Beaverton School District maintenance staff reported on June 2 that process changes have reduced supply costs, improved response times and launched two workforce-development programs aimed at retaining technicians.

Maintenance administrator Ron (last name not specified in the record) told the board the custodial team reduced supply costs by “approximately 25%” through inventory management and training, which allowed better prioritization of maintenance needs across the district's 875 acres.

Ron said the department added a field supervisor for HVAC, electrical and plumbing to improve oversight and prioritization. The district also implemented a new work-order system to reduce backlogs, and it created an HVAC preventive‑maintenance crew to handle routine checks so licensed technicians can focus on complex repairs.

The department launched apprenticeship programs that will run multiple years; Ron introduced three apprentices who are current or recent district students: Isaac Zimbrick (class of 2024), Andrea Zacharias (class of 2023) and Carter White (class of 2020). Ron said the programs free certified technicians for higher-skilled work and reduce emergency downtime.

Board members asked about deferred‑maintenance tradeoffs and how facility staffing levels intersect with district budget reductions. Maintenance staff said they are still identifying nonessential items and that bond‑funded deferred‑maintenance has helped absorb larger repairs.

The maintenance update highlighted operational gains from training and new workflows while flagging ongoing challenges from inflation, tariffs and workforce availability.