School Facilities

This school has 22 classrooms, a multipurpose room, a library, and an administration building. The main campus was built in 1951. Four portable classrooms were constructed to accommodate a fourth and fifth grade classrooms in 2002.
The district governing board has adopted cleaning standards for all schools in the district. Phelan has an eight hour day custodian and an eight hour night custodian. The principal works daily with the custodial staff to develop cleaning schedules to ensure a clean and safe school.

Routine repair work throughout the school district is assigned and accounted for through the use of a work order system. Work orders are received and work is assigned on a priority basis to 7 maintenance employees. Most routine work is accomplished by giving each school an assigned week of concentrated maintenance time. Emergency work, such as broken doors, windows or electrical items which pose a safety or security risk, and is phoned in or submitted through the work order system, is evaluated and assigned on a priority basis with safety items given first consideration.

Since 2002, 13 schools were modernized. Eleven schools have had all new underground sewer, gas and water lines installed. All electrical services have been upgraded where needed, eliminating all recurring power failures. All major sewer line stoppages, gas and water line breaks have been eliminated. There are no non-functioning HVAC systems or fire sprinklers. There is no structural damage at any facility which needs to be repaired. All such issues are dealt with immediately. There are no hazardous materials abatement issues which pose a threat to students or staff.

Pest control issues are controlled by a pest control company which provides general prevention services and responds to specific identification of pest issue which arise from time to time.

Daniel Phelan Elementary offers a safe and secure campus where students, staff and visitors are free from physical and psychological harm. The school was modernized in 2003, funded by Measure W. The school is fully air conditioned and provides up-to-date facilities and adequate space for students and staff. Phelan Elementary is comprised of a kindergarten area, Wonder of Reading library, large multipurpose room and 21 classrooms. The school also enjoys three spacious playgrounds with swings, slides and play bars, as well as grassy fields for running, sports and games. In the evenings and during the day, a team of 2 custodians ensures that classrooms, restrooms and campus grounds are kept clean and safe. A scheduled maintenance program is administered by the Whittier City School District to ensure that all classrooms and facilities are maintained appropriately.

The school exterior was painted in 2006.