Committee approves forwarding HVAC maintenance reclassification to full board to retain skilled trades staff

The Finance and Facilities Committee voted to forward a proposal to reclassify several maintenance craftsman positions to HVAC classifications to the full school board, citing concern that highly skilled trades staff are being recruited by private employers.

Staff said the plan would move maintenance craftsman 2 positions from Schedule C to Schedule G and estimated the budget impact at approximately $90,000 for eight employees. "Some of our highly skilled maintenance craftsman positions are being courted by other private industries for more money," the staff member said, arguing the adjustment would help the division remain competitive.

Committee members asked whether HR had benchmarked private-sector pay; staff said HR performed an analysis and the HVAC group was prioritized now because it represented the larger group. A committee member moved approval to forward the recommendation to the full board; the motion passed by voice vote. (Transcript records voice vote; no roll-call tally recorded.)

Next steps: the reclassification will be presented to the full board for final action.