Comments

Concerned wrote on Sep 13, 2009 4:42 PM:

" Three years ago the school board did a stupid thing and let Bob Doyle railroad them into outsourcing 100 good employees. These employees took a drastic cut in pay, benefits,self esteem.
They made the best of a bad situation and moved on. Our schools were clean and Nana was a good employer. Custodians were getting used to being part of the Nana team and resentment had faded.
Now it has all re-surfaced. Quit using these valuable people as political pawns. Give them the pay increase they deserve, proper supplies and a good pat on the back for hanging in there. "




Still Puzzled wrote on Sep 13, 2009 4:32 PM:

" Swine Flu is in Valley Schools....Does anyone STILL think we can keep up what needs to be done with the amount of custodians we have? Not a chance!!
Schools need all custodian positions re-instated. Only way to fight germs is with constant cleaning. Do we have enough people willing to come substitute if our custodians get sick? Not many people want to take a chance for $9 an hour. MSSD needs to pay decent wages and get MORE subs.
School board needs to get busy and straighten this mess out. You brought custodians back...now get behind them with support. "




Employees that work with students should be quality wrote on Sep 13, 2009 3:22 PM:

" Nana employees were outsourced cleaners who did not have a quality job with quality benefits and it showed. Nana did not care who they put with our children. Why did Ted Stevens Intern'l airport fire Nana, why won't Mat Su Regional have anything to do with Nana, why is Fred Meyer dumping Nana? They learned that cheaper is not really cheaper. Nana was not best value. We are still paying for the damage that was done in schools flooring due to neglect and ignorance. Quality jobs result in best value hands down. "




tam wrote on Sep 7, 2009 10:46 PM:

" Under NANA our school pretty much kept the same custodial staff and our school was clean and cared for. We noticed no difference then, but we sure do now. We have to endure "Skip cleans" now where certain wings aren't even cleaned on certain days. Can't WAIT for our first case of swine flu so I can let out a big hearty "I told ya so." The district was happy with NANA- they were doing well for less money. "




tam wrote on Sep 7, 2009 10:39 PM:

" Laura- Curriculum is adopted every 7 years not 3. And keeping up with current educational research and information is never a waste. It was my understanding that the vast majority of the folks were hired back by NANA- only a few OPTED not to come in under them. We lost teachers and funds because of a political ploy. Colver had the nerve to come to my home stumping for a vote for Assembly. After what I witnessed at board meetings? There's no way I'm voting for him. I will be looking very closely at SB candidates prior to Oct.6 "




offsoapstone wrote on Sep 7, 2009 7:41 PM:

" The only people to blame for this flap over the custodians is the school board period. They caused this problem to start with by making a last minute decision to placate all school district employees who gave them money to get elected. Now the same people are complaining that they have to do extra work well you did kind of ask for it. A comment here by valley teacher "we don't get paid in the summer" then you should also not get benfits for that time hows that sound saves tax dollars. "




Just Sayin wrote on Sep 7, 2009 5:30 PM:

" Why single Eric Cordero out, he supports reinstating the custodial staff. You should take a look at the other board members who voted no. Talk to the Administration office about sterilizing desks. Prior to NaNa each disk was washed down....Laura, you had better check your facts before you accuse. Educate yourself ..Just sayin "




Laura wrote on Sep 6, 2009 8:12 PM:

" Mr. Cordero! Are you listening? A child died this weekend from Swine flu! How sad... and you have a very twisted view if you think the lack of custodians within our Valley schools will prevent this from happening here. There is minimal cleaning, lack of supplies because there is no money from the district AND nobody from the School Board is solving this problem! Mr. Cordero will be the first one I vote off the school board for having his head in the sand over this issue. "




LIPS In Wasilla wrote on Sep 5, 2009 7:04 PM:

" This custodial issue is all about keeping our kids sick. It is part of the GOP's plan to bring this country to its knees as Our Friend Ms. Sarah Palin is doing her best to sink our state.
All I have to say, if they do want to take of us, let's go into the schools and volunteer and make sure we have a safe environment for our kids. Lets keep it clean ourselves. "




Puzzled wrote on Sep 3, 2009 1:50 PM:

" I wonder how many people realize that there would be No extra curricular activities without custodians? Check the rule book people!! Some people seem to think teachers or students could just do some light clean up after themselves. What a joke. Custodians are trained in what and which chemicals can be used. They wash windows, walls,showerstalls, tables, toilets, etc. Plus hours of mopping and vacuuming every day. If there is an activity on the weekend someone has to clean and disinfect all bathrooms and replace paper products as well as mop, vacuum, lock up and secure the building. "




Irritated wrote on Sep 3, 2009 1:39 PM:

" In reply to Noisy Geese. Yes 100 people which means 100 FAMILIES are working under a cloud because they only have a job for one year. No one knows if they will be outsouced for third time. No one should be put in limbo like that. No other district employees have to wonder every year if they will be cast aside again. No other MSSD employees have ever been treated so poorly OR outsourced. Custodians do a major service for small pay..you should all thank them every day. AND SUPPORT them in every way. They are a BARGAIN! "




Cheap Solution wrote on Sep 3, 2009 11:11 AM:

" I took a group of middle school kids on a sister city exchange to Saroma, Japan a couple of years ago. In those schools, the kids spend a half hour each day when school ends cleaning up after themselves under the teachers' supervision. There is no janatorial staff, and the school was just as clean as any school I've been in stateside. This included the bathrooms and all common use areas. "




Danita Dodge wrote on Sep 2, 2009 8:53 PM:

" Kudo's Eileen, Thank-you for saying what many have not spoken aloud. You have spoken out for those employees from the very beginning. Not a day goes by that I have not thought about the districts decision to outsource and the hardships it has caused for my friends, family, colleages and their families. Now the district has the gall to add insult to these employees that worked hard for many years and dedicated their lives to not only the health and safety of our children but also the rest of the employees and the public that entered those buildings. "




A few Noisy Geese wrote on Sep 2, 2009 8:03 PM:

" We should just Crown those claiming to be so good. Workers for Nana did their part and aren't seeking so much attention. The only cloud anyone is working under is where the money will come from to pay for this increase in the budget. "




SS Teacher wrote on Sep 2, 2009 10:25 AM:

" I agree with Valley Teacher.
I put in way more time than is contractually obligatory. If they now ask me to clean floors and haul trash, that will be the end of my teaching career. I didn't go through college for that and I'm not a teacher just because I can't find anything better. "




AValleyTeacher wrote on Sep 2, 2009 3:03 AM:

" Hmmm, doesn't anybody realize that we DON'T get paid for not working in the summer? Doesn't anybody realize that most teachers already work hours at home grading papers, getting lesson plans ready and preparing materials for their students? Doesn't anybody realize that the good teachers work 80+ hours a week to prepare, teach and assess students so they are learning the best they can? And now you want us to also clean up after our students, pull trash, vacuum, etc? Wow, I love teaching, but I'm already overwhelmed, stressed out, tired and missing my family. "




Warped Priorities wrote on Sep 1, 2009 10:33 PM:

" The school district thought hiring back janitors at an additional $1,000,000 Dollars was more important than reducing class size. Just who are they looking out for? "




Concerned wrote on Sep 1, 2009 6:33 PM:

" Our custodians have been sacrificed Twice. Don't put them thru this a third time. They were outsourced to Nana... took drastic pay cuts and huge increases in healthcare premiums.
MSSD didn't want them back...School board did. Hired back at starting pay...again! Being used as Pawns...sooo wrong. People lives you are playing with.
Ninety people doing the work of 110 for starting wages...some have all most 20 years experience...should be top of pay scale. Where is CEA? Don't see them helping fellow union members. CEA get on the ball and earn those dues. Can't afford to wait until sping 2010! "




Laura wrote on Sep 1, 2009 6:20 PM:

" Parents... wake up! My 18 year old just graduated from the Valley schools. Can you count how many times the math programs changed and new reading programs were introduced? How many millions of dollars does all this new curriculum cost every 3 years? Get back to the basics! Schools are going to be a lot filthier now with less custodians and no supplies to clean this flu season... wake up! And Jim Colver needs to GO! What a waste!!! "




One who was there wrote on Sep 1, 2009 6:16 PM:

" KudosEileen Bostwick! Yes every custodian is working for less money. After 6 weeks NO PAY!
People had to decide whether to buy food -pay rent. Then there was older employees who had to spend hundreds to buy Cobra so they wouldn't have alapse in insurance.
Now they are working for MSSD with no support system and no supplies. They promise to deliver supplies and they don't materialize.
Many don't have any idea how custodians sacrificed to keep jobs.
Nana treated employees well. MSSD treats employees like disposable trash,
Teachers PLEASE get behind your custodians with support. "




palmeranian wrote on Sep 1, 2009 2:51 PM:

" The school district is pretty much sucking the property owners dry. 80% of our property taxes go to the schools. These schools are extremely wasteful of public funds. The school district now spends over $12,000 per student.

Some classes have more than 40 kids per class. Is it because they don't have enough money? No...it's because they don't have a clue about how to run a school efficiently. "




Time recall Pougher Hamblen wrote on Sep 1, 2009 9:48 AM:

" Those two only care about running (and ruining) the school district like a K-Mart. Time to get people on board that really care about students and their safety. NANA's "cheap" price came at a cost. "




Old School wrote on Aug 31, 2009 9:27 PM:

" Liked the comments about Kansas and parents cleaning the school. What's wrong with kids (with teacher, staff or parents supervising) doing the cleaning --- ALL the cleaning. They might LEARN how to work, respect and responsibility, they might learn the value of a dollar, and possibly some common sense.

My first 4 years of school involved taking turns getting (walking) to school early, building a fire, cleaning up, filling the wood box etc. It did not stunt my growth and I do have work ethics, respect, responsibility and common sense. "




cut the contract wrote on Aug 31, 2009 4:14 PM:

" Dude, If you cut the contract to 1.5% that would be an increase beyond their normal levels. Way to go smarty!

I support teachers for all they do. All the teachers now that the custodians are a vital part of the school environment. That is why they stood up for them at the school board meetings.
How about get those people on public assistance to go to a local school and do some work cleaning for the free money they get? Touche' "




Hypocrite wrote on Aug 31, 2009 4:10 PM:

" Hey" Teachers get real"! Congratulations for spelling and grammar. You can thank your supposed over priced teachers for that. What a hypocrite.

You put up with 120 or more adolescent kids and have your jobs depend on their performance (or lack of) and see if you think the pay is enough. Teachers are the lowest paid public service group out there. You pay police and fire almost 2x as much and they get their schooling paid for. But you complain for those trying to shape the future of America for your own selfish idiocy. How foolish you are! Isupportteachers! "




Good Grief wrote on Aug 31, 2009 3:01 PM:

" Sure is a lot of whining about custodians. Lets watch out as the district still hasn't said where the extra million $$$ will come from for their decision to rehire instead of contracting. It's just money? "




remember the past wrote on Aug 31, 2009 11:31 AM:

" Just keep in mind what happened with the outsourcing. Remember who was on the school board then and remember who was the chief school administer. BTW..he is running for school board. Keep it in mind when you vote. Just a heads up! "




contract out admin. wrote on Aug 31, 2009 10:37 AM:

" An out of town contractor sucks your tax dollars out of town and leaves behind a mess. The previous superintendant was responsible for that really bad idea and the resulting waste of tax dollars simply because he vowed to "break" the union. Now he's running for school board. I can't believe the gall! The district would have been millions ahead of where it's at now if it wasn't for the horrible leadership that appears to be continuing under the current admin. I hope the rest of you parents are paying attention here. "




Best School wrote on Aug 31, 2009 10:12 AM:

" Parents do the custodial work at Midnight Sun Elementary School. "




Inkslinger wrote on Aug 31, 2009 4:29 AM:

" In Kansas, a school district fired the custodians and are making the children, staff and teachers do the cleaning in a effort to save money. "




Teachers get real wrote on Aug 30, 2009 9:55 PM:

" It is yiou that suck the money from this borough, how dare you mock the unions workers that keep out schools healthy. Warninig your contracts will be up for reveiw agan I wlll cut you contract to 1.5 % or send you all packing. Your over payed and spoilied, and there are many from out of state that will work for lots less So wake up you bratts. or retire or move.
Someone that pulls the puppet strings
Why do people become teachers ....June July and August nice sumer breakplus holidays and sick pay. Just shut up and enjoy "




A Teacher wrote on Aug 30, 2009 6:19 PM:

" You have been duped if you think that outsourcing is better than having custodians on the team. The district says that NANA contract was 5.4 M. But it wasn't. It was 7.2 M. Plus, the district had to hire more maintenance workers. Also, when was it wrong for people to earn decent wages and have benefits? I don't have more students in my classes. My students don't clean. I do pull the trash for my custodian. The district wants this to fail. "




offsoapstone wrote on Aug 30, 2009 11:47 AM:

" Let's see most of the MSB new custodians were nana custodians. These are the same custodians that did a bad job when with Nana and now their great. This justs shows that the school board paid back CEA for thier help in getting the board memebers elected. I also wonder how many of the old CEA custodians who could not pass Nana drug testing "and there were a few" are back to work because the school district doesn't do drug tests on their staff. "




Wake up wrote on Aug 29, 2009 10:48 PM:

" Colver and his band of boys sold our kids and teachers down the river by getting rid of nana when they knew the money wasn't there. Now we are a million short and have kids crammed into classrooms and teachers performing someone else's job. Wonder if Colver will volunteer to clean any schools? Oh, right, he caused this mess and (thankfully) is leaving the board. Perhaps there is hope that sense (and the women) will prevail! "




Wake up wrote on Aug 29, 2009 10:40 PM:

" Wake up people! These NMS people some of you claim were so bad at cleaning were the same people the district employed before nana and are the same ones working now! Now our kids' teachers and the kids have to do the custodial work AND all their other work. Kids should be working on their studies. Teachers should NOT have to do someone else's job. They are busy enough and now because of this "great" idea of dropping nana, teachers and kids now have a LOT more kids in their class. This is unacceptable! "




Dreaming wrote on Aug 29, 2009 10:21 PM:

" Is this the same Bob Doyle that was the superintendent of our schools? That now is running for school board?? "




Custodians as a part of the Team of educators much better wrote on Aug 29, 2009 2:09 PM:

" I remember the days before custodians were outsourced. They were a dedicated part of the education team. They received the same safety training as the rest of the staff. This was especially helpful when they were in the hallways with the kids and they could deescalate situations that they would see in the halls. Day custodians spend much more time with the kids in the hall than anyone in the school. They divert problems before they became problems in the classroom. Happened all the time. Nana custodians were not trained for that. They only cleaned. "




Dont outsource the people that work directly with the students wrote on Aug 29, 2009 1:57 PM:

" Do not outsource labor with the people that work directly with students in schools. Outsource the Administration. If you must outsource do it at that level. If the Administration and the School Board can't get their stuff together the Borough will never fully fund to the cap. It that does not happen the State will not help either. This is what makes us look stupid to the rest of the state. The only Borough that does not fund education to the cap is the Mat-Su Borough. Maybe we are Valley Trash after all. "




School District Is hold back wrote on Aug 29, 2009 1:51 PM:

" The Administration of the school district is holding back $500,000. They must need more filing cabinets and furniture. They are purposely undermining the School Board. This Board better get the Administration in line and demand that the rest of the custodians be hired immediately. School Board 101. You make a recommendation and it is the Administrations job to respect that and follow because the School Board was voted in and they are supposed to facilitate and direct. Administration is supposed to follow that direction. This is not happening. "




Union Jobs are high quality jobs wrote on Aug 29, 2009 1:45 PM:

" I agree. This is a Best Value over Cheaper cost issue. Hands down the union custodians with the school district are higher quality people who do higher quality work. If you are narrow minded and only look at one our two reports it will look cheaper to use outside contractors but when you look at everything that we learned in this outsourcing process it is obvious that the best value is union labor. Union labor is quality labor because it is a quality job that draws quality people. Nana can't say that. "




Best Value is better than Cheaper Nana was cheaperSchool Dist Custodians are the Best Value wrote on Aug 29, 2009 1:41 PM:

" Outsourcing did not save money. The carpet and flooring in many schools was ruined because Nana did not follow the contract. They were supposed to wax the floors regularly and didn't they also did not clean the carpets properly and ruined $$$$$$$ of dollars worth of carpets and hard flooring. The maintenance department had to hire more people because Nana no longer used day custodians to do light maintenance and the higher paid maintenance staff had to take over so they added more maintenance again. Also Nana's contract did not include summer work. More Money no savings. "




palmeranian wrote on Aug 29, 2009 9:11 AM:

" The truth behind all this is that Jim Culver and the other liberals on the School Board cowtowed to the union.

They got rid of NANA so that now we have the union back.

The union is trying to do the same work with 80% of the workforce that NANA had for about 120% of the cost. And the cost will go up. "




Kids arent cleaning wrote on Aug 28, 2009 8:07 PM:

" The kids aren't the ones cleaning up after, its the teachers emptying garbage and picking up. They do this after classes and school so not to take away from class education time. It is really unfair to everyone. Some schools are even closing their use permits because they cant clean the schools for public events. Shame on you school board and district office. Pull out the new furniture from your building and use the leftovers from the schools you have squandered. Work within your own means. Don't elect Colver or you get more useless waste! "




Kids Should Help wrote on Aug 28, 2009 12:43 PM:

" So what if the kids have to do a little cleaning up behind themselves, they're the ones who trash it. It won't hurt them to take 10 minutes away from their texting, twittering and cell phone conversations to pick up a little trash that they probably threw down anyway. "




Rick Byrnes wrote on Aug 28, 2009 11:23 AM:

" Taxpayer, I appreciate your right to your opinion, however the facts in your comments are incorrect, the returning custodians do not return to their previous wage after 90 days.They can move up the scale to step 4,but no higher,if they were above step 4 when they were fired [outsourced]. "




simba wrote on Aug 28, 2009 11:03 AM:

" To Taxpayer, you ask where should the money come from? Let's see, the administration just finished putting new carpet in the admin building,2nd time in 6 years,$5000.00 for new "bistro" furniture in the entrance to the admin building, $600.00 for a custom file cabinet for the admin building, in the last 2 years all new custom cabinets throughout the admin building, hand made custom cabinets, can't even guess at the cost of those.Do you see a pattern here? How does this better the education of our students? Is this money being spent in the classroom, I think NOT. "




Unemployeed wrote on Aug 28, 2009 10:18 AM:

" Thanks to the CEA custodians?? I want to thank all the "NMS" Custodians for all the scruteny they went through over the three years. It was hard work and they never received a "Thank You!" from anyone from the"MSBSD".
I want to personally thank you for all your hard work. And to the new and old "CEA" custodians, thank you for the quick turn over. You all are working with the hours the best you can.
Board members remember you have timelines on all decissions you make, And others to concider. "




Tax Payer wrote on Aug 28, 2009 9:45 AM:

" So where is the money supposed to come from? Pull more from the classroom? Add more students to each class? Cut curriculum? Teachers? Other classified staff? Maintaining the buildings? Come on! Returning custodians will all be back to their prior wage after 90 days. Going from NANA to MSBSD was the reason we lost full custodial coverage! Learn both sides of the story!!!! "




the rest of the story wrote on Aug 27, 2009 11:27 PM:

" It is all a power struggle. The school board wants the custodians to get a fair wage but the administration hides the money and makes threats so it can outsource again. The administration threatens the school board with dire warnings if any money is given to pay a decent wage to custodians. Rather than find a solution, the administration would rather the schools be filthy and the custodians paid like peons while the administration gets pay raises! "




Jill E. Showman wrote on Aug 27, 2009 10:19 PM:

" I appreciate the writer's comments. They are truthful and accurate.

Our custodians are valuable members of the educational team. Thank you to all the CEA custodians. Thank you for your time, dedication and patience. The outsourcing was wrong and so was the decision to bring you back at such low pay. "