Facilities department outlines staffing, budgets and 10-year planning goal

The board received an operations and facilities program evaluation that detailed custodial, grounds and maintenance staffing, budgets and goals for the 2024–25 school year and next steps for long-range planning.

Mr. Knowles (presenter identified in the agenda) told the board facilities includes custodial, grounds and maintenance and named departmental leads: Jerry Stinger (custodial), Drew Switzer (grounds) and Jeremy McQuery (maintenance). He reported the district employs 32 custodial staff, five grounds staff and six maintenance staff; they oversee “just under 800,000 square feet of building space and around 227 acres of district property.”

Knowles described three funding categories for facilities work: an operations budget (approximately $750,000) for routine repairs, custodial supplies and service contracts; the district capital project fund (Fund 4), which was approximately $180,000 in fiscal year 2025 after larger projects were moved into the 2022 bond; and bond funds from the 2022 Proposition B issue (59% spent or encumbered at the end of FY25). He cited completed and planned work including HVAC, roofing, expansion joints, epoxy flooring, playground upgrades, gym equipment, exterior trim painting and foundation/roof ladders at the high school.

Knowles said the department fell short of a retention goal (84% retention; three vacancies at year-end) and intends to expand its planning horizon to a 10‑year capital plan. He listed three program goals: complete bond projects on schedule and under budget, reach 100% staffing and maintain 90% retention annually, and develop a 10-year capital plan.

Board members thanked the facilities team for summer work that prepared buildings for open house. The board did not take formal action on the evaluation; it was provided as an information item.