Earlier this school year, Trigg County Schools released a request for proposal — in what was an all-call for bids on outsourced janitorial efforts focusing on the district’s primary school, intermediate school and central office.
During Thursday’s Board of Education meeting, Finance Officer Holly Greene noted that RFP had been returned with one bid costing more than $29,000 a month and $348,000 a year.
Following a bit of discussion, no action was taken on the RFP — but for mostly one very specific reason.
It’s because efforts from both high school teachers and vocational instructors have helped supplant a waning crew under Custodial Supervisor Deanna Cavanaugh. For an added stipend and with supplies provided by the school, most of those teachers and educators have opted into cleaning efforts on their own volition.
Greene noted that this RFP release first began when teachers and other non-custodial staff at the intermediate school originally balked at this loose idea of being their own keepers.
Now, that idea might be shifting — particularly at the middle school.
Director of Operations Matt Ladd noted Cavanaugh’s staff has gone from 14-to-15 people at its highest point, and is now down to 7-to-8. In recent weeks, five interviews had been scheduled for new custodians — only to have four no-show for appointments, and one walk out when they heard the wage.
He said things have been as tough as he’s seen it during his career at Trigg County, and he asked the Board to soon consider in future discussions some pay increases for custodial staff.
Greene noted that if the RFP were accepted along with current custodial staffing prices while combining the high school/vocational personal upkeep, the price would be exorbitant — and the money could best be used elsewhere.
Greene added that one of the main challenges involved with the outsourcing of custodial work stems from the fact that the school would have to pay a monthly fee regardless of their services provided or their own staffing struggles. Pay would come due, whether the work was done at an effective level or not.
Furthermore, Greene noted that the money saved could instead be turned to either custodial salary increases or more staffing altogether — perhaps a better use of the saved funds.
School Attorney Jack Lackey Jr. also made a strong point — referring to the fact that the number of people currently on unemployment benefits is at its lowest point in American history.
Rather, individuals are turning to other lines of work.
