Utica School Board Votes to Outsource Custodians

The Utica Community Schools Board of Education passed a resolution on Monday night outsourcing its grounds and custodial work to a private contractor. The school board awarded the contract to maintain elementary and middle schools to GCA Services Group, which currently holds the contract to maintain the district's high schools. One hundred and nine employees in the Operations, Grounds, and Warehouse division will be laid off. Outsourcing the work is estimated to save $2.2 million annually.

Al Johnson, a custodian at Schuchard Elementary School, was among those who will lose their jobs. Johnson, who has worked for the school district for 16 years was a year short of retirement. He hopes to be able to find work elsewhere within the district that will allow him to stay on long enough to retire. “It's a big blow to everybody.” said Johnson.

The decision to outsource came , fueled largely by decreases in state funding.

“If we do not take action, we're fiscally irresponsible and we're leading the district down the path of failure. . . While I wish there was another way, I don't think there is” said Board Treasurer Robert Ross.

Several other board members also expressed regret at the cuts. “There isn't a person sitting on this board who wants to do this who believes this is going to be the . . . end of budget cuts. This is just the budget cut for this year,” said board Vice President Gene Klida.

Also, in another effort to cut costs, the Board approved a three year-agreement with Utica Community School Food Service Chapter Local 1664. The agreement covers approximately 130 food service employees.

The agreement provides for significant changes in benefits, including implementation of the state-mandated health care cap, increase in eligibility for health care to 30 hours per week, employee-only insurance for new employees, and a change from Blue Cross Blue Shield to an HMO provided by HAP. Employees will receive a 0.5 increase each year of the agreement.

The UCS food service operation is a self-sustaining program that is funded only by revenue brought into the operation.

In addition, to comply with contractual requirements, the Board approved a reduction in 27 members in the teaching staff to reflect changes caused primarily by individuals returning from leave. The reduction will ensure that staffing is aligned with current enrollment and programs offered in the Utica Community Schools.