Lake Orion Student Presents Petition Against Privatizing Custodial Services

Saying students would miss their caring custodians, junior Gina Hensley handed a petition signed by more than 200 of her peers and teachers protesting the Board of Education's move to privatize custodial service to the board at Wednesday's meeting.

After detailing how the decision to privatize would negatively impact the students and staff, Hensley handed the petition to board member Connie Meech.

“There are many people at LOHS that wish to keep their current custodians because we love them so much,” Hensley said. “Not only do they clean our schools, they bring smiles to our faces and brighten up our days.”

Hensley explained some of the day-to-day encounters with custodians, noting the Lake Orion custodians truly go above and beyond because they care about the kids and the schools, even taking the time to listen to any problems students are having.

“Taking away the custodians from the school would create a different environment. The students would not feel comfortable talking to the new custodians that do not value their jobs like our current custodians do,” Hensley said.

RFP status update

Later in the meeting John Fitzgerald, assistant superintendent of business and finance, gave an update on the Request for Proposal (RFP) that went to private custodial vendors. According to Fitzgerald, there have been site inspections over the last two weeks and the next step is to continue the due diligence by contacting another round of references for the companies being considered.

“We contact at all levels; it’s not just someone in my position calling someone in my position … we’re trying to get reference contacts principal to principal, secretary to secretary — the day-to-day people in the facilities that will be interacting with a potential vendor,” Fitzgerald said.

At the , Fitzgerald said there were three privatized vendors being considered and that given the raw numbers submitted by the companies, the savings to the district would be about $1.5 million a year if board members voted in favor of privatization.

‘Don't screw it up’

Two other members of the community and one custodian also stepped up to the podium at the meeting to give their thoughts on privatization.

Lake Orion resident Matt Kramer declared he is in favor of it. “I would like to emphasize that the primary purpose of the school board needs to be the fiduciary responsible to the taxpayers of the school district,” he said, concluding that privatization is the best option to save the district and taxpayers money.

Shannon Shidler, head of the campus monitors at LOHS, disagreed. In terms of money to the district, Shidler noted the custodians perform some daily tasks that privatize custodial services most likely wouldn’t, meaning the district would have to foot additional bills for outsourcing more services.

“I work with them every day and I don’t know anyone more dedicated to their jobs; they have so much pride in our schools and the kids,” Shidler said.

Shidler also argued the custodians employed at are members of the community and spend their money locally and that privately hired custodians wouldn’t do that because they might come from outside the district.

“Our kids deserve the best and we have the best right now; don’t screw it up,” Shidler said.

Fitzgerald said the committee analyzing the private companies plans to put together a recommendation package of information soon and the first reading for a RFP recommendation would most likely be brought to the board at the May 23 meeting.

For additional coverage of Wednesday’s meeting see .