Churchill County School Board of Trustees met Wednesday night in a regular meeting and addressed an agenda item listed for discussion only, regarding the process of requesting proposals for contracting maintenance, custodial, and transportation services outside the school district as a possible cost savings measure.
Superintendent Summer Stephens provided information about the process for RFPs, along with a justification for doing so.
“When we start talking about the contracting of something outside the district the initial thinking is that everyone’s jobs have been lost and that’s not part of this conversation,” said Stephens. She said that part of looking forward in the budgeting process in light of the uncertainty facing the state and the nation, is a difficult conversation. She said cost savings take on a number of facets under these circumstances, citing personnel costs as just one area that remains high, using generally, 87% of the total district budget.
Stephens said that being able to ensure the totality of funds to meet the needs and the goals of the district is one of her main responsibilities as a superintendent. In evaluating costs for services, she said it is important to consider not only established goals, but also to what we aspire, as well.
“I want to outline the process that we’ve used so far,” said Stephens, “and what the steps will include so everyone has an understanding of my perspective of how we will move forward.”
So far, Stephens has met with Gaylene Drinkut the president of the Classified Association, as well as the bus driver supervisor, Toni Daluge; the garage supervisor, DustinDrinkut; and the operations manager, Kenny Mitchell. “I appreciate their willingness to hear the initial thoughts and I know it wasn’t easy,” she said. “I also understand the position of the association of not being in support of this idea and I understand it and I appreciate that we can have the conversation.”
Stephens said the process will begin immediately and in the coming weeks staff will collect the elements for the RFPs for existing services as well as enhancements. She will work with focus groups of staff to review the elements of the RFP requirements, put out the RFPs and include any pre-bid meetings, perform the selection and review of contractors, as well as consider interviews if necessary.
The target date to present options will be the March 24th board meeting, at which time trustees will discuss the best fit for meeting the goals of the strategic plan, budget, and the goals of the district.
“Tonight, I hope to gather questions and information on what the board needs to consider all the options,” said Stephens.
Trustee Carmen Schank expressed her concerns and asked several questions, eventually saying there should be a committee to oversee this issue. “In six months, we have not had a budget meeting,” she said. “We need to gather facts and data; do we even need to cut the budget? As a board we need actual data, actual budgets of the transportation, maintenance, and custodial departments.” She said if the district chooses to contract out, it becomes nearly impossible to go back. “We can’t afford to rebuild infrastructure,” she said.
“The strategic plan has to matter, student outcomes have to matter,” said Trustee Tricia Strasdin. “In order to have an appropriate conversation I think the information you’re asking to get is necessary and if the person we hired to present us with an appropriate budget thinks this is necessary, I support her going out to get those numbers so I can understand.”
Trustee Katherine Whitaker said this is just the beginning of what trustees will have to do to make sure the budget is balanced in a way that supports student success. “This is the first of many, and I’m concerned, Carmen, that you’re making a case against this before you even have the information,” she said. “Right now, I need to see information before I make a decision.” She said the district will have to prioritize what they will likely have to cut.
“I have several of the same questions as trustee Schank,” said Gregg Malkovich, the newest member of the board. “We don’t know what we don’t know, and we have to be willing to get the best information we can.”
Trustee Fred Buckmaster said, “We need information, and I agree with Carmen, I don’t see a lot of sense messing with something that is working.” He said he will take a lot of convincing and is not sure this will be best for the district in the long run.
President of the board, Matt Hyde said he will have plenty to say once they have all the information. “I am a tough sell,” he said, “I have big concerns if this is not in our hands and how long it will last.” However, he said the district has to have the information. “These are taxpayer dollars and how they are spent matters. We are the second largest employer in the community and that matters.”
Hyde said on matters of discussion the district does not normally take public comment, but in this instance, he allowed it.
Gaylene Drinkut echoes Schanks’ concerns that there has not been a budget meeting in quite some time and recommended having a committee with people who know what it takes to run each of the departments.
Mitchell, operations manager said he is stuck in a hard spot realizing the need to save money but concerned for his crew. “We need to get prices once and for all, and if the costs come in at a million dollars, we can take outsourcing off the table for good.”
Joy Lacow Swett explained that she had worked in food service for the district and was a part of the outsourcing with Chartwell’s. She now works in transportation and said, “This is a disservice to our students and community, outsourcing is throwing away what we stand for as a community.”
Keith Boone, E.C. Best principal reminded the board to reach out to their building principals for input and brought up the Profile of a Learner document. “That document talks about the Global Citizen and the main idea is that all people have a civic responsibility to their community as a whole, and that’s you.”
Additionally, Boone said, “During the pandemic the theme has been a growing appreciation for our front-line workers – we are talking about our front-line workers tonight.”
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