Internal ONLY* Grounds Mechanic II

*INTERNAL ONLY* Grounds Mechanic II

Ideal Start Date: ASAP

About West Chester Area School District:

West Chester Area School District serves more than 12,000 students across 17 schools:  11 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.  The district covers a 75-square-mile area that includes West Chester Borough and surrounding townships in Chester and Delaware Counties.  The district boasts strong academic outcomes, including a 95% graduation rate, placing it in the top 10–20 percent of Pennsylvania public school districts.  To learn more about strategic initiatives WCASD is leading, please visit Our Initiatives - West Chester Area School District.

Summary:

The Grounds Mechanic II is responsible for maintaining a safe environment of all outside surfaces to include but not limited to – athletic fields and areas, playgrounds, driveways, sidewalks, lawns, planting beds, etc. at all District buildings; providing a safe working and learning environment for the District’s staff and students. Support Vehicle Mechanic with repairs required to maintain District assets.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This list is intended to be illustrative rather than complete and serves to show major duties and responsibilities and does not express or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent in this position. The employee will be required to perform any other position-related duties requested by the supervisor.

• Diagnose and resolve various maintenance problems relating to but not limited to:
• Understand with the ability to calibrate and implement fertilizers, topdressing, grass seed and soil amendments as per soil reports.
• Ability to understand, calculate and implement re-seeding in worn areas.
• Ability to work with coaches and outside users in the daily requirements of field maintenance.
• Responsible for proper lining as per regulating specifications of athletic fields and practices.
• Ability to understand and implement proper grading techniques of the infield areas.
• Ability to calculate material requirements.
• Ability to make repairs to the synthetic surfaces and its base.
• Perform necessary repairs to grounds and power equipment according to manufacturer’s requirements per work orders assigned.
• Work in partnership with other mechanics on various projects as needed.
• Ability to troubleshoot, repair, maintain and replace equipment associated with District Vehicles and equipment per manufacturers recommendations.
• Perform all other duties as directed or assigned by immediate supervisor.
• Respond to emergency calls during and after work hours.
• Ability to operate aerators, deep slicing, power rakes, topdressing equipment. zero turn mowers, wide area mowers., weed eaters and other miscellaneous grounds equipment in a safe manner.
• Ability to cut turf at recommended district heights, trim areas as needed all within time restraints set for the safety of all children and obstacles.
• Installation and maintenance of playground equipment and annual replenishing of the safety fall material to comply with CPSC and ASTM standards for public playgrounds.
• Responsible for snow removal and ice prevention salting on an as needed basis.
• Repairs and replaces bituminous concrete and concrete areas when assigned.
• Responsible for proper pruning and trimming of plant material and trees as well as maintenance of all planting beds. Including annual replenishing of bed mulch and leaf removal.
• Perform miscellaneous tasks that deal with safety aspects as assigned such as but not limited too – street signs, stop signs, fencing, parking lot painting, etc.
• Perform finish grading work on excavated areas, topdressing of athletic fields, aeration, overseeding, etc. to all lawn and/or green space areas as assigned and needed.
• Ability to operate equipment of many types and manufacturers as supplies or rented by the District and always in a safe manner.
• Responds to emergencies during and after work hours as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

To successfully perform this position, a person must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualification requirements listed below represent minimum levels of educational achievement, training, skill and/or ability necessary.

• High School Diploma or equivalent is necessary.
• Minimum three years’ experience in grounds and grounds equipment maintenance.
• Must maintain a valid PA Herbicide and Pesticide License with appropriate core and categories
• Valid PA CDL class “A” w Air Brake Endorsement driver’s license.
• Ability to work alone or within a team unit structure and with little or no supervision.
• High degree of initiative and know how to organize/prioritize, and ability to see projects through completion.
• Possess effective interpersonal skills with the ability to interface diplomatically with teachers, administrators, parents, students, support staff and outside professional contacts.

Ability to work at height’s utilizing ladders, cranes, buckets, etc.  Must be able to reach above and below the waist, walk and use fingers to pick, feel and grasp objects.  Requires use of both hands for repetitive motion.  Able to bend, twist, kneel, stoop, climb and crawl.  Lifts/carries supplies weighing 70 lbs. or more.  Ability to work in an external environment subject to temperatures below 32 degrees or above 100 degrees.  Able to stand or walk eighty percent (80%) of workday.  Ability to work alone or within a team unit structure and with little supervision.

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports directly to the Supervisor of Grounds.
• Works cooperatively with other administrators, supervisors, staff and others to perform job responsibilities as outlined

Terms of Employment:

• This position is a 12 month position (260-262 days).
• Salary and benefits in accordance with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. (Group 2, hourly pay range: $26.75 - $36.92 per hour)
• This position is identified as an “Essential Personnel” and individuals are required to report during emergency activities and snow removal operations.
• Regular and consistent attendance is required for this position.

Representation:

West Chester Area School District employees fall into the following groups:

• West Chester Area Education Association (Teachers, Instructional Coaches, and Long-Term Substitutes)
• West Chester Area Education Support Professionals Association (Paraprofessionals, Secretaries, Clerks, Technicians, and Specialists)
• West Chester Area School District Act 93 Administrators’ Compensation Plan
• West Chester Service Support Professionals (Facilities and Operations Staff Members)
• Non-Bargaining Members (Supervisory, Technical, and Confidential Employees)

This position is represented by West Chester Service Support Professionals (Facilities and Operations Staff Members). 

Disclaimers and Affirmations

The West Chester Area School District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, disability, pregnancy, marital status, gender identity, or genetic information. Please refer to Board Policy 104 for further information regarding the District's commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Salary : $27 - $37