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Students and teachers press board over outsourced custodial services and school cleanliness
Summary
Student-led research and multiple teachers at the May 5 meeting urged the Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board to reconsider outsourced custodial contracts, citing survey data, photos, and health concerns; the district said it will follow up and noted reported improvements by the contractor.
Students and staff at Tanana Middle School and other district speakers told the school board on May 5 that outsourced custodial services are producing unsatisfactory cleaning results, affecting student health and learning. Student presenters said a survey of students and staff found 82.5% rated cleanliness five or lower on a 10-point scale and shared photos they said showed persistent problems.
What was raised: Students described broken or inadequate vacuum equipment in use by the contractor ABM and said cleaning lapses left classrooms, gyms and carpets in poor condition. Teacher testimony added anecdotal examples of classrooms not vacuumed over weekends and missing basic maintenance supplies.
District response: Superintendent Dr. Miner acknowledged the concerns and said ABM's performance has improved since an earlier presentation; he said administration will follow up with Tanana Middle School leadership and work with the contractor to address site-specific problems. Board members requested another performance report and additional walkthroughs where needed.
Why it matters: Speakers tied cleanliness to health, student comfort and learning environment quality. Several teachers and students asked the board to reconsider decisions to outsource custodial work and to restore in-house night custodial positions if necessary.
Numbers cited: Testimony referenced an estimated $3 million annual savings attributed to outsourcing in news reports and district budget pressures that previously led to staffing changes. Students and teachers urged that cost savings not come at the expense of safe, clean learning spaces.
Next steps: Dr. Miner said administration would follow up with school principals and ABM for targeted improvement plans and report back to the board. Board members suggested scheduling a work session or inviting ABM for an update at a future meeting.
