Letter: Decision to Outsource Custodians Was 'Difficult'
School Committee Chair Kimberly Page addresses concerns regarding the outsourcing of the schools' custodians.
To the editor,
The people of North Kingstown recently received a mailer from NEARI- National Education Association Rhode Island. The flyer described a company to which the North Kingstown School Committee recently outsourced the custodial services, GCA. The flyer stated GCA hired rapist and sex offenders to perform janitorial services. This is NOT what is happening in North Kingstown.
The School Committee terminated the 26 school custodians on June 25. On July 1, GCA hired back 20 of the 26 custodians who had a clean BCI or a background check. The school district ALSO checked all the employees. Essentially the "new" custodians had two background checks - more than any other employee in the school district who we only check once on their date of hire. Since 20 of 26 were re-hired, citizens and the students should see the same people cleaning the rooms and halls of the schools. I do not know why six of the custodians chose not to apply to GCA.
This was a very difficult decision to outsource the custodians. The School Committee has negotiated with the ESP Union (Educational Support Professionals) for the last 20 months and we have not reached an agreement. For last school year, the School Committee forecasted a deficit due to our spending more for salaries and healthcare than we budgeted. North Kingstown was fortunate to have a mild winter so the schools’ heating and snow plow costs were well below what we had budgeted. We ended the year with a surplus. We do not believe we will be so lucky in the future; nor is luck an appropriate means of budgeting.
The ESP union offered substantial cuts to their benefits prior to our decision to outsource. However, their proposals only gave the district cuts for one year and every year the school district budget has increased by 10 percent or more in healthcare costs, pensions rose more than 2 percent, and the district has cut much more than our budget has increased. The School Committee contracted with GCA because they offered an enhanced wage, more than the two other companies that bid. The committee also gave all custodians one month of healthcare to cover the transition time so there were not gaps in care from the school district health care to GCA health insurance.
We know this change is difficult for the custodians and their families because they had their healthcare costs increase, their pension turn to a 401(k) rather than a state pension and their wages lowered so they are in keeping with other custodial services. The School Committee is between a rock and a hard place. Our former custodians were loyal and hard-working employees. For the last year, the committee heard many citizens take us to task for our spending and we know no one wants tax increases. We are trying to cut costs in non-education areas as much as possible. North Kingstown School Department’s mission is to educate, to inspire and to challenge our students.
We have more than 4,000 students who count on getting a quality education in North Kingstown. To work toward that mission and keep the promise we have to their families, we need to cut costs and unfortunately the custodial services was the area that we could get a large savings and impacts education the least.
Kimberly Ann Page,
NK School Committee Chair,
24 Eden Ct, NK, RI 02852 294-6378
melissa
11:52 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Pleae get your facts correct, instead of inferring the 6 custodians did not apply, maybe you should ask if they had applied . Also you and GCA did NOT give them their medical through July they had already PAID their co-pay. And TAXES still increased. And the ones at the top will keep getting merit raises and hiring more people for the top rung.
Carrie
1:11 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Thanks Melissa for stating the facts!
P O V
1:08 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
The NEA-RI oversized glossy postcard was a deliberate attempt to insinuate that North Kingstown children would be intentionally put in harms way.
At the very least, it was offensive. In reality, it was poor judgement by the Unions to send out this made-up "threat".
NK Taxpayer, too
1:43 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
FACTS:
What operational problems have occurred in other cities and towns where GCA Services is engaged?
According to a May 19, 2010 Herald Citizen story by Mary Jo Denton, an employee of GCA Services working as a custodian at Northeast Elementary School here in Cookeville was accused of a prior charge of statutory rape and taken into custody by Cookeville police officers.
On Jan. 11, 2010 the same company was found to have hired an illegal immigrant and known felon in Columbia, Tenn. at E.A. Cox Middle School, a fact that was widely reported in Middle Tennessee media.
On April 28, 2010 WSMV-TV news out of Nashville reported several egregious instances of outsourcing agencies that were grossly negligent in hiring:
According to The Jackson Sun, a GCA custodian was accused of raping a 16-year-old student, during school hours-and this worker had been arrested in connection with a previous rape.
In San Antonio a GCA-employed janitor with a prior burglary arrest was caught stealing from his school, and GCA admitted it knew about that past arrest.
In Fort Worth GCA hired a sex offender as a custodian who had used a fake name, and the man suffocated in the boys' locker room after a sex act.
NK Taxpayer, too
1:54 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
POV Why are you offended by facts? The infro above was not made up and the SC & the Super are the ones not giving the public the facts. Of the 26 custodian there are only 17 left and that number is going to get higher. They have been made to work in over 100 degree heat & short staffed all summer . The company is using inferior cleaning products and and most of the $8 + hr people GCA has hired have left. The loyal NK custodians' wages have been cut by 33%, most can't afford the healthcare never mind put money in 401K. The custodians and the rest of the NKESP made major concessions. What did the SC do? Made majors cut to the rest of the ESP, fired the custodians and gave raises to their administrators
P O V
3:47 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Apparently you are convinced that the 20 re-hires will become social degenerates as employees of GCA.
Your warning should be brought to the attention of the Principals at the schools.
NK Taxpayer, too
4:48 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
@POV My blog was about disputing the SC & your erroneous information about GCA. Has the SC made public that GCA has a grievance filed against by a national union because GCA violated their New England contract with this union? Has the SC made public the numerous labor disputes concerning this company? I believe you should be thankful that the NKESP spent long hours working on those to quote you “oversized glossy postcards” and is committed to getting the information about this out of state, for profit, company’s despicable hiring history out to the public. The NKESP cares about the safety of our town’s children and our school employees. I’d be glad to cite any information you made need, but right now I need to get supper ready for my kids. PS There are only 17 "NK" custodians left and more will be leaving.
Tired of NK antics
11:42 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
It is not the SC responsibility to report any grievances filed against GCA by the
SEIU (which has no standing in Rhode Island) or any other bargaining unit. Nor is it their responsibility to report any labor disputes. The only time it becomes an issue is when any outside influences impacts their ability to uphold their contract.
How do you think those glossy propaganda cards are funded? By union dues thats how. Despicable.
If the remainder of the former NK janitors leave, I hope that means they found a better opportunity. Isn't free market great?
Question: exactly when did "profit" become a bad thing?
NK_NewResident
1:49 pm on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
"Question: exactly when did "profit" become a bad thing? - Tired of NK antics
Actually, one has to ask themselves how these companies make a profit? A profit for a business is not a bad thing, just as long as the service the company provides meets the needs of the consumer.
In this case the drive for profits may come back to bite the school district. Will the company choose to not provide adequate cleaning supplies? In the case of GCA, who checks on them that they are obeying laws for creating a clean office space and educational space? What checks and balances are in place.
When the school system is the employer of the people providing the service, then they have more control over who they hire, what supplies are used for cleaning, and a myriad of other issues.
Incidently, it seems that several of the 20 custodians rehired are leaving. I do not know the particulars but I think 3 left this week.
NK Parent
6:03 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
The ESP union squandered any faith they once had in the way they handled this situation. That postcard was sensationalistic and offensive to low-income people and it just dripped with the thinly-veiled insinuation that low-income workers could not be trusted with children. It was disgraceful and everyone at the union making these insinuations should be ashamed at themselves.
Support NK
7:20 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
We, as union members, are not trying to attack low income people (I am now a low income person because of the unilateral changes that the SC made to our "contract"), we are just trying to point out some of the horrible labor practices that GCA has had in other states. We did not make up the sensational and offensiveness of GCA labor practices of not checking criminal backgrounds. I had to be finger-printed in order to get a job as a Paraprofessional.
Right now, the cleanliness in the schools have deteriorated, not because our custodians are slacking, but because GCA has told them what to do - do what is the bare minimum. For Example, the floors are stripped and resealed in the summer. Last year, Hamilton had 4-5 coats, this year, only 2. Do you know what hand sanitizer does to the sealer? It eats it away and damages the floor. Even though each room has a sanitizer, the kids carry their individual bottle sometimes and the floors are not pretty by the middle of the year!
I am sorry that you feel that we squandered any faith that you had in us as a group. I have read many blogs and I have been to the SC meetings and things (and opinions) are deteriorating. Everyone is trying to give their opinion and it shouldn't be a personal attack towards ANYONE, but when emotions are involved, it becomes personal.
PS... the majority of the NKESP union members make between $11,000 and $17,000 per year.
Concerned NK School Parent
6:17 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Ms Page:
Setting your facts straight, regarding GCA and the Town of NK School Department. What is not getting done is the proper cleaning of the buildings. There are only 17 custodians left of the original 26 still working for GCA. As more continue to leave you will be left with even fewer loyal town employees.
GCA has not been very successful so far in hiring new employees at $8.00 + hr as most have quit after a couple of days. The present custodians are attempting to work in the buildings, understaffed and with inadequate supplies to do their job. Students will not see the same people as GCA continues to bring on new custodians and the present force dwindles. When students arrive early in the morning at their schools they will often see a strange face.You state that you were only offered cuts for one year, yet the Arbitrators Award was a three year contract. Why could you not have offered a cafeteria menu of benefits like other private companies do allowing for choice for your employees while lowering cost? With an average 35% reduction in wages how can you possibly call GCA wages enhanced and what good is a 401K that you must fund 100% if you have no money to fund it? The SC is fighting with the ESP Union. The TC is fighting with the Firefighters. Lastly, the SC and the TC are fighting with each other and spent over $130,000 suing each other. Why don’t you all show some leadership and a give us a town government that respects people and is supportive of its employees!
P O V
6:30 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
I congratulate the concerned parents for being advocates for CLEAN schools.
Hopefully, now that the decision has been made to outsource, these parents will be vigilant in keeping an eye on the janitorial work of GCA...as well as reporting any mis-conduct.
Have a safe NK School year.
NK Taxpayer, too
6:31 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
@NK Parent No, what I wrote was the truth. I can back up my information. Which I done for you in another blog. The SC not only distorted information, they omitted information (read my above blog). As for your disgusting remark about not trusting low income people, why would I be so outraged at the SC's decision to put 26 loyal employees into poverty. You and POV are obviously SC members trying to defend a bad decision.
NKGOP Watch
6:59 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
$8.00 an hour? Thats a joke right? Even Lowes pays $12-14 and it goes up from there. I agree that $20 was way too high but $8 is way too low. At $12/hour (24k/year) this might result in stable staffing.
Dave
5:55 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Yes, It is a joke as GCA is paying an "enhanced wage" to nk workers they have hired...at the insistence of the NK School Committee....FAR more than $8.00 per hour!
P O V
7:22 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Job Posting on the Internet:
Custodial Supervisor (Second shift)
Job type: Full-Time | Pay: $36k - $40k/year
GCA Services Group is a leading provider of comprehensive janitorial, maintenance and facility services to the specialized industry and education...
View full job description Save to MyCareerBuilder Email to a friend
GCA Services
RI - North Kingstown
P O V
7:40 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Support NK has noted:
"Right now, the cleanliness in the schools have deteriorated, not because our custodians are slacking, but because GCA has told them what to do - do what is the bare minimum. "
Doesn't the School Dept. post a specific job task punch list?
It appears that there is a job opening for a Custodial Supervisor.
As a vendor, wouldn't their performance be subject to contract renewal if the work is obviously sub-standard?
NKGOP Watch
8:15 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
So maybe they lost a supervisor and it looks like that is being rectified. Things need to settle out for more than a few mere weeks with all kinds of fmr employees getting disgruntled over the pay cut and quitting. But if the situation is not performing in another a couple months then it would have to be looked at by the SC and Admin.
Tired of NK antics
8:56 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
@ Support NK, Who is the person evaluating the cleanliness of the buildings? If it is you, an ESP union member, I would think your opinion must be completely discounted because of you affiliation and obvious blind support for your union brethren. Leave the evaluation to people a bit less biased. It is difficult to believe anything that comes from any member of the ESP at this point.
Support NK
9:24 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
I did not evaluate the cleanliness of the building, I was merely relaying the info that I recieved about the floors. Again, you attack the ESP when you know NOTHING about us!
I, personally am not embellishing any of the truths that I have seen and heard. As for an evaluation of the cleanliness, from what the buildings looked like last year compared to this year, they are below our NK standards. This should not reflect on the current custodians because they are working extremely hard, however, the status of the buildings are a reflection of the cost cutting on supplies to save the SC money.
Have you been in the schools consistently like the people who are commenting on the cleanliness? Year after year? Have you actually talked to a custodian? They are not "blowing smoke"!
As for being discounted because of my brethren affiliation? and my blind support? TRUE, I am biased about the building that I work in because it is a building that has always been immaculate and the custodians can only do what they are told by GCA.
nkres
9:51 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
This is another example of part time politicians trying thier hands at management and botching the whole mess up. Shows the Town Council leads by example. The real proof in the pudding will be in a week when the schools are full of kids. How will the schools look. I am concerned to what happens if, god forbide, a contagious disease outbreak were to occur. Will GCA be able to handle disinfecting the entire school system? How about if the schools need to be used for emergency shelters like last August and September, Are there stipulations in the contract for such emergencies?
Tired of NK antics
10:20 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
another disgruntled janitor trying to stir up controversy...what if...what if...what if. Well what if the hours in the day were suddenly reversed where day would be come night and night become day...is there a stipulation in the contract for the janitors working in non-dayligtht hours??? Or, what if the Annaquatucket river were to suddenly begin to flow backwards...is there a stipulation in the contract for working near a saltwater river? Or, what if the water in all the toilet bowls were to mysteriously begin to swirl counter-clockwise when flushed..is there a stipulation in the contract for that?
You need to spend less time blogging and more time looking for a job.
nkres
9:01 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
Easy Sport, just asking a few questions. Why so defensive? Do you really have that many anger issues? I was just wondering if the issues I asked were addressed in the contract. It is possible GCA could call in more employees from other sites to cover an emergency and what would the cost be to the NKSD. BTW, you are so off base, you're not even in the ball park.
Govstench
10:12 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
This is just another NEA campaign. There will be more cuts coming and your in denial if you think this round is over. This budget will not stay balanced and more cuts will be needed. So the school committee decides to change their minds and bring these 26 custodians back. They instead, lay off more teachers to keep the sheet balanced. Do you think that will keep these people quiet? No, they will continue with the war of words. Remember, the taxpayers/voters put those people on that committee, not the unions. If there has to be cutbacks, it happens. If you think you would get away with this stuff in the private sector, your dreaming.
Tired of NK antics
10:14 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
@Support NK, so you are, as you say, "relaying info" you received. So you are reporting hearsay not truths. You didn't see the floors yourself, you are relying on what people tell you. If you have not actually inspected/evaluated the cleanliness of the floors/buildings yourself, you are relaying or reporting nothing factual. Just more union bullcrap. They/you are trying to turn the public against the decision with misrepresentations, half-truths and full blown lies.
The school district and the taxpayers fan no longer afford to pay janitors $17.00 an hour, with 4% healthcare co-pay and full pension when the national hourly rate for janitors is somewhere in the vicinity of $10/hr. and 35% co-pay and 401K. Why should we, the residents and taxpayers overpay for janitorial services and fund healthcare and pensions that we ourselves can only dream of? You all need to look around at your industry and see what the average compensation is and realize you had a good run and it is over.
Tired of NK antics
11:26 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Our buildings and grounds are as safe now as they were last school year. They are safe until something happens that they are not safe. What you are doing IS fear mongering. You are projecting things that happened in other parts of the country on NK. It is funny when you talk about the 'BAD PEOPLE" GCA hires, because you conveniently forget the "brethren" that was writing bomb threats in Davisville Middle a couple of years ago. How safe were the schools then, when the janitors fell under the auspices of the ESP union?
Face it, it is over. The gravy train has come to a hault for the overpaid and under-utilized ESP janitors.
We R NK
10:54 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
T of NK A, Why shouldn't they project things happening in other parts of the country on NK, you are projecting custodial pays on the pays received in other parts of the country to NK? Whats the matter, whats good for the goose is not good for the gander?
Tired of NK antics
9:42 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
@nkres, no anger issues, just a low tolerance for stupidity.
Tired of NK antics
11:25 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
@ We R NK, the difference is the pay rates I highlighted are statistics provided by the Dept. of Labor, market driven and used nationwide as a benchmark for labor. The info you use amounts to a statistical anomaly as the GCA hiring mistakes represent less than 1% of their total employees(30,000 employees in 45 states). I use the pay rate info to show how the school district overpaid the janitors for years and that the janitors are now being paid a fair market rate. You highlight the statistical anomaly and try to couch it as standard operating procedure in an effort to monger fear.
THAT is the difference.
We R NK
2:35 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
I supplied NO info, just commented. You seem to have an opinion about everything. You know what they say about opinions.. You seem to know everything also..... you know what they say about know-it-alls.....Must go, got a life
Tired of NK antics
7:59 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
@ WE R NK, the new thing you need to get is a clue.
NK_NewResident
2:14 pm on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
@Tired of NK antics: I would say that you need to get a clue.
You have no idea of the level of work that is required to keep a large school system running well.
1. Make sure you are comparing apples and oranges. You cite the lower pay national average for 'janitors' - I am not sure of the source of that but my wife worked as a custodian for LL Bean in Maine and her pay was sufficiently more than the starting pay of $10 - even for those with many years of experience. Other lower paying 'janitorial' services just do the basics of vacumming, dusting and changing trash. They are not usually involved in rug extraction, refinishing floors, etc.
2. I think you look lightly on those who work in this field - your comments were offensive to myself as the husband of a custodian who is a very hard worker.
3. I know for a fact that there is a lack of adequate cleaning supplies in each of the school buildings.
Private companies basic premise is to earn a profit. They do this by cutting corners that would not otherwise be cut.
Go into the school system and ask a 'janitor' where the MSDS books are kept. According to OSHA they are required to be produced when asked.
Check to see if all bottles are correctly labeled or labeled at all.
Professional places with private custodial staff usually have these in each of the janitors closets, everything is labeled and attention to detail and safety is primary.
Tired of NK antics
3:10 pm on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
@ Daniel Lee, oh ok. I understand. If I was married to a custodian I would completely understand but since I am not, I don't. By your "logic", if I were married to an auto technician, I could diagnose the "check engine light" on my dashboard. If I were married to oh, I dunno....an NFL coach, I would, know the intricacies of the 3-4 defense and if I were married to a doctor, I would understand how to properly diagnose and treat malaria.
Your logic is seriously flawed Daniel Lee. You have not a clue about my knowledge of this situatiom or my background. Suffice it to say I know more about this than you think I do.
If there are problems with the MSDS or properly labeling of chemical containers, the the janitors should report it to supervision.