School custodians upset about janitorial service
|
“Some of us have given our lives to the system. We feel like we’re having everything jerked out from beneath us,” said Pam Kirby, a custodian at Warren County Middle School who attended the Personnel Committee meeting.
Since March, the committee has been considering contracting out the custodial services of the entire system as a money-saving measure. Over the past two-and-a-half months, the committee and system Human Resources Director Roy Pierce have heard proposals from 10 custodial and cleaning services. Recently the field was narrowed to two Knoxville-based companies, SSC Service Solutions and Southern Building Services.
According to Pierce, either one of these companies could provide the school system with more efficient custodial service at a “tremendous” savings. Personnel Committee Chairman Edd Cantrell said Thursday night the savings could be between $300,000 and $400,000 a year or, as fellow committee member Dr. Deborah Watlington put it, “nine or 10 teaching positions.”
“With this kind of savings, it will be hard to explain why we don’t do this,” said Cantrell.
Should the School Board contract with either of the companies, Pierce noted current custodians would be offered custodial positions before anyone else. However, with the lower cost to the school system comes increased efficiency, meaning the same cleaning job can be done in less time with less people.
Those custodians who addressed their concerns before the committee Thursday night expressed their displeasure at the proposed change. Aside from some potentially losing jobs altogether, those who spoke said they did not like the fact that those who chose to remain with the new company would likely suffer lost hours, different shifts, loss of seniority and benefits, namely their retirement.
“Nothing is changing for the better for us,” said West Elementary custodian Sherry Knowles.
Under the plan presented by SSC Service Solutions representative Clinton Bell, should his company get the contract, employees would receive one week’s paid vacation a year. All money currently in their state retirement accounts could be rolled over into a company 401(k) account after a probationary period of 90 days. However, they would not receive such benefits as sick days and personal days.
As school principals are currently responsible for overseeing their school’s custodians, committee members asked those principals in attendance their opinions on the proposal.
“I understand you’ve got to cut costs, but I’m not sure if this is the way you treat people. We need to take care of people who take care of you,” said WCMS principal Donna Trevathan.
Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale said the best scenario would have the governor’s budget adopted by the General Assembly, thus averting the need to cut costs, “But unfortunately that’s not the case.”
Said School Board Chairman Mike Holland, “The question we have to ask ourselves is, ‘Is it worth the emotional discomfort?'”
The Personnel Committee and the full School Board will meet in special session Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the central office in an effort to resolve this controversial issue.