NK school custodians plead case before supervisors

A delegation representing New Kent school system’s 18 custodians, many angry over school officials’ decision to outsource janitorial services next year, took their plight before the county’s Board of Supervisors.

During the board’s Monday night meeting public comment session, two spokesmen for the group chastised the county’s School Board, saying school officials should be ashamed for treating its employees in a way they view as unfair.

At issue is schools’ decision to outsource janitorial work to a private company, a move expected to save $175,000 per year in ongoing tough economic times. The 18 custodian positions are among 36 jobs school officials have cut thus far to address a worsening budget crunch.

Although supervisors lent a sympathetic ear to the custodians’ situation, there is little, if anything, board members can do.

“It’s a School Board issue,” supervisors’ chairman Ray Davis said afterward. “Our attorney reminds us over and over again that legally we can’t tell the School Board how to spend the first penny.”

And the matter appears to be a done deal since School Board members agreed last week to a contract with a Tennessee-based janitorial firm. (See related story on page 5.) But spokesmen for the custodians said they want get their message out to the public.

Corey Blunt, a New Kent resident who said he spoke for the custodians, urged supervisors to refrain from giving schools another dime until school officials learn to better treat their employees.

“All the School Board and the school administration care about is how big and nice their buildings are and don’t care about the kids in this county,” Blunt said.

Bruce Shackleford, a high school custodian and 19-year veteran with New Kent schools, told supervisors that school officials should have been more open with custodial staff and discussed all options.

“We met with them and they said this is the way it’s going to be,” Shackleford said.

“Last summer, we moved the high school into the new high school and the middle school into the old high school,” he said. “We got a standing ovation at convocation for what we did, and now they turn around and do this to us.

“It’s a shame and a pity that I have to leave like this,” he went on, claiming school officials have snatched away his livelihood. “I’m speaking from my heart. It really is a shame the way they’ve treated us.”

Afterward, Shackleford said he plans to look elsewhere for employment, perhaps with another school system. He said he has 11 years remaining before he can retire.

Other custodians, he said, are waiting to see details in the schools’ contract with the private firm before making a decision. But indications are few may be taking advantage of a deal worked out whereby the private company has agreed to hire current custodians on a four-month trial basis.

“During the meeting [school officials] had with us, they asked how many custodians planed on staying and no one raised their hand,” Shackleford said.

Information released last week by school officials indicates that custodians with seniority, as in Shackleford’s case, stand to make less money next year. Custodians are salaried employees for now, but next year they become hourly.

And then there is the matter of benefits. School officials indicated last week that the private firm’s health care plan does not stack up favorably with the schools’ coverage.

“I’m diabetic and I need benefits,” Shackleford said. “[School officials] could have negotiated with loyal custodians to work something out, but they didn’t.”