Board hears plan to increase pay for plumbers and HVAC techs to reduce contractor costs

Facilities director and staff told the board that vacancies and retirements in trades roles have pushed the district to rely on contractors at substantial cost.

Executive director of facilities described long-standing difficulty recruiting experienced plumbers and HVAC technicians, noting many contractors charge high hourly rates for commercial-grade equipment. He said the district spent more than $1.2 million on plumbing and HVAC contractor services in fiscal year 2023–24 and proposed increasing district pay ranges by $4 per hour for those classifications to make in-house hiring more competitive.

Superintendent Tanya Patton and facilities staff said the district could employ five technicians and reduce contractor spending by about $700,000 annually in a best-case scenario; staff presented that as a rationale for investing in higher hourly wages even while the district faces broader budget reductions. Board members asked for additional data: a salary comparison with similar districts and private-sector rates, a recruitment plan (including trade-school and union apprenticeship outreach), and clarity about whether the proposed pay increase would fully close the gap with private employers. Staff said they have conducted outreach to trade schools and apprenticeship programs and that unions and employers attending a recent Project Manhood event told students commercial trade pathways often lead to substantially higher pay when unionized.

No hiring motion was made; board members asked staff to return with comparative salary data and a recruitment plan.