Lincoln school board delays action on outsourcing custodians, discusses replacing retiring superintendent
Custodians at Lincoln Consolidated Schools must wait another week to learn their fate after district trustees agreed Monday night to delay action on a proposal to outsource cleaning services to a private company.
The move is expected to save the cash-strapped district $636,000.
Trustees instead adjourned to a closed-door session to hear about recent negotiation efforts between the district and the custodial union to keep the district’s 24 janitors employed.
“It was a long day,” said Laurie Price, president of the Lincoln Education Associates Organization, who met for eight hours with Superintendent Lynn Cleary.
Price said the two sides are close to an agreement. Without offering specifics, she said there is more room for negotiation, but layoffs aren't on the table from her perspective.
In the 2009-2010 custodial contract, custodians were forced to accept an 8 percent reduction in pay, a week furlough and pay $100 a month for insurance, said Price.
Price said she expects to have an agreement hammered out by next week to take to her organization for ratification.
Transportation workers recently accepted a 7 percent pay-cut to prevent outsourcing.
“I think we are easy targets because we’re expendable,” Price said. “There are contracted services for us anywhere you go.”
After the board meeting, custodian Rick Mayfield seemed to indicate the janitors’ backs are against the wall, and they may have little choice but to accept pay cuts.
“If you’re staring at not having a job, you’ll take a lot,” said Mayfield, a 14-year employee of the school district.
Another cost-saving measure included closing Bessie Hoffman Elementary, whose students will attend Brick Elementary when school starts Sept. 7. Former Bessie Hoffman custodian Josh Salley plans to report to Brick as well, if he still has a job.
“It’s all up in the air,” said Salley, a 10-year employee of the district. “I have no answer.”
The trustees also are facing a number of pressing personnel issues.
Superintendent Cleary, who announced her retirement in June, has not yet given the board a timeline for leaving. Human Resources Executive Director Sylvester Rowan said Monday he is stepping down Dec. 17.
The district is consolidating its business services operations next year - which would eliminate Rowan’s position - in a Washtenaw Intermediate School District consortium that would potentially include the school districts of Ypsilanti and Willow Run. Without Rowan, trustees may have to hire an interim human resources director temporarily before the position is eliminated.
Cleary has also been pushing trustees to hire two assistant principals for Lincoln High School and Lincoln Middle School to replace people who vacated those positions.
“There are 4,800 students in the district and only three administrators. That’s 1,600 to one,” she said. “I would caution the board not to get too lean… Everything that comes through takes someone’s time. It’s very easy to be overwhelmed.”
Cleary’s departure could delay those hires. Several trustees said they would like to have a new superintendent in place before moving forward. Cleary cautioned against bringing someone new into a difficult situation.
“I would like to make sure it’s an attractive position,” she said. “Mr. Rowan has taken over the day-to-day operations because the bond has taken up all of my time. It’s a challenging position.”
Cleary makes about $130,000 with benefits, but the board would negotiate a new package for her replacement, said trustee president Kimberly Samuelson.
Ned Randolph is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
Dlr727
Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 8:20 p.m.
@stunhsif-After reading your post in an earlier article about fair taxation, I think it's hypocritical of you to keep bashing these custodians or the teachers for being over paid. $100 a month probably doesn't seem like a lot to someone who makes big bucks, but is huge to people who alread took big cuts last year and are probably looking to take more this year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in that earlier post regarding fair taxtion, you posted a comment something to the effect that said "the Fica cut-off is $106,000" and that you meet that and "enjoy having a few months of pay checks with out having to pay that." I bet all those overpaid custodians and teachers would enjoy not having to contribute to Fica for a few pay checks too, and wouldn't 106,000+ be a great salary. Pipe dreams for most of us. But then again, all any of us do is work with our most precious and important resource, our children. Nothing important right?
gild
Tue, Aug 24, 2010 : 10:52 p.m.
ronn oneal: "Who's to say" that a school district employee won't steal from the school or have inappropriate contact with kids? It's not like it's never happened before: http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2008/05/exschool_janitor_arraigned_on.html The school district can require the contractor to do background checks and file them with the school office. Yes, something can go wrong, but things can go wrong with district employees too. It was a school district employee who left a 6-year-old on a bus in Ypsi, wasn't it? Did you see anyone pointing to that as proof that schools shouldn't hire their own bus drivers? Enough with the scare tactics. It's insulting to everyone who's ever worked for a private business. There is nothing about getting your paycheck from the government that makes you a better person than somebody who doesn't.
stunhsif
Tue, Aug 24, 2010 : 7:20 p.m.
@gild, spot on! They also now have to pay a whopping 100 dollars a month for insurance. Was it zero before that? Most of us in the private sector pay 100 dollars a week or more. Am I supposed to feel sorry for them? I say quit wasting time and privatize this work. Would be fine to offer the current employees first chance to accept the new pay and benefit package which would be offered. Next in line will be the teachers as they have the best pay and bennies and have coughed nothing up but the 3% they have to pay into their "Cadillac" retirment package!
ronn oneal
Tue, Aug 24, 2010 : 6:03 p.m.
Saving money is not always the best answer. So far the students have been safe and whos to say that outsourcing those positions wont put safety at risk. Staff and parents kind of gotten a bond with them but now bringing outsiders on board could change for better or worst. If they are doing a good job, remember you get what you pay for.
gild
Tue, Aug 24, 2010 : 5:51 p.m.
Here we go again. Everyone who works for a private employer is evil and lazy, and everyone who works for the government is a saint. And what's with the "keep local jobs" thing? Private custodial companies hire local people too.
Tine
Tue, Aug 24, 2010 : 10:14 a.m.
We need to support our local people. Many of these position's are held by people that live in our local area... What will they do without a job???? We can see this with the bus driver's. They have families, they have homes.. The school district did not care. If we don't have the support by our local school district who do we have??? Start spending the money the right way. Concerns with the "whole picture" should be in order. We can see the "money spending" in our own township (Augusta) There is a reason why this school district is in debt...Greed is usually the answer to all of this nonesense. We need to keep the spending, consuming and employment in OUR community. And stop wasting our budget.
shine16
Tue, Aug 24, 2010 : 9:34 a.m.
glimmertwin, although Ms. Cleary has only been superintendent for a few years, she served the district as assistant principal, then principal of the middle school for approximately 10 years. Before that she served many years in other Detroit area districts. So yes, she has is eligible for retirement as it is based on years of service, not age. Also, it is unfair to characterize her as 'jumping ship'. She considered retiring from her position as middle school principal, but stayed in the district to serve as superintendent when Fred Williams 'jumped ship'. Although I don't always agree with her words or actions, she is undoubtedly dedicated to Lincoln Consolidated Schools. As is often true, there is much more to this story than the minimal information printed in the article.
Likearock
Tue, Aug 24, 2010 : 8:57 a.m.
Glimmer, hasn't there been several Superintendant changes around the area recently? Considering all of the recent economic issues in MI the Superindendant position has to be one of the most difficult jobs out there. I suspect that many people just burn out in that role.
glimmertwin
Tue, Aug 24, 2010 : 7:12 a.m.
Schools should concentrate on educating kids, not in negotiations with custodians. This is a no-brainer. Cleary is leaving? She didn't last long. I guess that school-of-choice she pushed so hard for wasn't the silver bullet after all. I've been in the Lincoln district 15 years - it seems like this is the 3rd or 4th superintendent there has been. I doubt Cleary is retirement age. When the leaders continually jump-ship, it doesn't reflect well on the district.
City Confidential
Tue, Aug 24, 2010 : 6:59 a.m.
A school district near Lansing contracted out their custodial services and this was one of the results: a thief and sexual predator gained full access to the schools. He stole a girl's cell phone and sent sexually explicit texts to her friends. He was likely a lower paid, less-than-adequately screened employee of an employer who cares about the finances of the business more the safety of the school district that contracted it. Who knows who will be given access to the schools when the custodial staff who had a relationship with the school and saw themselves as part of that community are let go.. http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/90966949.html