Oak Harbor School District will soon have a new director of grounds and maintenance, and the superintendent of schools wants to give him a salary “comparable to districts of similar size.”

The position has been vacant since the resignation several months ago of Gary Hansen, following the discovery of the illegal dumping of the pesticide Dursban on school district property, and an ensuing investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Hansen was paid a salary of $52,819 per year, which Rick Schulte, superintendent of schools, told the school board at its meeting Monday night probably isn’t high enough to attract a qualified replacement.

The job opening announcement listed a salary range of between $45,000 and $65,000, said Barbara James, human resources director for Oak Harbor School District.

From a pool of 18 applicants, Schulte has narrowed the search to three candidates.

The position announcement called for a person with five years’ experience in general commercial construction or building maintenance, three years’ experience as a foreman or superintendent in general commercial construction or building maintenance, an understanding of school district functions and experience in project planning and preventative maintenance.

A bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required. Additionally, leadership management experience and the ability to lead a team and work in collaboration with others, as well as excellent communication skills, are desired skills for the position, said James.

Schulte also told the board that if the starting salary is raised for the grounds and maintenance director, the same raise should also be given to the transportation director, a lateral position.

A teacher with a bachelor’s degree and five years of teaching experience is paid $31,356 per year, said James.

The salary increase recommendation came from a consultant, Dr. Jack Thompson, hired by the district to perform a management review of the grounds and maintenance department, Schulte said in his written bulletin to the board.

The salary formerly paid to the person in the director’s position is “somewhat below the median for districts in our size category,” Schulte wrote. Schulte added that he will recommend to the board an increase to the median level at the same time he makes a recommendation for the person to fill the position. However, Schulte also said he may ask for more money for the successful candidate.

“If necessary to attract the candidate we want, I may recommend a salary level higher than the median,” Schulte stated.

The salary for the grounds and maintenance director comes from the general fund, said James. Money from the general fund can be used for any school district expenses.

The proposed increase in the salary offered to the new maintenance and grounds director comes at a time when the school district expects to lose $574,000 in state funding due to the state budget crisis, Schulte noted in the same board bulletin. This figure comes from a March 15 estimate by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the effects of the final legislative budget on Oak Harbor School District.

“By my calculations, the net effect on Oak Harbor’s budget is approximately a 1.5 percent reduction in revenues,” Schulte wrote.

However, both Schulte and Kathy Jones, school board president, defended the notion of offering an increased salary to the new grounds and maintenance director.

“I think it is extremely important for the district and the town that we properly maintain our buildings,” Jones said. The maintenance department has been short-changed for a number of years, Jones said, and it is time to catch up. Additionally, Jones said it is difficult to find a qualified candidate to fill the challenging role of the grounds and maintenance director.

There are many people, she said, with administrative experience, and many people with the construction and maintenance skills. However, there are few people with both.

“This person’s going to have a real headache of a job,” Jones said.

The director of grounds and maintenance supervises 43 employees, including maintenance, grounds and custodial personnel, Schulte said, and manages a budget of at least $2 million annually. Also the position requires work for 220 days per year and being on call 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

The average teacher in the district, Schulte said, is paid about $50,000 per year and works for 180 days.