District signs one‑year custodial contract; board members press for accountability and more in‑house capacity

The Coatesville Area School District operations committee on June 10 voted to recommend a one‑year contract with Health Care Service Group to provide custodial support services beginning July 1, 2025.

Committee members pressed administration about how third‑party custodial services compare with in‑house custodians, particularly on total cost (hourly rates plus benefits) and service quality in elementary buildings. Several board members said they had received complaints from teachers and parents that some elementary buildings were not being cleaned to expected standards.

District leaders said the one‑year contract is intentionally short so the district can compare options and build internal capacity where feasible. Administration reported it had raised performance concerns with the vendor’s regional supervisor and corporate office and that the new contract includes clarified responsibilities and enhanced accountability measures for onsite cleaning. The superintendent (Dr. Barczyk) said he had called the vendor’s leadership when complaints arose and would keep board members informed.

"This will be the first step in many that they need to see that they are being respected," one board member said while discussing in‑house staff morale and the district’s plan to restore more responsibilities to district employees over time.

The operations committee recommended the contract to the full board; committee members asked that the district add channels for teachers and principals to escalate concerns directly to the superintendent and to the vendor’s management so issues can be addressed promptly.

No final contract signed by the board was recorded in the special meeting minutes on June 10; the operations committee’s recommendation will be placed on a future board agenda for formal approval.