The Pine Bluff School Board of Directors has voted 7-0 to have its lawyers review a janitorial company’s proposal on cleaning the district buildings.
The district is currently using its own custodians to clean the school buildings, Superintendent of Schools Michael Robinson said. The district would save about $600,000 by hiring GCA Educational Services, Robinson said.
Clark Brady works for GCA Educational Services as the sales director in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. He presented two proposals in accordance with the district’s wishes. One proposal is for $1,272,818 for a total of 48 employees. Another proposal is for $1,130,369 for a total of 42 employees.
Brady said during a presentation at Tuesday’s school board meeting that GCA works in 3,200 schools and more than 100 universities, including 12 districts in Arkansas and one university in Arkansas.
“We transitioned quite a few in-house operations over to contracted services,” Brady said. “In this proposal, we are investing $122,000 worth of equipment. We feel that equipment will help our custodians do their jobs.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Laura Strickland is the coordinator of the district’s business, finance, and state and federal programs.
“As it stands right now with the 48 in the current proposal, there is a $600,000 savings,” Strickland, who has a doctorate degree, said. “If we have to take some back, we will still be in a savings position. The materials and resources that we are purchasing are under the umbrella of the contract. We no longer would have to do the paper supplies or the cleaning supplies.”
Board member Harold Jackson asked Brady if GCA Educational Services contracts with the Star City School District. Brady responded, “yes.” Jackson did not elaborate as to the significance for this question.
Board member Henry Dabner said he received phone calls from a person who said two school district janitors failed to work when they were supposed to. Dabner said he could share more problems but declined to do so.
“We get more complaints about cleaning,” Dabner said. “The schools were not being cleaned. … People have got to do their jobs. We are looking for a savings; it’s business. I want everyone to have a job, but that’s not our responsibility.”
Jackson said he thinks there are positives and negatives to outsourcing.
Board member Andrea Roaf-Little called herself excited about potential savings.
“We need clean schools,” Roaf-Little said. “When kids are in a clean school, they want to learn and participate and don’t want to destroy your property.”
Roaf-Little called for the employees to have better pay.
Brady said GCA Educational Services is growing at a rate of 20 percent annually.
“There are some advantages for some of your employees that if they have leadership skills, they will advance,” Brady said. “That’s a reality.”
Board member Stephen Bronskill said he wanted to speak with employees of nearby school districts who contract with GCA Educational Services.