Mayor Announces New Initiative to Review School Maintenance, Cleanliness

A new mayoral task force will explore new ways of improving both the cleanliness and overall infrastructure of Malden Public Schools, the mayor announced in a Tuesday press conference.

Mayor Gary Christenson was joined by Councilor-at-Large Greg Lucey, who will head the group.

Their findings are expected to be released in about two months.

“From the past year on the campaign trail, lots of stakeholders (complained) about the condition of our (school) buildings,” Christenson said.

Christenson pointed to a rising school population and a 10-year-old decision to reorganize the school system's custodial staff under city – not school – management.

“I think we're all in agreement that, ten years later, that wasn't the best decision we made,” Christenson said.

“The (original) idea was to free up the principals to focus on the educational aspects of the school,” Christenson later elaborated. “Now, if the principal has a request (to increase custodial staff)...they must first go to the city side, and the city side relays the order back to the custodian – I think our thinking is, there's gotta be a better way.”

“You look at more than what system was in place ten years ago,” Lucey added.

“You can also look at the current system: are there job descriptions, other things in pace that make sure (custodians) are successful? Is the shift done properly? Does it make sense to have more people at night than during the day? We'll be looking at a lot of different scenarios.”

Lucey also alluded to a lack of funding he said needed to be addressed as school populations increase. The city currently budgets about $250,000 for school maintenance budgets.

“$250,000 is not enough money,” he said.

School administrators will also be asked to submit not just a one, but three year capital improvements plan so officials can plan ahead.

This is Lucey's second stint leading a mayoral task force – the first was constructed a .