The Spring-Ford Area School Board voted 6-2 Monday night to outsource the district’s janitorial services to save the schools more than $1 million, leaving 24 custodians searching for a new job by mid-summer.
Board members Julie A. Mullin and Bernard F. Pettit voted against the contract, and board President Joseph P. Ciresi was absent from the meeting.
In the two-year contract, janitorial services company Jani-King will clean Spring-Ford’s buildings during the afternoon and evening, ensuring they are ready to open for the following school day at a cost of $795,212 per year out of the district’s 2011-12 general fund.
The contract has a possible third-year renewal option.
Spring-Ford opted to pursue a contract with Jani-King in March when it was trying to reduce its nearly $12 million deficit. Board members tabled the deal approximately one month later, wanting additional information about the deal.
The new contract with the janitorial firm means 24 janitors will be without a job come July 1, but the contract will save the district more than $1 million.
Pettit said he has been against using an outside janitorial firm from the beginning, saying this deal opens the door for other positions to be outsourced.
Source:http://pottsmerc.com/articles/2011/05/25/news/srv0000011821552.txt
