Administration proposes project coordinator and additional grounds staff to address deferred maintenance

Administration described ongoing challenges in facilities services that stem from staffing reductions during past budget cuts and proposed targeted positions to improve maintenance capacity.

Staff said the district reduced facilities staff by 13 full‑time employees during budget balancing and has not regained the same level of staffing despite restoring instructional positions. The administration proposed hiring a project coordinator (project specialist) to manage project tracking and coordination and adding a second dedicated grounds position to support field maintenance at the two high schools.

Facilities staff argued the change would allow skilled maintenance technicians to focus on preventive and corrective building maintenance rather than routine grounds work. “We need Tracy, who is our very capable maintenance technician at Craig High School, not to be on a mower, but to be in the building performing preventive and corrective maintenance,” an administrator said.

Staff noted the cost of restoring all previously cut positions would exceed available budget (an example figure cited was more than $1 million), so the recommendation targets two roles expected to improve operational effectiveness and reduce response times for building repairs.

Ending: The memo and discussion framed the request as part of the district’s October budget considerations; administration said the targeted hires would be included in budget planning for board review.