This article was written by Baron Miao ’26
While most students know Mr. Scott Blum as the director of facilities and responsible for most of the construction and maintenance work around the school, his dedication, creativity, and hard work often go far beyond his official responsibilities.
One winter day, a former board member had passed away, and the family asked if they could spread his ashes in the river by the gazebo. Despite the river being frozen, Mr. Blum and a few members of his department set out to make the family’s wish possible. They used chainsaws to cut a section of ice to access the river and arranged chunks of ice to form a walkway, making it easier for the family to reach the water’s edge. This is just one example of how Mr. Blum consistently goes above and beyond for the Rumsey community.
Mr. Blum decided to make a career change ten years ago, and his previous experiences aligned perfectly with his work at Rumsey. He ran a landscaping business for 25 years, and the skills he developed there are used every day in his current role.
The experience of a student at Rumsey Hall depends on its facilities and the staff members who maintain them. Mr. Blum truly is the “backbone” of it all. As Director of Facilities, Mr. Blum manages everything from daily maintenance to new building construction. In his ten years at Rumsey Hall School, with the support of his team, he has overseen and contributed to much of the growth and change on campus. The maintenance department plays a crucial role in the student experience. Every day, students benefit from clean spaces and well-maintained learning environments, things that are easy to take for granted until they’re not there. For example, when students leave behind materials or forget to clean up after a project, it creates extra work for the facilities department and takes them away from more important work.
No two days are ever the same for Mr. Blum. On a regular day, Mr. Blum starts by making a game plan for the department, and usually meets with Administrators, contractors, and vendors. As head of the facilities department, he never knows when emergencies like broken buses, shower issues, or burning microwaves will take him and his people away from their routine.
Aside from all the hard work that Mr. Blum does, he really enjoys meeting new students and appreciates Rumsey’s diverse community. His days are filled with talking to different people and hearing their stories. In his ten years at Rumsey Hall, he has watched students grow from Lower Schoolers into seniors who lead the Upper School. Mr. Blum describes the Rumsey community as caring, supportive, and nurturing. Mr. Blum and all staff members play an essential role in helping students succeed. And for this, we are really lucky to have Mr. Blum as part of our community.
