Privatizing custodial services back in consideration

PALMER — For more than 20 minutes Wednesday evening, the Mat-Su Borough School board listened as members of the public, as well as district staff and students asked the group to once again give a thumbs down to privatizing custodial services.

To help absorb an anticipated $13 million deficit for the upcoming school year, the board instituted a number of cuts, layoffs and had placed the privatization question on the agenda earlier this spring. At that time, the question failed with three in favor and four opposed. When the topic was revisited, the tally was identical — both in the final vote and how each member weighed in.

On May 17, after voting the question down, trustee Ray Michaelson directed Superintendent Monica Goyette to see if NANA Management Services would still be interested in entering into a revised agreement. The company said yes with a revised dollar amount and a 45-day implementation following final board approval. That would have placed a start date at Aug. 1.

Prior to the re-vote, three board members went on record sharing their thoughts.

Ray Michaelson stated the sole reason for asking for a reconsideration of the vote was most importantly for the district to do whatever it could to preserve the student-teacher ratio. One of the approved cutbacks included increasing the ratio in every district classroom. Secondarily, Michaelson said he wanted to provide an opportunity for fellow board members to consider any additional variables since the first vote. He said the state senate and house are very far apart on a budget and urged the board to act with extreme caution.

“That motivates me to bring it back (for consideration). I don’t apologize for that, I believe that is part of my charge as an elected official,” Michaelson stated. He said the borough assembly and state needs to rethink its priorities. “We are left holding the bag with unpopular decisions.”

Trustee Debby Retherford said many constituents have weighed in on the topic. She said she received “two somewhat yes” decisions and “a hundred no’s.”

“Is it the right course of action? I continue to believe it’s not,” Retherford stated. She said many have seen the cut positions and revised job duties as an exchange for outsourcing. Retherford also said she felt the projected $2.2 million in savings by proceeding with outsourcing is more than double the actual savings. Retherford said she was dismayed by what she described as sometimes hateful and uninformed social media comments. “I do believe that some of the arguments do hold water…these people are dedicated members of our team and community…outsourcing one part of the community is a walk down the wrong path,” she said.

Ole Larson repeated what he said at the first vote reminding those in the audience, as well as his colleagues, that the district remains at the mercy of the state and the borough. He said the board has been discussing the bleak financial outlook for six months and he’s confident the district will face the same scenario next school year.

“Unless we get more voices out there to talk with borough and state legislators, will continue to cut,” Larson said.

A motion by Michaelson and seconded by Larson to approve the contract award fell short with Larson, Michaelson and Dearman supporting , and Sarah Welton, Kelsey Trimmer, Yvonne Ruth and Retherford opposed.

Following a brief recess, the board reconvened and approved a preliminary 2017-2018 school year budget pegged at more than $233 million as required by state statute. The group achieved it despite the uncertainty of the state legislature’s inability to reach a budget agreement in Juneau leaving Alaska’s per pupil reimbursement rate uncertain; and without the requested increased appropriation from the Mat-Su Borough assembly. The approved budget sucks up an anticipated $13 million shortfall over projected revenues as was discussed and presented at the board’s May session.

Trustees also gave thumbs up to a number of new hires including a principals at Su Valley Junior/Senior High and Talkeetna Elementary, and assistant principals at Big Lake Elementary and Joe Redington Sr. Junior/Senior High schools.

After moving into closed session for approximately 20 minutes, the board unanimously approved a one-year contract with the Mid-Level Management Association (MLMA) staff. The agreement affects supervisors, assistant supervisors and professional employees below the supervisor level who have similar job descriptions.

Contact reporter Chris Ford at 352-2270 or chris.ford@frontiersman.com