Five schools, a central office complex and a transportation/maintenance complex make up the district’s facilities. A new elementary school will be completed this summer and will replace the oldest school. An addition to the high school is nearly completed with the use of some space not clearly identified at this time. With the completion of the two construction projects the district will have considerable room for future expansion or reorganization. The transportation/maintenance and storage complex is in serious disrepair.

Observations and Recommendations

2.9.1    Observation

There are serious concerns with the transportation facility that include critical sanitation issues (restrooms, roofs, etc.). An inadequate garage with only one bay is too small to house the larger busses and all roofs are in serious condition.

Recommendations

The district should seriously consider the options of repairing the transportation facility or relocating it and addressing the needs for efficient operation. Additional warehouse space could allow increased bidding and bulk purchases district wide.

2.9.2    Observation

The district does not appear to have a systematic long-range planning process to address the facilities management needs of the district not only for the schools but also for the maintenance and transportation facilities.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the district develop a long-range planning process to address facility management needs. This plan will allow the district to operate in a more efficient manner. This process should include a preventive maintenance plan, painting schedule, organization, supervision, and evaluation of the maintenance, and custodial departments. Efficient use of custodial staff time could allow for better supervision of custodial staff specifically the evening shift and help reduce overstaffing.

The maintenance department is perceived to be inefficient and job expectations and responsibilities of the maintenance supervisor may not be realistic.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the district in concert with the maintenance department review all job descriptions and then conduct an in-house study of the complete department using a standardized format to determine efficiencies and expectations.

Over staffing exists in the maintenance and custodial departments bringing about inefficient use of time and resources. There is limited supervision of custodians particularly on the evening shift.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the district consider placing custodians under the supervision of the building principal. Supervision of the evening shift custodians can be a shared effort between the maintenance supervisor and the building principal and/or a head custodian.

2.9.5    Observation

The 10-year facilities levy is over December 5, 1999. At this point, the district has not made a decision as to whether to run this levy again. The action plan of the board is to "Form or re-convene the Facilities Committee to study needs of all schools in the district" and to create a facilities Needs Assessment Plan for 1999–2009.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the facilities committee re-institute the facilities levy and recommend the amount to the board of trustees to "create a long-range plan for maintenance, repair, and remodeling of all district buildings and grounds," (which is the fifth goal of the board). Further, the third party recommended previously, could be used to assist the committee with setting facility priorities.