Residents press Warren County Schools board to restore in‑house maintenance and disclose pay figures

During the public‑comment period at the Warren County Schools Board meeting on Nov. 12, residents urged the board to provide salary history details and to consider restoring an in‑house maintenance department.

Duane Hicks asked the board for comparative salary figures for the superintendent and teachers over the past decade, saying the community lacked data to evaluate compensation. Hicks said the district previously employed certified plumbers, electricians and other maintenance trades who serviced all district schools during summer closures and suggested reviving a similar structure to create local jobs and improve building upkeep. "We would like to kinda to look into that as a possibility of rebuilding a maintenance department in the county for the school system to maintain the schools here," Hicks said.

Another resident echoed concerns about custodial and maintenance standards and urged the board to meet directly with teachers to discuss needs and accountability. Several commenters asked for longer public‑comment time, saying three minutes was insufficient to address complex district issues.

Board members acknowledged the comments and administrators later told the board that most work is handled in‑house except for large projects or specialized HVAC work, and that the administration would explore cost‑effective options for staffing and sourcing.

What happens next: Public commenters said they will follow up with written proposals; board and staff indicated they would consider the maintenance staffing question during budgeting and report back as appropriate.