Operations directors tell board a $18M facility backlog and staffing gaps drive new maintenance strategy; contracting out specialized trades recommended

Tooele County School District’s operations and maintenance leaders told the board the district faces a growth in deferred maintenance and a shortage of skilled trades staff that are making preventive‑maintenance and contracting options more urgent.

Ian Silva, operations director, presented a high‑level summary from a recent facility condition assessment and said a working total of roughly $18 million in deferred maintenance items has been identified across buildings. Silva said some items — including seismic upgrades at West Elementary — would be large investments that the district will need to prioritize against other capital needs. He described that number as preliminary while teams vet individual line items.

Silva and his team said district capital‑outlay forecasting will be updated after the assessment is completed so the board can see prioritized needs and timing. They said much of the expense growth the board has been reviewing relates to adding and operating new schools, rising repair costs and tariff pressure on construction and equipment prices.

The presentation flagged gaps in maintenance staffing and the difficulty hiring skilled journeymen in the current labor market; Silva said attempts to directly hire journeyman HVAC and electrician staff have been unsuccessful because private sector or data‑center roles offer much higher pay. He recommended the district consider contracting preventive‑maintenance specialists for complex systems (chillers, rooftop units, multiple pumps, etc.) and use district mechanics for day‑to‑day repairs. Silva said a contracting approach could be less expensive than trying to match market wages for specialized hires and could deliver more consistent monitoring and service.

Transportation and custodial staffing issues were also raised: the district continues to face bus‑driver shortages and higher parts‑and‑supply lead times; directors warned the board that transportation shortages cause operational strain and that some non‑transportation staff have stepped in on short notice to drive routes.

Food and nutrition leaders reported a negative balance in the school food fund (about −$363,000 reported) driven by declines in federal reimbursement after COVID-era increases were reduced; the operations team said state‑level one‑time help (a state allocation earlier in the year) had helped but did not eliminate structural pressures, and that reserves used during the pandemic are now being drawn down. They asked the board for support in advocacy and noted contacts with state and federal associations to press for higher school nutrition reimbursements.

No formal board votes were taken. Directors asked for a future detailed capital‑needs presentation and prioritized maintenance plan that would show which projects are urgent, which could be postponed and the estimated costs and funding sources.