work that we do and look forward to serving the Oak Ridge Schools’ Community.
Key Request Form
Permanent Structure of Facility Alteration Request Form
Safe Schools Online
Maintenance & Operations
Supervisor of Maintenance and Operations
Allen Thacker
Email: rathacker@ortn.edu
Assistant Supervisor of Maintenance & Operations
Kim Farmer
Email: kfarmer@ortn.edu
Buildings and Grounds Foreman
Michael Laurendine
Email: mlaurendine@ortn.edu
Secretary of Maintenance, Facility Rentals Coordinator
Jamie Watkins
Phone: 425-3171
jlwatkins@ortn.edu
Address: 100 Woodbury Lane, P.O. Box 6677, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Phone: 865-425-3171
Fax: 865-425-3188