Havasupai school in the Grand Canyon is riddled with faults, federal report finds
Havasupai Elementary School in the remote Supai village at the bottom of the Grand Canyon has been cited with 252 deficiencies identified from 2021-2023, according to the Bureau of Indian Education.
A new report concluded that, as the first school selected for the Bureau of Indian Education's 2023 safety and health inspections, Havasupai also had major, repeated deficiencies from the previous annual inspections that remained unaddressed, and corrections were not completed within the school's abatement plan timelines.
"Part of the U.S. Department of the Interior's mission is honoring its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, including providing quality education opportunities to children," the report said.
Inspectors found a range of issues, including safety risks on playgrounds, non-working cooling and heating systems, staffing shortages and a crumbling roof that required someone to reattach broken pieces by hand.
Each deficiency identified during the inspection is classified by the most severe potential consequence of a hazard: catastrophic, critical, significant or minor. While the school had addressed some deficiencies identified in 2021, 2022 and 2023, many remained unresolved, and those that were resolved were not completed in a timely manner.
Most of the deficiencies fell within the significant category, with none classified as catastrophic.
"The Bureau of Indian Education is responsible for performing annual safety and health inspections at all Indian schools to identify deficiencies, and each school is required to correct those deficiencies and develop a comprehensive emergency management program to provide a safe school environment for students and staff," the report said.
The Arizona Republic reached out repeatedly to the Bureau of Indian Education and Havasupai tribal government, but received no response.
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Issues include staff shortages, fire prevention plans, playground safety
The deficiencies identified include significant staffing shortages, with vacant positions such as the principal, 18 teachers, a nurse, a librarian, and a maintenance worker, accounting for approximately 53 percent of the staff at Havasupai Elementary School.
"These shortages contribute to and exacerbate the other issues we identified," the report said. BIE also noted that the individual they interviewed throughout its fieldwork and during site visits in October 2023 resigned in December 2023.
The Republic reached out to the current principal, Dr. Hoai-My Winder, who responded quickly stating all media requests should be directed to the BIE.
The number of critical deficiencies at Havasupai Elementary School, which could result in serious injuries, rose from 9 in fiscal year 2021 to 23 in 2023. Of those, 21 were repeat issues. During an October 2023 visit, BIE found that seven deficiencies remained unresolved.
Within the critical classification there were 23 issues cited, but 21 of these were repeated deficiencies from years past. After the inspection, Havasupai Elementary School notified BIE that two of the seven deficiencies, both repeat deficiencies since 2019, had been corrected.
Inspectors found that fire prevention plans at Havasupai Elementary were not in writing, violating federal regulations that require such plans to be documented and accessible. Identified in September 2019 with a 30-day correction period, this issue remained unresolved as of Oct. 12, 2023.
There were no procedures for managing flammable waste as required, identified in March 2023 and also uncorrected by Oct. 12, 2023.
The playground surface failed to meet safety standards to prevent head injuries from falls, first noted in August 2021 with a 180-day correction period and still hazardous by Oct. 12, 2023.
"Given the remote location of the school and limited medical services, it is particularly important that the school ensure compliance with standards that are intended to minimize students' risk of injury," the report said.
After inspection, the school informed BIE that two repeat deficiencies from 2019 were corrected, with a written emergency plan developed and updated by December 2023. None of the corrected deficiencies had been resolved within their original timelines.
BIE found that 202 of 208 significant deficiencies, which are regarded as having consequences that may lead to hospitalization for minor injuries or illnesses, were repeated infractions that were reported in the fiscal year 2023 safety and health report. From a sample of 31 deficiencies, 10 were still uncorrected as of an October 2023 site visit.
The school did not provide fire extinguisher training to new employees or annual follow-ups, violating federal requirements. This issue, identified in May 2022 with a 30-day correction period, remained unresolved as of Oct. 12, 2023.
Additionally, the kitchen vent hood detection devices were not inspected and cleaned annually, posing a fire hazard. This issue was also noted in May 2022 and remained uncorrected by Oct. 12, 2023.
The playground equipment did not meet federal guidelines for sun exposure mitigation, risking burns from heated surfaces. Identified in August 2021 with a 180-day correction period, it too remained unresolved by Oct. 12, 2023.
None of the corrected deficiencies were addressed within their original abatement periods. For instance, of the 21 corrected issues, four were identified in 2018 with abatement periods of 45 to 365 days but were not resolved until 2023.
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Report also finds problems with AC, safety reports
Part of the building's HVAC system, covering most classrooms, had not been working properly for at least three years, according to the report. Portable air conditioning units and box fans with cables crossing the floors were used instead, posing tripping hazards. Without functioning HVAC, students and staff faced uncomfortable and potentially unhealthy conditions, which can affect their well-being and school infrastructure.
"Indoor air quality is an important issue in schools, and a properly designed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system helps to control temperature and isolate and remove odors and pollutants," the report said. "The EPA recommends that school temperatures should range from 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and 73.5 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit in summer."
Staff confirmed that Havasupai Elementary did not have injury reports on file, and incidents were not being recorded. The school's July 11, 2023, emergency plan only vaguely directs staff to complete incident reports without specifying procedures or filing locations. This lack of documentation hinders tracking injuries and remedial actions.
"Federal regulations require employers to "establish a reasonable procedure for employees to report work-related injuries and illnesses promptly and accurately," the report said, adding that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires documents that schools should use to record injuries.
During the inspection, fallen debris was found in a common area. A BIE facility operations specialist temporarily reattached roof pieces, but the bureau said a long-term solution was needed to prevent hazards like water damage or mold growth.
"In responses to surveys we sent to staff members, we learned that the school's roof may be deteriorating and that leaks occurred in one of the classrooms," the report said. "A roof in poor condition can leak, cause water damage, and contribute to mold growth, ultimately leading to unsafe conditions such as wet flooring, roof collapse, or health issues."
The Indian Affairs Manual states that the Occupational Safety and Health Program aims to ensure a safe workplace. Each school must appoint a collateral duty safety officer to advise the principal, identify hazards, and recommend abatement procedures. In 2022, BIE issued a memorandum regarding this requirement.
The manual requires each school to negotiate with local emergency responders and relevant authorities to create a plan outlining roles during emergencies. Havasupai Elementary did not establish such a plan. The school faces additional because the tribe lacks a fire department and an consistently staffed police station.
Dogs were also observed on the school campus and in a classroom, posing potential risks of bites or illness transmission. The Bureau of Indian Education confirmed there are no guidelines regarding dogs on school grounds. In June 2024, a BIE official stated that the school is now working to prevent dogs from accessing the campus.
Havasupai Elementary: A hidden tribe, a troubled school and finally, a cry for help
Havasupai Elementary School
Havasupai Elementary School has a history of deficiencies, including staffing shortages and inadequate facilities. In 2017, nine children sued the federal government for being routinely denied their right to a basic education. In 2023, the Bureau of Indian Education reached a settlement in Stephen C., et al. v. Bureau of Indian Education , addressing claims related to BIE's compliance with 13 regulations at the school.
Supai Village, one of the most remote communities in the U.S., is accessible only by mule, helicopter or an eight-mile hike. Located in Havasu Canyon on the south side of the Colorado River, it attracts thousands of tourists each year with its waterfalls and streams.
The school campus includes a cafeteria where all students receive free breakfast and lunch, a kindergarten building with an age-appropriate playground, a "quad" building housing four classrooms, a school office for the principal and front desk staff, a special education modular building, two portable classrooms, and a recreation area which includes a basketball court and playground.The BIE supports and oversees 183 schools, with 128 tribally controlled through BIE contracts or grants, and 55 operated directly by BIE. In fiscal year 2023, the Havasupai Elementary School had expenditures of $2.46 million, of which $248,000 was spent on facilities operations and maintenance.BIE said it outlined 12 recommendations that will improve the school's overall condition, better prepare the school for emergencies, ensure a secure facility, and help the school recruit and retain staff. BIE also said Havasupai Elementary School faces many difficult challenges in its effort to provide a quality education and a comfortable school environment for the children it serves.
"The unique remoteness of Havasupai Elementary School makes some of the ordinary issues we identified in this report more pressing than they would otherwise be, especially regarding the school's ability to communicate externally and the inadequacy of the emergency management program," stated the report. "Failure to correct deficiencies found during the annual safety and health inspections exposes students and staff to an unsafe and unhealthy school and work environment."
Arlyssa D. Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Send ideas and tips to .