BCSS outsources custodial services

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Wednesday, June 13. 2012

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Grime pays. At least it will for the Tennessee company slated to take over custodial services for Barrow County schools next school year.
The board of education unanimously agreed to pay SSC Service Solutions about $1.77 million a year for its custodial work at the district’s 19 facilities.
Benefitting also from the change is the school system, said Jake Grant, assistant superintendent of facilities and operations. A savings of nearly $280,000 is expected from the outsourcing over the next fiscal year alone, he added.
For the full story, see the June 13 issue of the Barrow Journal.

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#1 Sally Hansen on 06/13/12 at 11:29 AM [Reply]

I hope that they are running background checks on all the new people that will be in the schools with our children!

#2 anon on 06/13/12 at 12:40 PM [Reply]

I hope that BCSS made sure that the amazing custodians we have now will still have jobs!

#2.1 Anonymous on 06/13/12 at 12:58 PM [Reply]

They did.

#2.1.1 Creel and her reign of Terror on 06/13/12 at 03:24 PM [Reply]

If "they did" find jobs for the custodians how is that saving money????? Creel has stuck again...... Creel and her reign of Terror..... How many homes will be lost in Barrow because of this????

#2.1.1.1 anon on 06/13/12 at 04:19 PM [Reply]

I think one of the requirements for the new cleaning company was for them to hire the current custodians. So, they'll have jobs working for the private company and will not be paid by BCSS. I wonder how this will affect their sick time, vacation time, and retirement?

#2.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 06/13/12 at 06:37 PM [Reply]

so their pay has been cut and benfits too..... this will cause more houses to be lost in Barrow.

#2.1.1.1.1.1 Sheesh on 06/14/12 at 06:38 AM [Reply]

Aren't you the same one who has been posting comments about how good the state employees have it and how high their pay is? So here you see a clear payroll deduction and now you are upset about that too.

Is the school district in the business of protecting the pay and benefits of employees or are they in the business of educating kids?

The least you can do is pick an opinion and stick with it. It is obvious you are just a Creel basher and really don't care about the issues or the facts.

#2.1.1.1.1.1.1 NOT A FAN OF CREEL!!!! you guessed it.....5 points for Sheesh! on 06/15/12 at 12:08 PM [Reply]

"Aren't you the same one who has been posting comments about how good the state employees have it and how high their pay is?" The answer to that question is NO!!!! I have not posted about how good the state employees have it but you are correct on one thing I am NOT a fan of Creel's and I am NOT happy about all of the jobs she has cut in our county! I am NOT happy about sending Jobs out of county much less out of state! Have you ever heard of buy local well you need to HIRE LOCAL also not out of state, but we are no more than a stepping stone for Creel so why should she care if our county turns into a ghost town..... Way to go BOE!!!!!

#3 just saying on 06/13/12 at 12:53 PM [Reply]

Working in another school system for many years and they did the same thing... The cleaning service will hire any warm body to clean... Your children will be around anybody. That said, I will be home schooling my child. Not willing to take the chance.

#3.1 Anonymous on 06/13/12 at 01:01 PM [Reply]

you are probably right, it seems like only recently that one of the esteemed school board members wanted to use prisoners for this job

#4 Why outsource out of state? on 06/13/12 at 01:05 PM [Reply]

Surely they could have found an instate company to do the job!

#5 howie on 06/13/12 at 06:33 PM [Reply]

Readers,

As my wife is an employee of the BCSS, I can tell you that this seemed to have been done right.

As some of you have read the article (some have not by your comments) All current custodians will have their jobs with same pay and benefits.

All employees of this contracted company, will have to pass criminal background and drug test per their website, so I would assume it means current employees also.

From what my wife has told me, it is due to the raise in health care cost that this company (which Im sure had to bid) can provide same services but with change in health care, they can save the county money.

#5.1 Anonymous on 06/13/12 at 09:02 PM [Reply]

You are correct, but don't underestimate the loss they have in health care benefits. One of the custodians told me that they will make more per hour, but their health coverage is going to be garbage compared to what it was before.

#5.1.1 howie on 06/13/12 at 10:12 PM [Reply]

Im sure it will be, state health care is what makes working of the state worth it and Im glad that they atleast have insurance and a job

But, until the GA Assembly and Legislature will de-regulate insurance and allow each govt entity find the most affordable to it's tax payers and emplyee's, this will continue to occure

#6 What? on 06/13/12 at 06:39 PM [Reply]

Seriously---prisoners? That surely can't be!

#7 Anonymous on 06/13/12 at 07:36 PM [Reply]

I wonder if this savings is the same as the misquoted savings that was supposed to happen when they closed down the Early Learning Center????? and if she saves anything with this (doubt that it will happen) but if it does she will sure spend it somewhere else maybe on a New Car......

#8 Informed on 06/13/12 at 07:48 PM [Reply]

All custodians will be hired if they pass a FBI background check and pass a drug test. They will be paid the same per hour wage and given the same kind of health care coverage. Anyone from outside will have to pass the same test as existing custodians. Their hours may change say from morning to evening, but all full time custodians will be getting full time positions. Not sure what will happen with vacation and sick days.

#9 John Birch on 06/14/12 at 05:26 AM [Reply]

Why should the government be in the cleaning business anyway? What would be the reason government should be educating our children? In America today there is a road or airplane that can get people and goods to where they need to be, why does government need to be concerned with building more roads? If a road is really needed let private enterprise buy the land create a toll road.

I'm sick and tired of government running a parallel economy to private enterprise.

#9.1 Anonymous on 06/14/12 at 06:38 AM [Reply]

You have got to be kidding with that whole post.why don't you move to the jungle somewhere, nobody there to" run your life"

#9.1.1 John Birch on 06/14/12 at 05:15 PM [Reply]

What is the reason takers always want the producers to move somewhere. There are many socialist and communist countries already that takers can move to. This way the producers can stay here and keep the country as it was founded.

#10 J.B. Moore on 06/14/12 at 07:50 AM [Reply]

What's wrong with prisoner labor? Have the sheriff have people work at the schools at night and clean, and have inmates do the grounds keeping. Do you really believe a for profit company is going to hire the best and safest? Inmate labor is widely underused and is free. Are you really going to say that you have a problem with a habitual DUI offender cleaning school floors? I don't he's not driving the bus he's cleaning floors and toilets for free. Now if you want the truth these people could have criminal histories that have been expunged under first offender or other reasons and to this company they show clean, the sheriff sees complete histories under criminal justice histories. So if we look at the facts we could get free trustee labor that has a deputy watching them do the free labor and we truly know who is in the schools. That saves money.

#10.1 Great idea on 06/14/12 at 06:47 PM [Reply]

J.B....... Great idea! Are you going to be the deputy to oversee them?

#10.2 Sheesh on 06/24/12 at 08:35 AM [Reply]

Since most prisons are now run as profit making companies why not transfer money from education into prison profits. What better use could we find for our tax dollars!

#11 Mike M on 06/15/12 at 02:51 PM [Reply]

The lesson here is; if your chosen profession is a meager low paying custodial job in a school then you really should thank your lucky stars that you have a job and should never expect any sort of job security. The fact of the matter is this job requires no special skill set to perform and anyone with half a brain could do it.
So instead of feeling sorry for these poor folks I say; you should have chosen a better career, one that could provide you with the stability and security to allow you to remain employed through out your working years. And not have to depend on the benevolence of a government bureaucracy.

#11.1 Get a grip on 06/15/12 at 05:33 PM [Reply]

For you to speak in such a manner about a profession shows what kind of person you are. What an arrogant, rude, condescending thing to say. Two of the custodians at my school are among the most decent, hardworking people I've ever known. I'm sure they have more character in their little finger than you do in your entire being. And that is the true measure of a man's worth.

#11.2 anon on 06/15/12 at 08:28 PM [Reply]

Wow... it's gonna be a looong fall off your high horse.

#11.3 dawgmom05 on 07/01/12 at 05:50 PM [Reply]

In case you haven't noticed or learned, no job is immune to closing or being lost, sir. Do not criticize these folks because they're doing something that you, for one, probably wouldn't do. It sounds like you would think you're too good to do that type work. But let me assure you that you might be willing to do anything for money for your family. Some think they're too good to do certain jobs and others think if they claim to be a little hurt, they get on disability or welfare and my and other worker's tax dollars support their behinds. Everyone doesn't choose to go to college and FYI there are many college graduates who can't find jobs these days.

#11.3.1 each week on 07/01/12 at 07:37 PM [Reply]

you can see former dr lawyers and other persons that have lost thier license to do what they went to college to get, but interestingly enough P.O.S.T problems are kept very quiet and secret!!!! hmmm guess its more important when lwyers and Dr and nurses make errors in judgement that the record is public and easy to find, AS OPPOSED TO PERSON THAT DRIVES 90 ,ILES AN HOUR DOWN ONE WAY STREET, CARRIES A GUN HAND CUFFS AND A TASER........ how messed up is that.... also seems hard to find out about if a teacher has issues....... but they only control our kids life for half the waking hours.......
must be nice being Govt worker as opposed to college grad in private sector requiring Govt employees to monitor you.....

#12 observer on 06/15/12 at 05:14 PM [Reply]

This is a good move and is fair to current employees. BCS will no longer need to hire, supervise, and teminate if necessary these employees. Let's be honest, government employees are less productive that those in the private sector. Privatization is no panacea but is the right move.

If only BCS could privatize bus drivers.

#12.1 Anonymous on 06/16/12 at 06:40 AM [Reply]

Let's be honest, you have no substance to your claim that private sector employees can do more than public sector employees.

#13 "If only BCS could privatize bus drivers." YES!!!!!!! on 06/16/12 at 01:55 PM [Reply]

“If only BCS could privatize bus drivers”. I think that is a GREAT IDEA!!!! The Transportation Dept has been the most controversy , costly, troublesome, embarrassing, dept we have they are always fighting among themselves and quite frankly they are the most undesirable group of employees we have. You should see the Trash that comes into the Board Office. They smell like cigarettes and look as if they have not taken a bath..... or maybe you have seen them standing on the side of the road all over the county next to the big yellow bus puffing away at their cancer sticks. I bet if they privatize them they would get more work done because the private sector would not allow them to have as many smoke breaks as they get over there on Hal Jackson! Check them out anyday of the week anytime you will find them smoking on the side of hal jackson road!

#13.1 Anonymous on 06/20/12 at 06:07 PM [Reply]

How much could we, the taxpayers, save if we outsourced Jake Grant's job?

#13.2 A Busdriver on 06/23/12 at 09:24 PM [Reply]

I am a bus driver and I don't smoke,and I do bathe I take my job serious, if you'd give ur name, I'd love for u to say this to my face! I have driven for 15 plus years, and do take this as a slap in my face.

#13.2.1 Observer on 06/24/12 at 10:29 AM [Reply]

I believe the poster said as a group. I see the puffers on the side of the road and have observed empty cigarette pack thrown from bus.
I often have to dodge buses on Hal Jackson Rd as they are over center line or cutting the corner at 211 and HJR.
I sure there are good drivers and then the others.
Thanks if you are one of the clean, safe drivers.

#13.2.1.1 Anonymous on 06/24/12 at 02:48 PM [Reply]

with respect hal jackson isnt wide enough for buss and about half drivers there do a good job others arent.

#13.2.1.1.1 Anonymous on 06/25/12 at 08:07 PM [Reply]

I agree the road could be wider, but that doesn't give a CDL driver in a bus to drive 35-45MPH over the center line into oncoming traffic. They should either stay on their side of the road or pull over on the shoulder.

#13.2.2 If only BCS could privatize bus drivers on 06/24/12 at 01:54 PM [Reply]

To the one driver who does not smoke and does take a bath!!!
Why didnt you give your name? How can I say it to your face if I don't know who you are? and why would I say it to you if what you say is true....... that you do take a bath and don't smoke??????

#14 Outsource Jake Grant and his Crew!!!! on 06/23/12 at 12:12 PM [Reply]

We could outsource Jake Grant and his crew(YOUNG,WANDA K, KING,DENNIS H, SMITH,JAMES M, PERNO,JOSEPH A) and save Hundreds of Thousands!!!!( $405,056.45 )
He is in charge of MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL,( $818,694.27) TRANSPORTATION MECHANICS($137,589.11) and PLANNING/EVALUATION. Add in the TRANSPORTATION SEC/CLERK
PLANT OPERATIONS SEC/CLERK and the TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST they have running the radio and the three bus drivers we have in charge of transportation ( at $248,722.49 )
I’m sure we could find a company (out of state) that could run these three departments for less than the $1,610,062.32 that was paid out last year and that company could hire back the bus drivers at their same pay because their pay is not in this figure. Oh and while we are at it maybe Creel could do her own typing and save another $57,158.76 That we pay the SUPERINTENDENT SECRETARY Cindy Beggs ….. Just a thought but then again the BOE would rather bury their head in sand than look where the money is being spent we are paying people for jobs they are not doing like the Bus drivers who don’t drive a bus but sit in the office and do Wanda Young’s job…… if the BOE looked into it they would find this all over the system!

#15 ONLY 17 employees on 06/23/12 at 12:49 PM [Reply]

And the $818,694.27 for MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL is for ONLY 17 employees…… 17 at the tune of $818,694.27 to fix stuff and build buildings that have to be fixed like the field house and transportation new building…. Oh that’s right they didn’t do that work it was contracted out……. What do they do for the $818,694.27?

#16 wow on 06/23/12 at 08:54 PM [Reply]

thats forty eight k a year and that is what the maint staff at Wrigleys makes. but they have to del with machines, production times and hazardous chemicals and the like. naw our govt employees are underpaid poor folks that just works too hard... school is closed in sumer isnt it... but wrigleys goes year round........

#17 Got to love Government Waste!!!!!!! on 06/25/12 at 12:30 AM [Reply]

$818,694.27 for only 17 employees how much do each of them make???? and what do they do in the summer with no one at the schools???? WOW thats alot of money!!!!

#17.1 Anonymous on 06/25/12 at 01:11 AM [Reply]

They work all summer maybe one week off,with no air! That's what they do ,stripping floors of all the schools! Removing gum from desk,etc... I am sure we have more than 17 janitors with all the school in Barrow County.

#18 Not janitors the “82 CUSTODIAL PERSONNEL” the “ 17 MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL� on 06/25/12 at 11:38 AM [Reply]

Not janitors the Janitors are called “CUSTODIAL PERSONNEL” and they made $1,394,908.82 for 82 of the “CUSTODIAL PERSONNEL”! The“ 17 MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL” and “82 CUSTODIAL PERSONNEL” are two total separate groups of people. We have one group that cleans’ "Removing gum from desk, etc" called the CUSTODIAL PERSONNEL(82 Janitors) and a group of 17 MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL that are suppose to fix stuff like whenever a teacher has a light out they have to fill a form call these people and they drive (while being paid) to the school and change the light bulb. I know we could outsource the 17 MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL for less than $818,694.27!!!!! The 17 MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL make almost as much as the “ 82 CUSTODIAL PERSONNEL” and don’t forget that both of these groups have two separate bosses in charge of them and those bosses answer back to the infamous “Jake Grant” so if we outsourced the overpaid people under him then we could outsource him! WAKE UP BOE AND LOOK AT WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING …… IF IT WERE YOUR MONEY YOU WOULD ASK…….ASK FOR IT ON PAPER!!!!!! READ BETWEEN THE LINES!!!!!!!

#19 well on 06/25/12 at 07:42 PM [Reply]

now 17 k for janitor that is reasonable..... now do they really need 82 of them???

#20 thats on 06/25/12 at 08:58 PM [Reply]

4.5 per site???? more one for each eight hour shift, 3x8 is 24 and one and a half leftover per site.....

#21 dawgmom05 on 06/28/12 at 12:53 PM [Reply]

To anyone making comments on this subject...
I believe that the cuts need to be at the BOE for starters. After all, if they can do away with the custodial positions being paid for by the BOE, who's to say any other positions couldn't be treated the same, including teachers or other people in those positions?
I have always believed that if a ship is sinking or faltering, the captain should be the biggest person on that ship and take the first blow in the form of paycuts for themselves and on down the line.
That's not the same thing as NOT getting a raise for a year or two.
Also one way of cutting expenses is to do away with trips (workshops) paid for by taxpayers, hotels, gas mileages, restaurant tabs, etc... Just do all the workshops locally or on their own.
About custodians, I think whomever said that nasty stuff about them should volunteer themselves to go into the custodial, bus driver, or cafeteria position for about a month and then get on here and make a comment. Hopefully one that has different undertones about others. I, for one, do not see how these people can manage to do these jobs as well as they do. I know some great people in all these positions and they do their jobs, for the most part, with a smile almost always, if not all the time. Believe me they don't do these jobs for the money BUT because they love the children of our county.
BTW, these people are thankful for their jobs but that doesn't mean that they should be treated as second class citizens. Just because you have degrees does not mean that you're better than someone else. It's your character that speaks of you and about you.
Thanks for your time.

#21.1 Anon on 06/28/12 at 03:56 PM [Reply]

Thank you for standing up for the cafeteria workers, bus drivers and custodians. It takes everyone to make a school run smoothly and no one in that school is any better than anyone else. There are a couple of custodians at my school who work harder than anything I've ever seen, and they take pride in their job. Not to mention, they are decent, hard-working, genuinely caring individuals. Character IS what counts.

#22 Bus shop >Callaway Gardens for workshops on 06/28/12 at 04:41 PM [Reply]

I am not complaining about the custodians I agree they do not make enough money for what they do but the upper management like Jake Grant (@$112,074.24 )and his crew(WANDA K YOUNG,(@$67,339.25) DENNIS H KING,( @$85,135.20) JAMES M. SMITH,( @$63,415.44 ) JOSEPH A PERNO,( @$77,092.32 ) together that’s $405,056.45 per year and the 17 MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL that make $818,694.27 to change out light bulbs that just crazy but they are Jake’s golden boys..... Like the one blogger said they make more than the workers at Wrigley’s makes and Wrigley’s maintenance personnel have to deal with machines, production times and hazardous chemicals. but the BOE must not care where the money is going. Lots of waste ….. The Transportation just sent all office staff AND Family’s to Callaway Gardens for workshops for a week! What kind of business sends you to a all paid workshop and lets you take your family….. oh that’s right the kind of business that’s going belly up!!!!!

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