School plant manager wins national award

By NewsPress Now

The St. Joseph School District said Wednesday that its interim director of operations has been honored as among the best leaders in the field of ensuring school buildings are kept in the best possible shape.

Casey Housman won praise for good performance in day-to-day tasks, several large heating, ventilation and air conditioning projects, and upgrades designed to save the district on energy bills. His honor as School Plant Manager of the Year is given by the National School Plant Management Association, based in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The association has not yet responded to a request for comment on the award.

The district’s operations department faces steep challenges because of the age of buildings in the district and the weathered climate control, plumbing and electrical systems that are often found within. The district has been gradually working to renovate and replace these systems, applying millions of dollars in post-COVID-19 relief money. Housman stepped into the role of Mickey Gill after Gill retired in 2023.