Are privatized janitorial services really the best option?

Spectrum, by Ron Rucker

The Mat-Su Borough School Board could soon consider an action that would put nearly 100 current school-district employees out of work. This unemployment action, or layoff, would result from an effort to "privatize" custodial services in the school district. The potential result is the loss of jobs, or at least income and benefits.

In an attempt to save money, the Mat-Su Borough School District has recently requested proposals from private companies interested in providing janitorial services for the 36 buildings the school district uses. These 36 sites are owned by the borough, contain nearly 2.4 million square feet of floor space and are valued at approximately $368 million.

The Classified Employees Association applauds the district for looking for ways to save money. We are, however, concerned that the district will look only at the bottom-line, apparent savings of the bids, and not consider the real costs of privatization. For instance:

1. What is the impact on the local economy of these valuable district employees losing their jobs? The Valley economy would suffer the loss of nearly $2.6 million each year based on the average salary of these employees, which is only about $25,900 per year. Some of these employees might be hired by the "contractor," but at reduced salaries and little or no benefits. Many would be replaced by lower- paid, more transient workers.

2. The district would be required to pay accrued leave and unemployment costs for each of the employees who lose their jobs.

But privatization isn't only about dollars and cents. It also impacts our schools and our children.

1. Custodians are essential school employees who interact daily with students, teachers, parents and the community.

2. Custodians play a vital role in creating the clean, safe learning environment that our children need to succeed.

3. What will be the impact on the minds of our children when their friend and mentor, the custodian, is no longer at the school?

4. Will these "other" custodians consider and treat the school like their second home?

5. Will they help serve school lunches?

6. Will they do the necessary "minor" repairs before the need arises for "major" repairs?

7. Will they reset the combinations on hundreds or thousands of lockers each year?

Maybe these other custodians would, in fact, do some of these "extra" tasks. But remember, since the primary purpose of these private companies is to make a profit, any extra tasks will affect the price of the bid or cost more later.

Our nation's history is full of examples of efforts to privatize government services, since the late 19th century. Although some efforts have been successful, most have failed.

On June 30, while attending a conference in Washington, D.C., I met an assistant principal from a middle school in Houston, Texas. He told me that his school had been a test school for privatizing custodial services in his district. He told me that the maintenance costs in his school tripled in the one year of the test.

In sum, privatization would not provide the same level of services our students and our community are currently receiving. Is this what we want for our students and our schools? Are you willing to let your school board and your district administration know how you feel?

Ron Rucker is the president of the Classified Employees Association.