Lake Orion Schools Evaluate Bids from 3 Custodial Vendors

Of the several private custodial vendors who responded to Lake Orion Community Schools' (RFP), there are three vendors being evaluated, in addition to the existing union custodians serving the district.

John Fitzgerald, assistant superintendent of business and finance for the district, gave a status update at Wednesday night’s Lake Orion Board of Education meeting stating the district is gearing up for the interview process.

Fitzgerald noted that given the raw numbers submitted by the three privatized vendors being considered, the costs would reduce by about $1.5 million annually. However, Fitzgerald said there is still analysis to be done and reviewing the service that each entity offers is important.

At Tuesday’s meeting a couple of the possibility of privatizing, while one community member thanked the board for considering privatization noting that competition and looking at other options is healthy.

“I want to thank you for asking for the request for proposal. This is all about competition; we need to run our schools like a business,” Lake Orion resident Bill Holt said.

Custodian Dion Beattie noted that if the board opted to go with a private company, even if she were hired on at a private firm, her annual salary would be severely cut, putting her family at just above poverty level. Custodian Kathy Sandstrom described what moral courage is, something she believes her fellow custodians have displayed, and asked the board to not follow the privatization trend.

“Moral courage is the ability to act rightfully in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal or discouragement. Right now our custodial staff is under a dark cloud of discouragement but we are fighting with courage,” Sandstrom said.

“I’m asking you to look deep inside yourselves for the moral courage … to research these companies and compare your current custodial staff to the private companies, apples to apples.”

Other meeting highlights:

• Superintendent Marion Ginopolis gave a status update on the principal search, saying five candidates would be interviewed this week.
• Marla Ernst, director of food service, lead a presentation on how many meals are served at each school and how the food service department operates.
• A second reading on the personal technology device policy revision was unanimously approved.
• The board approved the resignation of Erin Lynch, a media specialist at Pine Tree and Blanche Sims elementary schools.