Part-time custodians could save schools money
On the agenda
The Janesville School Board meets at 6 tonight at the Educational Services Center, 527 S. Franklin St. The agenda includes:
-- Announce and probably approve a new principal for Roosevelt Elementary School and an assistant principal for Marshall Middle School. Officials said the identities of those people would not be available until the meeting.
-- Consider approval of rules governing the use of seatbelts on school buses.
-- Consider approval of a revised school bus contract regarding seat belts with the Van Galder Bus Co.
JANESVILLE — The Janesville School District has found another way to save on custodial costs: Hire part-timers.
The school board will consider the idea at its meeting tonight.
In a memo, Business Services Director Doug Bunton said a minimum of six custodians are needed to handle the increased square footage at the newly expanded Craig and Parker high schools.
Bunton recommends hiring two full-time custodians and a number of part-timers that together would cover six eight-hour shifts.
The part-timers would not receive heath/dental/drug insurance, and that's where most of the savings would be. Bunton estimated the cost for all the new hires would be $288,000 a year. The original estimate was $348,000 for six full-timers.
The union contract with the custodians requires the district to pay benefits if someone works more than 6.5 hours a day, Bunton said.
Bunton also proposes the district stop using overtime and substitutes to cover the shifts of custodians who are out sick or on leave.
The district estimates it could save about $100,000 a year by not covering those shifts.
In addition, the district will use suggestions from the Sarasota, Fla., school district and reduce levels of cleanliness in certain parts of schools to save on costs, Superintendent Karen Schulte said.
The district will entertain other ideas to save money on cleaning, Schulte said.
Bunton is asking that the board decide about hiring custodians by the board's Tuesday, July 14, meeting to insure the custodians are trained and ready to go by the start of the school year.
Schulte said the school board could hire more custodial help later if the minimal staffing level isn't enough, "but we don't have the money."
Jun 25, 2009 at 7:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
I stand by my comment. Government services are inherently wasteful and out of touch with the real world on cost. I never mentioned teachers or administration, but if the district wants to save a load of cash bid out custodial, food service, lawn and snow removal etc.
Jun 24, 2009 at 4:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Wow, why would you want to keep the quality custodial staff you have? Why stop there, lets get all part time teachers too. OH and dont forget my personal favorite. I totally vote for part time administrators, that way you can REALLY cut out the pork!
Jun 24, 2009 at 2:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
Great idea "CallitasIseeit", let's bring minimum wage workers into our schools, what could possibly go wrong? Better yet why don't we get prison inmates to come in and do the custodian work. This was actually proposed in one Wisconsin school district.
Jun 24, 2009 at 1:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
If they are going to cut costs we need to go to outside contracting on a bid system not only for schools but trash collection and other city/county services. That is the only way to drive increases in efficiency and cost savings. Without a profit motive these services turn into government guaranteed jobs at much higher rates than the private sector would accept. Of course this is to save money on a public school system that is failing miserably on a national scale and should be scrapped and overhauled completely.
Jun 24, 2009 at 12:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
The School District of Tim Cullen and Quint Studer need to take a long vacation...........
Remember the name TIM CULLEN the next time you vote for school board members. He is NO GOOD for this board. Get rid of him and all of his cronies!
Jun 24, 2009 at 12:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
What would a lowly custodian do with health or dental insurance, anyway? They probably wouldn't even know how to use it. Let'e keep these privileges where they belong with only the teachers and administrators.
Jun 24, 2009 at 12:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
Anything to screw the average Joe out of anything..So a man/woman puts in the 6.5 hours a day, and misses bennies by 1.5 hours...Also with 6.5 hours, it makes it harder to find another partime time/fulltime job to make up for it.
Jun 24, 2009 at 11:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
Is it me? Or is there really a pronounced absenteeism in the custodial areas of the school system? Otherwise, why would be an issue? Just asking because I'm not sure why this would even be an issue.
Jun 24, 2009 at 3:11 a.m.
Suggest removal
Nothing wrong with study-hall. They didn't make us go as punishment when I was up and coming through high school. It was just something we did in between lunch and algebra. Study-hall was always just so boresome that we more or less studied just to pass the time. I'm not sure if I'd of made it all the way through school, if it weren't for study-hall, officiated by Mrs. Kolba. Of course, this was back when people still used pagers.
Jun 24, 2009 at 1:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
first of all i agree with the rooster second of all no teachers of the past hardly ever complained so that is a correct statement, they are much different than most of the teachers today because all they do is wine and complain.as far as having the students clean the schools a very good thought. why not have them help out especially those kids in study hall and the ones who have suspensions in an out of school suspension,they dont do anything but suck up oxygen,lol.but i dont like seeing these custodians getting part time with no benefits,because some will have families, and if they dont have benefits then they have to get badger care which cost the tax payers more money,its not a good situation no matter how you look at.
Jun 24, 2009 at 12:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
Doesn't bother me if they use part-timers for this during these uncertain economic times. I also have a feeling that there will be plenty of qualified candidates putting in applications. And, if there are teachers wanting to go part time without benefits, that should also be investigated and considered. Sannio, I know many professionals (in a variety of career fields) working part time and they are just as dedicated as those doing full time. In addition, they are able to pick up extra hours more easily and with enthusiasm. There is less burnout also when working part time.
Jun 23, 2009 at 11:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
And no.... Don't ask the teachers to pick up the slack on custodial chores. Not sure what planet you used to live on, but teachers are nowhere near getting rich. My grandma taught school for 44 years, and barely scraped by. She never once griped (out loud) about working conditions, either. She died a poor woman. 44 years and in the end, all she had to show for it were memories and a $300.00 pension check. Teachers do enough (most of them, anyway)
.
They should have it set up like they do it over in Japan, and have the children help clean school everyday. Call me a strict hardliner if you want, but I just think that would be a good life lesson.
Jun 23, 2009 at 11:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
I think I see some of those illegal aliens from that other article getting part time jobs doing custodial work.........
Jun 23, 2009 at 10:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
Again take it out on the positions that do the work ! treat them as second class? No benefits? I can see applicants lining up for these positions.Why not have over priced,with all the benifets teachers take over these most necessary duties. More crazier each day,and school has even started.
Jun 23, 2009 at 9:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
the school board should take a vacation, a long vacation. say, ten years. and take the city council with them.
Jun 23, 2009 at 6:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
I thought we were told the custodians at the schools would beable to handle the extra work ?? Just like we were told we were getting new gyms and not field-houses!!!Next thing will be JSD will not beable to heat and cool the schools.
Jun 23, 2009 at 5:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
There are already many part-time teachers, as well as teachers who split their time between schools.
Jun 23, 2009 at 5:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
There are teachers who have wanted to go part time and "job share" therefore not receiving insurance benefits, but the district always says no.
Jun 23, 2009 at 5:43 p.m.
Suggest removal
Good ideas here. The part time teachers might work, nemesis, but will they be as dedicated to their students as full time teachers?
Jun 23, 2009 at 5:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
Just what this town needs, more part-time jobs without benefits.
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
Why limit the part-time savings to just the custodians?
Why not have part-time teachers, too?
There are a lot more of them than custodians.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.