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Board discusses bringing custodial services in‑house after multi‑year contract award
Summary
Board members discussed a recently awarded custodial contract (square‑footage pricing), concerns about prior vendor performance, and staged plans to repatriate custodial work by pulling square footage back into district staffing over the next year.
The board reviewed a new custodial services contract priced by square footage and discussed options to return custodial work to district employees in phases. Staff said the contract is structured by square footage at a per‑square‑foot rate (quoted in discussion as $0.1999 per square foot) and that repatriation could be staged so elementary schools could be brought in first if principals volunteer to manage hiring, training and equipment.
Board members said previous vendors have had instances of “bad actor” behavior and expressed an interest in disciplinary control and closer supervision if custodial services return in‑house. Staff noted that shifting square footage back into district management would require either repurposing existing contractor equipment (mops, floor machines) or budgeting to supply those materials for district employees; they also said a mid‑year change would be difficult but possible and that the district hopes to transition some or all custodial work by this time next year.
Staff added that a transition could allow more custodians to perform light maintenance, furniture assembly and school‑specific tasks that current contractor scopes do not cover, and that principals who have been surveyed generally said they would welcome custodians being more integrated into the school team.
Why it matters: custodial-service structure affects building cleanliness, maintenance response, employee supervision and local jobs; shifting services in‑house could improve accountability but requires budget and equipment decisions and a management plan.
Next steps: staff will provide a bring‑back with a breakdown of categories that determine the in‑house cost (payroll, insurance, equipment), estimated headcount impacts for the square footage in the current contract and an implementation timetable for a phased transition.
