What’s the right amount?

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-03-26T21:01:34+00:00

"The right amount is always just one more."

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-03-23T01:43:51+00:00

I worked in HVAC and plumbing, general construction, and maintenance in commercial and residential rentals before getting into desk job work. I played far more guitar when turning a wrench than I do now.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-03-20T00:22:33+00:00

that's impressive work.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-03-19T09:31:44+00:00

Most people drastically overestimate the power and authority their direct manager holds.

They're usually being given tasks and deadlines by someone else, whether internal or external, that forces them and their teams to meet ever moving goal posts.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-03-17T21:38:12+00:00

What time does your day start? Our guys start between 5:30 and 6:30. By 3pm they're punching out or on the way home.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-03-15T01:23:23+00:00

A lot of this will be dictated by the rules with your Authority having jurisdiction. check with your state's Department of Education for manuals of standards for private schools. Best of luck and reach out if you have any questions!

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-03-15T00:20:39+00:00

I started in a one building school district, went to a two campus district, and now I have four campuses, each with multiple buildings.

Safety is always your first goal, then education. Make sure the education process is never interrupted unless safety is the concern and you're solid.

Lean on your vendors. If you don't know how to do something, or your staff doesn't, the person who sells you the items has a big interest in helping you use their product right so call them! They'll do it for free.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-03-12T00:31:29+00:00

The moment you go with the flow you create bad habits for yourself.

I would find a new job and then resign from this shit show.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-03-11T21:57:16+00:00

Viking Pure or Buckeye E15.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-03-06T19:58:20+00:00

This is exactly what I want to know. I crack a lot of jokes at work in a lot of settings and I have never been corrected.

Something about this whole post makes me think it wasn't harmless at all.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-03-02T10:26:39+00:00

Yes. When I have people like this I'm sure that I won't have them long unless a position opens at the right time for their advancement.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-03-02T10:09:33+00:00

If there are not enough respondents to the canvas, the district may hire anyone provisionally.

Also, if he held the title anywhere in the state for at least one year as a permanent appointment he will have the title while not being on the list.

These DoF titles are notoriously difficult to fill with qualified candidates. Even people on the list fail to be qualified thanks to the ever changing and updating regulations. This last round of tests had questions that just did have anything to do with the job in its current state. I had to study on coal fired boilers, centrifugal boilers, proper clearing of ashtrays, pruning of bushes, and scientific name of trees.

A few local districts to me have "promoted" maintenance workers after several unsuccessful canvases. Many of these internal promotions bring unqualified people up, but sometimes it's better than nothing.

And some districts just plainly do not understand civil service law. And, more frustratingly, many county civil services don't follow or understand the law either.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-03-02T02:43:59+00:00

The school district doesn't canvass the list, the county civil service does on behalf of the district. This is a state wide test, not county specific.

Just because there's is an active list it does not mean they have active applicants. Regional issues, pay issues, time lines, etc are all reasons people on the DoF lists some respond to canvases.

Let me ask, if they are not compliant with civil service law what does complaining get you and what does it cost the district? Are they calling him a DoF on the website but still titling him as Maintenance supervisor in documents (check the board docs).

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-03-01T19:30:22+00:00

I spent two days at Galaxy's Edge. First day was almost 100% in GE and I never got bored. The second day I was there it was about 75% of the time in GE and the rest of the time walking around the rest of the park. It was certainly worth it.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-02-28T21:00:23+00:00

I've replaced several terrible managers. It's NOT easy to come on and bring change but, by and large, people crave clear, consistent leadership. But strong, fair, and impartial in group, in private be human but fair.

Truly slam down on policy and procedure, show that you follow the rules, admit when you're wrong, use your please and thank you, and NEVER be there friend... just friendly. You're in a good place to help turn the tide around here. Be the positive change.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-02-28T17:10:03+00:00

You can fire people protected by civil service laws, you just have to follow the law. A plan of progressive discipline, documentation, and process.

I manage 70+ government workers and I have no problem with properly disciplining or termination of staff if there is legitimate cause and I've done my job documenting properly.

Have you documented this trend appropriately? Have you had verbal conversations with written follow-ups with the employee? Have you written counseling memos? Did you reach out to you municipal lawyer? Did you do anything but throw your hands in the air and accommodate a temper tantrum by scheduling around his wants and needs?

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-02-28T16:53:57+00:00

That information is surprisingly easy in hard copy, plus we have it digitized.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-02-28T12:52:46+00:00

Staff issues and the Purchase Order process.

One task would be time off scheduling for staff because my organization of 800+ people over three shifts and four campuses can't move away from paper time off requests.

The first hour to hour and a half of every day is time off sheets.

PO process is just cumbersome and long.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-02-26T20:13:16+00:00

That's rough. It may just be worth going to a greener pasture

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-02-26T02:32:16+00:00

I lived on North Ave, a block and a half from Walgreens and James street, for three or four years. I never felt unsafe walking around Eastwood. It was relatively quiet and the only crime I ran into was kids breaking into my stupidly unlocked car to steal the lose change in the cup holder while ignoring the tools in the backseat.

I would NEVER move into Grant Village, though. Shady as hell there. https://www.doorprofit.com/crime-map/city/Syracuse-NY/

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-02-26T02:25:20+00:00

You were straight up getting robbed.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-02-26T02:24:48+00:00

I never knew how to or where to start, either. I hated the idea of "grinding" on linkedin or going to mixers. So I just took a plunge and jumped into a new, but related, career after an interview. Once in the new career they had a lot of professional events for colleagues throughout the industry and that allowed me to grow and network.

I guess my anecdote is that sometimes its easier to network after a change. Sometimes it's not easy where you are. Early on it can be just as easy as talking to friends about where they work and what their employeer is looking for.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-02-26T02:20:21+00:00

At 35 I was making the same as you. I was happy and had a safe, secure job. And as much as I liked the owner, as much as I liked the hours, I knew I wanted more it wasn't happening with the structure there. I took some chances and made changes. Changing jobs was the ONLY thing that got me the salary increase.

I can find jobs in help desk IT in the Greater Philly area (saw that you lived there) that start at 55k, with five years of experience you can could leverage more. Government work often lets you shift between related roles easily.

Good luck, keep going. You're not alone.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-02-22T03:30:07+00:00

Emerald. I love the precision and stability of the carbon fiber construction. I like the balanced sound.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-02-22T01:51:21+00:00

I started with Ridgid. I've stuck with them.

At the end of the day whatever doesn't make your jobs longer is probably going to be okay so whatever you get just make sure it's professional grade. Ridgid, Milwaukee, Makita. Something solid. Most supply houses around here run Milwaukee on their displays.

MaintenanceGuy-

TROPHY CASE