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EDITORIAL
Millions in school savings
Tools
The Clark County School District could deliver $162 million more to classroom use over the next five years if it pulls money from departments not operating as efficiently as possible -- namely janitorial services and school buses -- says Texas consultant Greg Gibson, hired by the district three months ago.
In a report made public Wednesday, Mr. Gibson recommends outsourcing 1,522 custodial positions, saying the district could save $5.6 million in hourly salaries and $4.8 million annually in benefits costs.
The district pays $2.34 per square foot annually for custodial services, almost 50 percent more than the industry benchmark, Mr. Gibson said.
The financial perks offered bus drivers during Clark County's rapid growth also need to be "dialed down," Mr. Gibson advises. Drivers have been guaranteed six hours of pay a day, though many work only four hours.
If drivers won't agree to this change and to a reduction in supervisory staff, the district should consider outsourcing transportation, as well, for a five-year savings of $36 million, Mr. Gibson advises.
Predictably, the employee union was not enthusiastic.
District employees undergo background checks. And these workers have "direct contact with students on a daily basis," says John Carr, support staff union president and chief negotiator. If jobs are outsourced, the same level of scrutiny for prospective employees wouldn't be maintained, Mr. Carr argues.
The objection hardly seems insurmountable; contracts with outside vendors could surely be written to require background checks just as rigorous as those now required.
"We know these will not be easy conversations," admits Superintendent Dwight Jones, adding he supports the report's recommendations and will work toward an implementation plan "as soon as possible" for the 2012-13 school year.
This is why the School Board hired Mr. Jones, commented School Board President Carolyn Edwards -- it wants change. "This study moves us in the right direction."
Good. Such steps, alone, can't result in better academic results. But to the extent they allow more resources to be focused in the classroom, they are indeed a step in the right direction -- toward a new focus on academic excellence, and away from seeing the schools as a guaranteed jobs program.
Resources will always be limited even in a district which, according to a Nevada Policy Research Institute report also issued Wednesday, now spends more than $12,000 in tax money per student per year (http://tinyurl.com/3hqw4g9). This makes it all the more important to make efficient, focused use of every dollar available.
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If you think that you have transportation problems now, try outsourcing.
The study missed the biggest potential for savings; school police. Why do we have a school police department when we're paying for city police and metro. If I was D. Jones the last thing I'd want to be responsible for is a police department. Contract with a security company to provide building protection, then go the sheriff and police chiefs and challenge them to provide whatever policing effort is needed. Not sure of the cost saving's but I have to believe it is in the 10's of millions per year range.
@troutslayer. Ok, give me the names of all of the new hires from outside the district who were appointed to manage the performance zones.
BS Tanker - New jobs, higher salaries, Admin is deeper than ever before. Mean while teachers are taking it in the shorts.
@gkibarrvers. The administrators for the performance zones were ALREADY employed by the district. They were moved from jobs that were abolished to fill those positions.
Many years ago I worked as a janitor for a minority-owned cleaning service. Let's just say that the "diverse" racial background of its ownership gave the firm an advantage when submitting bids for contracts.
My superior floor waxing abilities are what enabled the firm to win renewals. :-)
Oh, and ABOLISH public education.
Well of course Jones wants to lower the cost of bus drivers and janitors--he has to find someway to pay for his 13 new administrators for his 13 new "performance zones." We all know administrators are SO much more important than bus drivers and janitors.
Aren't you and jack webb the propaganda arm of the daily kos and truthout.org?
Nevada Policy Research Institute? Isn't NPRI the propaganda arm of the billionaire Koch brothers?
Custodial jobs will open up in this district when it becomes a paid for service. That means the illegal, undocumented will be flocking to the Flamino offices to sign up... Viva LaRatsassa! Kill the unions and bring on the illegals, undocumented!!!!!!
ow muchless will an illegal, undocumented custodian work for than the crews we now have? This is a job killer for the legal Americans who are now employed.