Long before students arrive each morning and well after they leave, a small team works behind the scenes to keep District 75’s schools safe, clean, and ready for learning.
Led by Director of Buildings & Grounds Dave Zaremba, the D75 facilities team cares for five district buildings, handling everything from routine maintenance and custodial work to electrical and HVAC needs, landscaping, and larger improvement projects. Zaremba provides leadership and direction for the department, while the day-to -day work reflects the combined skill, commitment, and effort of the entire team.
“We have a very small team, and we handle five buildings,” Zaremba said. “It keeps us busy. It keeps us on our toes every day.”
Some of the work is easy to see. Much of it isn’t.
A typical work order might involve a light that needs repair, a loose floor tile, a heating issue, or a plumbing problem. Under Zaremba’s leadership, the department has established an expectation that the team respond to work orders within 48 hours, either resolving the issue or letting the staff member who submitted it know when it can be addressed.
But fixing problems is only part of the job. Just as important is the team’s work to prevent problems before they occur.
Each month, facilities staff work together through a preventive maintenance list that includes checking emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, and playground equipment. HVAC systems receive ongoing maintenance, and temperature setbacks help reduce energy use when buildings aren’t occupied. Even exterior lighting schedules adjust with daylight saving time to avoid unnecessary energy use.
Whenever it makes sense, Zaremba looks for ways to use the skills already on his team rather than contracting work out.
Over the summer, the team built two offices, painted a gymnasium and stripped a gym floor. D75 also has access to in-house electrical and HVAC expertise through shared services with Mundelein High School District 120, further expanding what the collective team can accomplish without relying on outside contractors.
That expertise is helping D75 transition its buildings to LED lighting. Hallways, bathrooms, and common areas have already been converted, and work is now moving into classrooms. New motion sensors automatically turn lights off in empty rooms, while selectable lighting levels allow classrooms to adjust brightness based on student needs.
“We do a lot of work in-house,” Zaremba said. “I try to do as much as we can in-house to keep the costs down.”
That philosophy is carried out every day by the team on jobs large and small, from minor roof and asphalt repairs to snow removal. D75 even buys road salt in bulk with District 120 and handles its own plowing, giving the facilities team greater control over ensuring parking lots and walkways are ready when staff and students arrive.
That day-to-day attention matters as the District 75 School Board plans for the future of its facilities. During the district’s recent facilities assessment, architects noted that while the buildings are aging, they have been well-maintained, a positive reflection on the ongoing work of the District’s facilities team.
For Zaremba, however, the real measure of the team’s work is much simpler.
“We just want them to know that we provide a safe, clean environment,” he said. “If we give that to the teachers, they can provide a good learning environment for their students. We take care of their needs.”
It is work that often happens quietly and behind the scenes, but its impact is visible every day; five buildings that are cared for, maintained and ready to support students and staff.