Grounds Maintenance Worker I at Escondido Union School District
About the Employer
Located in North San Diego County, Escondido Union School District is home to 24 schools- 17 elementary schools, 1 intermediate school, 1 specialty school, and 5 middle schools- and is a provider of the California State Preschool Program. We are the oldest Merit district in San Diego County and employ over 800 classified staff and over 1,100 certificated employees. We offer excellent medical, vision, and dental insurance packages, paid vacation and holidays, educational stipends and professional growth programs. At Escondido Union School District, we believe in actualizing the unlimited potential of every learner. We will be empowered, encouraged, engaged, and committed. In partnership with our children, employees, parents, and community members, we are committed to universal student achievement. Our goals are: 1) Student Achievement; 2) Positive culture and diversity; 3) Safety & Security; and 4) Fiscal Solvency.
Job Description / Essential Elements:
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ESCONDIDO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
CLASS SPECIFICATION
GROUNDS MAINTENANCE WORKER I
DEFINITION
Under immediate work direction of a Grounds Maintenance Worker II, performs routine and semi-skilled grounds maintenance and gardening work; assists higher-level grounds maintenance workers with more complex and skilled work and performs other duties as assigned.
The typical duties and employment standards are representative of positions within this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the specific position.
TYPICAL DUTIES
Working alone or as part of a small crew, operates small power and manual equipment for mowing and edging lawns such as power hand mowers, weed whips, edgers, hedge shears, chain saws, jack hammer; inspects and services power equipment to ensure that it is greased, oiled, cleaned, and otherwise maintained in working condition. Cuts, trims, edges, and prunes landscaped areas at schools or offices; rakes, waters, and removes debris from lawns; fertilizes and lawns new grass, shrubs, and trees; loads trucks with trimmings and trash; hauls dirt, fertilizers, or other materials to use site.
Assists in the maintenance and repair of sprinkler systems by checking for leaks and replacing broken heads; reports irrigation system malfunctions to the Irrigation Specialist or Grounds Maintenance Worker II; assists in digging and repairing or replacing pipes, or clearing and flushing sprinkler valves, heads and pipes; assist in repairing asphalt and cement; reports safety hazards to the site administrator or Maintenance Office; assists on special landscaping projects; performs job related duties as assigned.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The Grounds Maintenance Worker I is the first-level class of a two-level series. Incumbents perform assigned grounds maintenance work independently or assist higher-level grounds maintenance personnel with more complex assignments. The Grounds Maintenance Worker II operates a variety of large grounds maintenance equipment, leads a crew of Grounds Maintenance Worker I positions, and/or performs landscaping or grounds projects which are skilled and complex.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Knowledge of: Standard methods, materials, tools and equipment used in planting and maintaining lawns, shrubs, trees and other landscaped areas; standard safety practices for grounds maintenance work.
Ability to: Ability to operate hand and power equipment; perform lawn and plant care tasks effectively; perform heavy manual labor; assist in sprinkler maintenance and repair; work independently without direct supervision; work cooperatively with co-workers and around students, school staff, and the general public; to understand and follow oral instructions; watch for and report safety hazards on school grounds and with equipment; read, understand and apply cautions on warning labels of supplies and chemicals; work effectively as part of a crew.
Essential Physical Activities and Work Environment: Sufficient stamina to stand, walk, sit, climb, kneel, crawl, reach, twist, crouch, squat, balance and bend to maintain grounds, or push materials and equipment on a daily basis for eight hours a day; strength to regularly transport objects weighing up to 75 pounds (e.g., bags of fertilizer, grass cuttings, dirt, and shoulder/back carried blowers) and occasionally up to 100 pounds; mobility to climb and descend ladders; sufficient finger dexterity to grasp, push, and pull hand and power tools and heavy equipment and objects (e.g., hedge trimmers, edgers, grass mowers); sufficient strength to push grounds equipment (e.g., mowers) uphill for extended periods of time; stamina sufficient to perform heavy manual labor on a daily basis; sufficient hearing to understand instructions; and vision sufficient to read fine print, identify safety hazards, and see children in close proximity to the work area.
Must have sufficient mobility to enter and drive trucks, tractors, gang mowers, riding mowers, and dump trucks, as well as to travel to District sites daily; ability to tolerate noise and exposure to chemicals and fertilizers. Work is conducted in adverse weather conditions.
Mental Functions: Must be able to read simple instructions; sufficient ability to understand instructions and/or explanations of tasks relating to grounds design or pesticide application.
Typical Background: Any combination of training that demonstrates the knowledge and abilities to perform the typical duties. A usual way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be one year or gardening or groundskeeping experience.
Licenses and/or Certificates: Possession of a valid Class C California driver’s license. Must meet District vehicle and liability insurance requirements, as appropriate. May be required to obtain job-related certificates after appointment.
Qualifications: In order to be considered qualified for a vacancy in this classification, a candidate must possess the required background and successfully demonstrate such background, knowledge, skills and abilities through an examination process.
Revised June 1989 – Marlys Grodt & Associates
Revised July 2003 – JW/SW
Approved by the Personnel Commission on 8/21/03
Revised 07/24/2009-AT
Requirements / Qualifications
Licenses and/or Certificates: Possession of a valid Class C California driver’s license. Must meet District vehicle and liability insurance requirements, as appropriate. May be required to obtain job-related certificates after appointment. A DMV print-out will be required of those candidates participating in the final interview. It will need to be dated with-in the last 30 days (from the time of your interview). Although not required at this time, you will need to meet our liability insurance requirements by showing a satisfactory DMV record prior to a job offer being extended.
- DMV Printout (Must be dated within the last 30 days)
Requirements / Qualifications
Licenses and/or Certificates: Possession of a valid Class C California driver’s license. Must meet District vehicle and liability insurance requirements, as appropriate. May be required to obtain job-related certificates after appointment. A DMV print-out will be required of those candidates participating in the final interview. It will need to be dated with-in the last 30 days (from the time of your interview). Although not required at this time, you will need to meet our liability insurance requirements by showing a satisfactory DMV record prior to a job offer being extended.
- DMV Printout (Must be dated within the last 30 days)
Comments and Other Information
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: The successful candidate must subscribe to an Oath of Allegiance, submit to a general tuberculosis examination, be fingerprinted, complete a pre-placement physical examination, and show proof of their identity and right to work in the United States as conditions of employment. The District has adopted a drug free work place policy. Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results from drug testing.
In order to be considered qualified for a vacancy in this classification, an applicant must possess the relevant training, education and experience required, and attain placement on the eligibility list by successfully passing all examination parts pertaining to the classification.
CERTIFICATION - When a vacant position is to be filled, the Classified Personnel Director submits to the appointing power the names of the top three “ranks.” This is known as “certification,” and the appointing power may select any one of the persons certified. The names of those not appointed remain on the eligibility list.
ELIGIBILITY LIST - Candidates successfully completing all phases of the application and examination process will be ranked on the appropriate eligibility list according to total examination score. This list normally is in effect for one year.
EMPLOYEE SERVICE CREDIT – Employee service credit shall be added to the final composite scores in an open examination for regular employees of and those on re-employment lists for Escondido Union School District. Such employees shall receive a credit of one half point (.5) for each complete year of service in regular classified status as of the date of the establishment of the eligibility list to a maximum of five (5) points.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAM - Employment and promotion are based strictly on personal merit and ability to perform essential job tasks with or without reasonable accommodation, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, pregnancy, disability, medical condition, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or political affiliations.
HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN - Employees working 5 hours or more per day (25 hours or more per week) receive family medical coverage, employee life and vision; and employee or family dental coverage.
HOLIDAYS - Regular classified employees are entitled to pay for authorized holidays, provided they were in a paid status during any portion of the working day immediately preceding or succeeding the holiday. Authorized holidays number 16 for twelve-month employees.
LONGEVITY PAY - 3.5% increase added to base salary after 10 years, plus 3.5% after completion of fifteen years, 4.7% after completion of 20 years, plus 4% every five years thereafter.
MERIT SYSTEM - Appointment and continuing employment of classified employees is based on the merit principle. Statements of these principles and policies are expressed in the merit system Rules and Regulations
PROBATIONARY PERIOD - Any eligible, upon initial appointment into a regular status position in the classified service, shall serve an initial probationary period in a class not to exceed six months or 130 days of paid service, whichever is longer. “Paid service” includes days worked, approved vacation days, and designated holidays. and excludes, to the extent permitted by law, paid or unpaid illness or industrial illness/accident leave, personal necessity, bereavement, personal business, and limited-duty assignments made necessary by temporary physical or mental disability.
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH - After one year of service, regular classified employees may earn additional salary increments for improving skills through continuing education.
RETIREMENT - All new employees who work four hours or more must become members of the California Public Employees Retirement System and the Federal Social Security program; contributions are made towards this by both the District and employees. Effective July 1, 1991, employees working less than half time will have full retirement coverage under Social Security.
SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL –A bargaining unit employee who is required to work more than four hours of his/her regular shift (non-overtime) between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. shall be paid 3.75% above the pay rate of the classification for the entirety of each applicable day. The shift differential shall be split into equal payments based on the months paid per year.
SICK LEAVE - Regular full time twelve-month employees shall earn 12 days paid sick leave for each year of service. Unused full pay sick leave may be accumulated without limit. Sick leave will be prorated for employees working less than twelve months.
VACATION - Regular full time twelve-month employees shall earn 12 days paid vacation leave for each year of service. After 5 years of service, the number of days earned increases. Vacation will be prorated for employees working less than twelve months.
VETERANS PREFERENCE - Veterans and disabled veterans preference points, as defined in Education Code Section 45296, shall be added to passing scores in an open examination on entry level classifications, in the amount prescribed.
Comments and Other Information
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: The successful candidate must subscribe to an Oath of Allegiance, submit to a general tuberculosis examination, be fingerprinted, complete a pre-placement physical examination, and show proof of their identity and right to work in the United States as conditions of employment. The District has adopted a drug free work place policy. Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results from drug testing.
In order to be considered qualified for a vacancy in this classification, an applicant must possess the relevant training, education and experience required, and attain placement on the eligibility list by successfully passing all examination parts pertaining to the classification.
CERTIFICATION - When a vacant position is to be filled, the Classified Personnel Director submits to the appointing power the names of the top three “ranks.” This is known as “certification,” and the appointing power may select any one of the persons certified. The names of those not appointed remain on the eligibility list.
ELIGIBILITY LIST - Candidates successfully completing all phases of the application and examination process will be ranked on the appropriate eligibility list according to total examination score. This list normally is in effect for one year.
EMPLOYEE SERVICE CREDIT – Employee service credit shall be added to the final composite scores in an open examination for regular employees of and those on re-employment lists for Escondido Union School District. Such employees shall receive a credit of one half point (.5) for each complete year of service in regular classified status as of the date of the establishment of the eligibility list to a maximum of five (5) points.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAM - Employment and promotion are based strictly on personal merit and ability to perform essential job tasks with or without reasonable accommodation, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, pregnancy, disability, medical condition, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or political affiliations.
HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN - Employees working 5 hours or more per day (25 hours or more per week) receive family medical coverage, employee life and vision; and employee or family dental coverage.
HOLIDAYS - Regular classified employees are entitled to pay for authorized holidays, provided they were in a paid status during any portion of the working day immediately preceding or succeeding the holiday. Authorized holidays number 16 for twelve-month employees.
LONGEVITY PAY - 3.5% increase added to base salary after 10 years, plus 3.5% after completion of fifteen years, 4.7% after completion of 20 years, plus 4% every five years thereafter.
MERIT SYSTEM - Appointment and continuing employment of classified employees is based on the merit principle. Statements of these principles and policies are expressed in the merit system Rules and Regulations
PROBATIONARY PERIOD - Any eligible, upon initial appointment into a regular status position in the classified service, shall serve an initial probationary period in a class not to exceed six months or 130 days of paid service, whichever is longer. “Paid service” includes days worked, approved vacation days, and designated holidays. and excludes, to the extent permitted by law, paid or unpaid illness or industrial illness/accident leave, personal necessity, bereavement, personal business, and limited-duty assignments made necessary by temporary physical or mental disability.
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH - After one year of service, regular classified employees may earn additional salary increments for improving skills through continuing education.
RETIREMENT - All new employees who work four hours or more must become members of the California Public Employees Retirement System and the Federal Social Security program; contributions are made towards this by both the District and employees. Effective July 1, 1991, employees working less than half time will have full retirement coverage under Social Security.
SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL –A bargaining unit employee who is required to work more than four hours of his/her regular shift (non-overtime) between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. shall be paid 3.75% above the pay rate of the classification for the entirety of each applicable day. The shift differential shall be split into equal payments based on the months paid per year.
SICK LEAVE - Regular full time twelve-month employees shall earn 12 days paid sick leave for each year of service. Unused full pay sick leave may be accumulated without limit. Sick leave will be prorated for employees working less than twelve months.
VACATION - Regular full time twelve-month employees shall earn 12 days paid vacation leave for each year of service. After 5 years of service, the number of days earned increases. Vacation will be prorated for employees working less than twelve months.
VETERANS PREFERENCE - Veterans and disabled veterans preference points, as defined in Education Code Section 45296, shall be added to passing scores in an open examination on entry level classifications, in the amount prescribed.
Application Deadline
6/20/2025 12:00 PM Pacific
Date Posted
6/5/2025
Contact
Number of Openings
1
Salary
Add'l Salary Info
$20.01-$25.53/hr. New employees start at Step 1, 2, or 3 of Range 30. Salary placement for internal candidates may be higher; see below
Length of Work Year
12 Months/yr; 5 Days/wk; 8 Hours/day
Employment Type
Full Time
Promotional Salary Information
Internal step placement for promotional candidates based on 5% promotion rate, per PC Rule 7.300.1; longevity increments continue to apply
Work Schedule
Monday through Friday; 6:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.
Work Location
Maintenance and Operations Department
Benefit Information
$500/yr A.A. stipend or $1500/yr B.A. stipend; medical, dental, vision, and life; CalPERS Enrollment