The Mariposa County Unified School District is looking to restructure its maintenance, operations and transportation department in the near future. The board of trustees considered the recommendation from staff at its regular meeting on Aug. 19.

Superintendent Aaron Rosander told the board that following the departure of Bob Morse from the director’s position of that department, he and his staff had been giving “serious consideration” to making the position into two coordinators instead of one director. The cost would be a wash because the coordinators positions pay less, and the district would consolidate one with a vacant shop foreman position.

Rosander said that since Morse left earlier this month, dealing with facility issues is “just about all I’ve done.” He said the district needs focus. “One person needs to focus on maintenance. Another person needs to oversee transportation,” he said.

Human Resources Coordinator Tammi Richards explained that few districts have a consolidated position anymore. Morse was stretched thin, overseeing everything from bus routes to the Lake Don Pedro multipurpose room construction. “There’s not one person who can do all these jobs,” she said. “It hasn’t worked.”

Board member Judy Eppler said she appreciated staff’s efforts to create more efficiency in the department. “It sounds like you guys are really thinking it through,” she said. The board took no formal action. Staff will return with a plan at a later date.

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