ale for S ls The Privatization hoo of Non-Instructional Sc School$$ Services

schoolsAFSCME for sale and its members who work in our public schools fully embrace the goal of providing cost-effective, high-quality services. This objective is best met through labor/management partner- ships, not through contracting out, which leaves school districts vulnerable to a variety of problems including higher costs, lower quality of services, and the loss of control and flexibility. School districts across the country cannot afford these risks as they confront the challenge of increasing student achievement with limited resources. Non-instructional school services, from pupil transportation and custodial services to food prepa- ration and service, provide the environment critical to effective learning. In addition, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers and others have special relationships with students and their parents. Many of these school employees are neighbors of the chil- dren they serve. When school districts contract out these jobs, they also sever such relationships. Who are the companies seeking contracts to provide non-instructional school services? Not long ago we saw small local or regional companies responding to requests for proposals issued by school districts. Now, the companies in the food, student transportation, and custodial industries are large, multinational corporations with annual revenue in the billions. These firms have come to dominate their respective industries by buying smaller companies and driving others out of busi- ness. Companies such as Aramark, Laidlaw, First Student, and Sodexho make no secret of their plans to further penetrate the public school “market,” so corporate executives are knocking on the doors of school district officials. Enlightened and innovative school officials and administrators know that fostering joint labor/ management initiatives to improve service delivery is more effective than contracting out. Such an approach ensures positive results without subject- ing students, parents and the community to the shortcomings associated with contracting out. $ The Record 4 February 14, 200 Accused Cleaning Firm the shortcomings of contracting out contracting problems g Staff G particularly with companies School districts across the Not Checkin Contracting out costs more of d Probe located in other parts of the inal Backgroun than advocates claim because country have experienced first No Crim chools Say itors,Paterson S of Jan under investi- country or overseas. The The incident is indirect and hidden costs of hand the many problems con- private aid. PATERSON - A gation, he s it scrub city an internal aud pany hired to In 2001, of community’s employment com edly failed three-quarters ools has alleg found that on service delivery are often nected with contracting out. sch r its employ- rkers in Paters check whethe Control wo ck- to clean. ve criminal ba base is eroded when good jobs es' records are did not ha nder e e Paterson hecks on file. U ignored. Such costs include The following recent examples Officials in th ground c g to say Control , and accordin school system state law nual ices of l's $7 million an are replaced with poor jobs. Building Serv Contro es must contract monitoring and hich manages ct, all employe are illustrative: Secaucus, w , contra d pass a s in the district gerprinted an 212 janitor nal be fin before In addition, resources are o obtain crimi ground check has failed t back work near administration, conversion nd checks on g approved to backgrou cord- bein es for years, ac dents. drained from the local econo- employe nts and stu round istrict docume Missing backg costs, charges for “extra” ing to d company its randums. checks cost the Custodial and memo ol came Cherry Hill st week, Contr contract in the my as profits are transferred La fter work- in 2000. work, and the contractor’s use r a spotlight a school district e, unde ealing lap- ort tenure ther ere caught st During its sh r ers w m the 39 workers fo to companies outside the Maintenance Services computers fro Control fired top y high d other prob- of public equipment and NTHER Academ drug use an PA on Union the Board of hool program lems. Then sc mes Smith, abruptly fired community. venue, said Ja . Education facilities. A for the district Control Building Services of safety director G G When profit is the prime Dependence on contractors Secaucus, New Jersey, failed to increases as in-house capacity motivation in service delivery, adequately conduct a back- there is an incentive to cut is reduced or eliminated. School districts that contract ground check of its employees. corners by skimping on the Under state law and the $7 quality and quantity of work out school bus services and million contract the company During its short time with that performed. Quality suffers sell their buses are particularly vulnerable. This loss of lever- had with the school system, school district, the company when contract specifications fired 39 employees for drug use are vague or poorly defined. age can lead to price gouging background checks and finger- and other problems. School district employees rou- by contractors in future con- printing of all employees were *** tinely perform tasks that fall tract negotiations. Such situa- mandatory. Despite these outside their official job tions are made worse by con- requirements, an internal audit Keller School District in descriptions but are vital to a tractors that “low-ball” their conducted in 2001 revealed Texas contracted with Aramark high quality education for bids (offer an attractive price that 75 percent of the contrac- to run its maintenance depart- on the first bid to win the con- children. Such tasks usually tor’s employees did not ment. The district eventually are not included in contract tract and then raise prices in terminated the contract renewals). have criminal back- specifications, and school offi- ground checks on file. after cials no longer have the flexi- G Public accountability is dimin- These deficiencies S learning bility to get them accomplished. ished because complaints from tar-T M eleg of missing came to light after arch 1 ram G It is difficult for contractors, parents and students cannot , 2006 records, workers were caught Maint who tend to provide inferior be directly addressed by the enanc stealing laptop com- Pro e Woe broken school district. In addition, ving H s wages and benefits, to attract Manag ard scho ing the to equipment puters from one of ol dis Kelle F private companies cannot be depa trict's m r ix rtmen ainte th and retain qualified employees. difficu t is pro nance e com lt, exp ving t se pany sourc ensiv o be rve as was a and financial the schools. Control e of fru e and na temp sked to held to the same public scruti- truste stratio a nce d orary m As a result, not only is service es and n for th irector ainte In S admi some an exp s for lo - f eptem nistrat ected nger ired th ber, tr ors. But Sc . mismanage- ny as school districts, which Building Services n e dist ustees als hool B ance c rict's m o dras usines quality adversely affected, but S ontra ainte abu tically s Grou chool ctor, A - ses an cut ov p in Service ramar that d crea ertime ment. The g of m s, afte k will al ted a p are required to operate in an lost a custodial ken issing r learn open low th lan children are exposed to unnec- equi record - four n e distr mis pment s, bro- Augu ew sc ict to mana and f st wit hools N gemen inanci custo hout h in district then open arena. These conditions ow a t. al dian, s iring a contract with the trus new co assista aid Bil new essary and destabilizing staff tees h mpan nt sup l Stone main ired to y that busine erinte , tenan move t sses o ndent create opportunities for cor- unde ce dep the rustee perati for turned to an r distr artme n s mee ons, at turnover. Cherry Hill expe ict con nt ight. C ting M the cts the trol sa m ompa onday $285,1 distric ys it ate th ny offi 70, al t to pa th e savin cials e ruption, such as bid-rigging, much most t y an $2 gs at sti- outside consult- t as the wice a ye million more G School District he com $164,0 s ars. in the There is an adverse economic ci pany 00 tha "I comin als orig and di t think g bribery and kickbacks. inally strict o brig we do The S agree ffi- ht spo see th ant to help it Gr chool d to. Presi t," said e impact on communities when because it had oup of Busine dent D board Kel Fort W ss it loo avid F ler adm orth s ks like armer ized inistr aid comm monie . "But the c ators itted s wer bring the main- failed to mo ompa author board witho e school districts contract out, re wor ny to d - 's app ut the orig k than o somet roval a inal ag under hing t nd tha reeme the comfo he boa t is nt and t rtable rd is n tenance depart- conduct the that olerate with, n ot ." or wil Trust l we ees lea rned o ment back in- necessary f the checks there as well. house. The News-Press 04 -Picayune New described October 5, 20 administrators maintained that Times s an ts to End Apr d Re District Wan October 9, 2004 il 22, 20 cord the condi- in-house staff would do a better 05 ract with Unreliable chools Chief Will Schoo tions at a Cont job because they are held N.O. S ls Drop ice nitorial Firm Cle Cleaning Serv Fire Ja ani high school Philadelphia-based accountable and take more ng schools may een pro- Se Cleaner public amark Corp. has b s, Rising C rvic n in Lee Ar ining, Campuse usto e be on the horizo iding employee tra Filthy dia first step v ng equip- ns H by stating County, but the upplies and cleani pride in maintaining school ave ting a multi- s Reasons to Fr Co means termina ment to Lee ts Cited as om mpl custodial servic- Cos the O ained million dollar utse that “human tract. buildings. According to custodi- tract Con t Abou es con Cancel Con ditions t Worki would close a Guilfo Und ng New Orleans schools ha rd Coun er S feces ans, delayed repairs resulted in Amato period s swep ty Sch ode Superintendent Tony pri t out S ools xho ystem's marked by vate co odexho " is moving to fire the s bee mpany , the If we're n clean that ha peopl paying ld janitorial services buil ing the s e to do these remained in ra floors and carpets remaining ding dist doin this, e ntractor, one of s for tw rict's g the j they're -H co Cu o ye be ob," not d t stodi ars. r Kris board rl he area's mos pla ans h Coo me o t ined ab ave co T ke said m- W ically con- tio out w m- he bo . mop sinks and a dirty for extended periods of polit ns und orking drop ard vo ah compa- to er So condi Sode ted 8-2 m nected ok o dexh - th xho to O ver m o sinc is sch at the 05 nies, which 2003. anagem e it C ool yea end o 20 e T d h r f , h e r a . e on i B 7 n y c t rm o 'v e in a 2 s Re a rd o ial a n l offic r d sa A face bowls in r time. In addition, cleaning hool ne i l sc a n d a e 't s a n A s a c b b w s h s D l e c o ta u o N le o in nc t r cam- b an ls ed an c i say has left een in , mater Sus , and m O s G while a ferior a ials hav an Me ember ve puses filthy rbitrari nd Sod e Sha ndenha s ea illions , 200a 4 ly move exho rpe vo ll and A r L earning m June 10 round. d emp ted no. nita the gym area.” ve solvents were frequently out rs a year. loyees Sharpe ri of dolla On Th abou was co D s d e termina- rec ursday t wher ncerne Bu Davi Th eived a w, the b woul e the d d ol s, said f f the con- to TReaevi epetitio oard d find t istrict A report ho er live tor o of stock, which tion o Board msters n from $800, he nea Sc a , direc ith AME mo Local 3 the 000 it w rly on ssed Wolfe ion tract w re than 91 wit take o ould c r bypa portat S es, tenta- aski 400 rsigacth ver tho ost to drive nday trans t servic Cng oy nt nat bo se s us Mo aha a stodial et aga ures ard ha ervice A b ution rade r Om t ly set for the Cu trict in th s no s. Th concerning a eca st-g fo e made it diffi- tive sever at th it will t decid e ity pr a fir s. c s onth, ties w e dis- get t ed w ecur left ol bu ubli d of the m ith to he he s nd ho P F N en t M m r a fficials WSodaexnh ember oney. e rning n a sc e ools. eb e ol District O o. b s will mo ing o in th Sch ru w c t Scho y-line r onduc sleep as lef es The a s icese,view t a lin middle school girl us w d Am ry cult, if not t Serv of e- b an tu- S dexho Abou the bu The Street driv irl, a s 27 e ak With So dget 0th e the g , 2 r Spe of 4 her B 0 v area ar w u 0 i , ne f 6 c inances nue f e Expectations and F cited “countless Ave alo impossible, for w us S 30 days would allo ch e com- get ed and D o Custodians hav get matters examin ri o about prob- to k to the ve l B plained regularly viewed and get bac numbers of r u custodians to xho since re g a A s lems with Sode board without havin rre mpany took over e program. It's C s the co lford break in th hi te ing services for Gui ortant to have bloodied sanitary h ld d properly clean clean ty imp p pret ra P o ll. g last fa e n ls l o Schoo s." e T unty chool T Co n s h r clea n e o n e ters c f strativ eams a i o f Admini eeting, T M nf llo C Chie At the m or w ight asked anizer napkins left for a long mat ing ha school buildings. Officer John Wr Local 391 union org 3 was ion r ounty Board of ked the 19, 200 rele ag ge the Guilford C Rachel Baisden as ember by t ase ents s uesday night r its Sept he d and fro Education on T board to reconside De U.S. Cu m U ing its con- . School period of time.” School part (ICE stom .S. I to delay renew Sodexho contract tract of me ) to s E mm dexho. District joining s Con nt scho day nfo igra tract with So custodians started ol Bu H s ol b arre rce tion o speak with year ago - Scho om ion us ste men officials want t the union about a S elan T of c driv d a t bout "expec- e the officials estimated that ecu d erry hild er Buf the company a about the same tim rity a l Ja po for p falo School Bus ces and ivatized its : rres mes rno oss tations, servi school system pr celed chool year, th ted No grap es- said. . Can nth into the s Spe is m at h yes hy. finances," he cleaning services ffi- mo ntinue to cial wi orn is h was get to a point stodians bringing services back nty school o y children co th p ing ome "We didn't Baisden said cu Bibb Cou ir man te and are po oss and ea uld give a rec- that canceled the ve at school la rno essi ch rly Services where we co have complained cials have arri us stops the grap on o arge on one way or ferior sup- ith Laidlaw pped off at b Int hy f ch d ommendati Sodexho uses in contract w iting dro ol has ended, N erne obt ild the board," lace enough in-house would save s company, c rs after scho oye t fr aine the other to plies, does not p school bu rall hou app s h om d o ednesday. "To bout the ove terson said. C eara ad h Rus ver Wright said W concerns a ool Pat ids are late ou nce is in sia. ent of the sch "When these k o rt fo in itia managem to school on f Ne r th U.S. l A former New York the school district stem. d not getting a w Y e W Dis busing sy ms an he overall cli- nd w ork este trict ve had proble e, it affects t re as this rn D "We ha well tim district," said cog rele mo ist uses that are te across the M niza ase rni rict with the b ty" ma among sev- agis nce d on ng about $2 million. his communi erson, who is or trat . Fe his state school bus driver known in t ron Patt s who have dere e H der ow tendent Sha administrator ma d N ugh al n said Superin eral ith calls nag oye Sco We just don't n swamped w Co em s to tt Patterson. " bee and teach- mpa ent inf Laidlaw has irate parents ch ny at F orm for Laidlaw was arrested *** believe that from ing delays. ild of h ish the anaged the bout the bus In porn is a er B effectively m - ers a ducation co og rres us em, and prob bb Board of E urt raph t on busing syst Bi 1 Thursday toda y c cently gotten bers voted 7- y th har and charged with posses- The Guilford County school lems have re mem ur-year, e U ges. rminate the fo . S. worse." ol to te t with gripe of scho 0,000 contrac The main w's $87 dlaw s been Laidla ois-based Lai sion of child pornography. But problems continued with board, in North Carolina, voted officials ha tend- Illin nsistency, con nsit Inc. lack of co over Tra on, who man- too much turn Bob Donalds ing that am has County The ex-driver admitted that 8-2 to end its relationship with anagement te ages the Bibb the consultant. As a result of in its m ms, Laidlaw, said many proble branch for to led to orale would prefer ding sinking m though he on- inclu s drivers, dressing the c he downloaded—from a web- Sodexho, the company it hired ng school bu work at ad y will several cost overruns, officials amo d by the bus compan are employe cerns, the tran- who d to make the ool system. "work har sch ore than a site offering child pornogra- had to pay the consultant to provide custodial services. In addition, m almost twice the original con- The board had expected savings phy— images of children who tract amount. totaling about $1.2 million by looked to be 10 to 12 years old *** contracting with Sodexho for a engaged in sexually explicit The New Orleans School four-year period. In the first inadequate staffing of custodi- conduct. District terminated its contract year, only $120,000 was saved, ans at schools, too many tem- *** with AME Services to provide $350,000 less than the guaran- porary workers and faulty Another Laidlaw driver did custodial services because of teed amount. In the year the equipment repairs. not activate the security alarm the poor quality of its work contract was severed, the school *** system (as required, before and escalating costs. The com- district expected to lose money Lee County Schools, exiting the bus), and left a first pany had generated an exten- despite the $410,000 projected Pennsylvania, terminated its grade girl sleeping on the bus. sive record of complaints. For savings. In addition to finances, contract with Aramark to pro- The girl, enrolled in Omaha example, a district facilities teachers and custodians com- vide employee training, supplies Public Schools, had to be driven director, in a memo to AME, plained about inferior supplies, and cleaning equipment. School home by a stranger she flagged down after she woke up alone. *** with Laidlaw Transit to provide wrong for bringing the service to not renew the one-year With one year remaining on student transportation, the back in-house despite finding contract. According to a school a four-year, $870,000 contract Bibb County (Georgia) Board of that “there are too many board member, “Chartwells Education terminated its rela- was supposed to be the panacea tionship with the company. to all our food service issues. According to the school super- y We’ve been duped, we’ve been intendent, “we just don’t believe The Dail had, we’ve been hoodwinked, that Laidlaw has effectively Oklahoman we’ve been suckered.” 6 managed the busing system, January 11, 200 *** a urn to zon and problems have recently Students Ret Sodexho, which provides Ari er Spoiled he gotten worse.” One month into School Aft food services to the Western T lic ent b d Incid ut of u Foo food were o p ool Oaks Middle School in e 5 the school year during which stern Oaks sch 0 e R 20 o BETHANY W e 7, t tudents wer 2 ng ddle School s er ci Mi Monday after tob ur t ck in school s Oklahoma City, Oc o ic the contract was canceled, ba food that wa ts str eing served u i b the holiday h O y D left out over nc le k. served meals that u ig many children continued to brea odexho, the L ; H n addition, S e I y that pro- T u mpan h n vice co e i ser ol, is t cho D s to the s a n food l had been left in food d es l o i vid t to a arrive at school late and ciden s C B g the in r investigatin ppen fo it doesn’t ha sk make sure s- M ny spoke o A ompa r in, c n warmers over the o were dropped off at bus aga n-Hade i t ma n cy Bow g n Sta woma D News said. became ill ecem me students ber winter holiday break s stops hours after school So ting ham- 19, 2 e day after ea 004 urs m Th ere wrapped i s that w T burger food Tru in the st d foil and left y ees to students returning n had ended. in 0, the last da Say o rmer Dec. 2 Th wa . e m before break Ov y h of classes erp c nts with aid i stude f o o to school—despite a R Tw to the r F s related ood ch symptom Officia at ls Want $ isp 5 Food Services Fo 80,000 Fr company policy to D , 200 up rmer Serv om il 19 raps ice Provid empty food warmers Apr lls W pts Aramark er e t O In 2 rtw ; I Fours years into a 002, for a ce school mer Car daily. Several students Ch vi l board P roll r ea Robin S residen Aram Se D ge nyder b t ark Co d li cerned ecame c and rp. ran d o ew Ob contract with about th on- had to b eficits Fo n to food se e distric with e subsid became ill as a result. Re py ing rvice pro t's other di ized o p l Din years lat gram. T annu strict fun t t Ha choo that er the d wo ally. ds o is ells S , it's believes istrict Dis N rd artw ee on out Chartwells to provide w those c trict lea oa Ch s agr with orth $8 oncerns ended ders eve *** l B e rvice er off 0,000. are the Ar ntually oo ing th Se bett l Mrs. S in 200 amark c ch e th l ey're . choo in nyder re 3, opting ontract S e's on choo th ther ond S g more calls rec house to run ther nd s d ach o ichm ith food services at the th complai eiv- food ser an in- If chmo m an e he R ed w the e cafete nts abou This vice pro Carroll School Ri syste T tract run th ria's foo t year, Ca gram. con lls to e an any o d qualit a financ rroll lau Board rtwe ervic s ther dis y ial audi nched Cha od-s tion Mrs. Sn trict issu how its t to exa fo opera Higley Unified me yder and e. fund ba mine mbers i board ings acc lance, or District in Texas brought wo n 2002 a s ount, dw sav- rrying ab lso beg everal m indled serv out wh an r illion d by ice prog y the foo ecent ye ollars in School District in ram und d ex ars. The er amining audit is food services back in- ov district er the la spendin R st five ye g ich Arizona, the ars. mond Times house following a nine- Dispatch company had to year contractual relation- A pril 7, 2005 bring in a new opportunities for improvement ship with Aramark. The deci- Sc food services direc- hools’ Foo that we aren’t getting to fast sion resulted from continued d Costs Ris $1 Million e tor following com- enough.” complaints about food quality Whe Und n the Rich er C School mond ontra Board hire relat ct plaints about the side com d an out- ed cleaning pany to ru tion p and prepa *** and ongoing deficits requiring services a n food roducts ros ra- t the city's cantly e signifi- schools, t public under the he move w contrac Chartwells menu, quality of food, expected t as t, despite l During the first year of the subsidies from other school o lead to b the con anguage in nutrition a etter tract saying c nd increase Chartwe iency. d effi- lls will pur food "at t chase and serving time. The Instead, th he lowest p Richmond (Virginia) School district funds. An audit of school tem e school s possible co rices 's nutritio ys- m nsistent w atio n services o aintainin ith n reported per- d g the quali mor a net loss ards presc ty stan- school district recently e than $1 m of ribed." System’s contract with district finances revealed that it first se illion in the Between Ju ven month Jan. ly 1, 2004, contrac s of the 31 of this y and t with Cha food ear, costs f one of th rtwells, and related or decided to re-bid the e largest f increa products Chartwells to provide food overpaid Aramark by $80,000. ice provi ood-serv- sed $854,6 ders in pub same 55 over th tion. lic educa- time the pr e Whe evious yea Yesterd n Richmo r. service. ay, Assista trators nd admini services, the company lost the Superinten nt looked into s- a dent for Fi crepanc the dis- nd Operat nance y, they lear s ions Tom S were pay ned they Feeling over- aid the loss heeran ing more f school district more than For more examples of the ut could be a same item or the ed, in large ttrib- s they had rec part, to in buying for been t charges f cor- years. or food ite "The ans whelmed by other The cost fo ms. C wer [from $900,000. In addition, the school shortcomings of privatization r food and hartwells s ] was the fo ervice vend od or used the responsibilities, one board learned that the company visit: http://www.afscmeinfo school board member had overcharged it for numer- center.org/privatization thought the time was ous food items. The board opted update. ThereNon-instructional is a better school way services are best provided by tapping into the knowledge and talent of the custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and others who provide them. Those professionals know how to spot inefficiencies and how to improve service delivery. Long experience in states across the country demonstrates that posi- tive change and innovation can be accomplished when school employees are given meaningful opportunities to work together in partnership with management, for the well-being of both the schools and their students. $ American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO 1625 L Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20036-5687 www.afscme.org

Gerald W. McEntee, International President William Lucy, International Secretary-Treasurer 208-06 bug