OCPS outlines portable reductions and centralizes custodial services to standardize maintenance

Orange County Public Schools presented an update May 5 on portable‑classroom reductions, maintenance operations and a plan to centralize custodial services to improve consistency across campuses.

Facilities staff said the district has reduced portable units by about 70% over the past 20 years — from roughly 4,337 to 1,295 — and expects to remove 74 leased portables and demolish 32 owned units by year end. Staff described permanent classroom additions and program enhancements as preferred capital responses where relief schools are not the right solution.

Jonathan Earles, senior facilities director for maintenance, gave an update on staffing and operations. He said maintenance vacancies remain a challenge and that the district supplements in‑house teams with contractors to maintain service levels. Median work‑order completion has improved from about 12 days last year to roughly seven days so far this year, Earles said.

Staff also announced a formal shift to a centralized custodial reporting structure beginning next school year. The new model will move elementary and middle school custodial oversight from school‑level management to a district central team, while principals will retain input on campus needs. Earles said the centralization will allow the district to procure supplies and equipment at scale; staff noted a procurement change on consumables (paper products and soap) that is expected to generate significant savings, roughly $800,000 districtwide.

Board members raised operational questions: where removed portables go (leased units return to vendor; owned units removed/demolished when at end of life), how swing sites reduce renovation costs, and whether the district can create student work pathways or vocational training to supplement the custodial and maintenance workforce. Staff said minimum‑wage changes reduced custodial vacancy concerns and that custodial inspection scores and work‑order metrics will be tracked under the centralized model.

No formal action was taken. Staff will return with additional data requested by board members, including detailed lists of portables by use (classroom vs. non‑instructional), custodial inspection scores and cost estimates for centralization steps.

Key quotes

"Over the past 20 years, the district has reduced portable classrooms by 70% from 4,337 to 1,295," the presenter said.

"Our median work order completion time has improved from around 12 days last year to around 7 days so far this year," Jonathan Earles said.

Next steps: staff to provide a comprehensive portable inventory (use breakdown), custodial inspection data and savings estimates tied to procurement changes and centralized reporting.