Cartwright board approves $1M buildings and operations reorganization to add custodial and preventive maintenance staff

The Cartwright School District governing board voted Sept. 18 to approve a reorganization of its Buildings and Operations department that adds several supervisory and frontline positions.

District staff told the board the proposal would create a technical services supervisor, a custodial supervisor, three preventive-maintenance technicians, four full-time maintenance technicians and 23 custodial positions scheduled at about 19.75 hours per week. Dr. Etheridge said the change is driven by a desire to allocate custodial and maintenance staffing by usable square footage rather than enrollment and to improve preventative maintenance so the district can preserve capital equipment and qualify for school-facilities funding. "We’re recommending that schools that are over 125,000 square feet would get an additional maintenance tech," he said.

The total recurring cost, staff estimated, is about $1,000,000. Dr. Etheridge said the district will fund the additional positions from a larger-than-anticipated carryforward balance, and that the investment should reduce long-term replacement costs by keeping preventative maintenance up to date. Board members praised campus walkthroughs and asked staff to present before-and-after documentation of repairs; the board approved the reorganization by roll-call vote.

Superintendent-level speakers and board members emphasized that the change is intended to let principals focus on instruction while Buildings and Operations manages facilities. The board asked staff to return with project-tracking and monitoring information so members and the public can see completed work and timelines.