LMSD Custodians Supported by Teachers and Parents

The April 16 Lower Moreland School Board business meeting heard several testimonials from teachers and parents of the Lower Moreland School District community, advocating the board retain the custodial staff throughout the district.

The testimonials were in response from the board’s undertaking a Request for Proposals (RFP) that would seek bids from outside companies to provide custodial services throughout the district.

According to a related fact sheet on the Lower Moreland School District’s website, dating back to Oct. 22, 2012, the reason for the RFP for facilities maintenance services is so that the school district may explore options for further fiscal responsibility.

However, the fact sheet states that the replacement of in-house custodial staff with an outside service will be determined by negotiations with the custodial staff’s union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 32BJ. The contract between the district and SEIU ends on June 30.

The fact sheet also points out that Transportation, food services, janitorial services as well as certain faculty are already outsourced to non-in-house staff.

“”In my humble opinion, this would not be the best option for our community, staff and most importantly, our students that we all serve,” Lance Freeman, Lower Moreland High School head building custodian, told the board. “On the surface, outsourcing may seem like a great opportunity for the district to realize some savings, but I must caution you of some of the pitfalls of employing contracted services.”

Freeman, who has worked for the district for over 20 years, was the first to address the board during public comments. Through his address, he argued that for-profit, outside companies may compromise the quality of service he said is currently being given by the custodial staff at all district facilities.

Freeman also noted hope in working with the district to negotiate a contract that would help see the desired savings in the budget. 

His address was followed by an extended applause from a standing-room only audience.

“Teachers and parents came to support us, but I didn’t expect that much. It’s overwhelming,” Freeman said after the meeting. “It makes you feel that our hard work is paying off, that we’re touching people’s lives.”

Other testimonials made during the public comments portion of the board meeting, noted the dedication of the custodial staff, including one anecdote a teacher shared in which he witnessed one custodian immersed in a school district dumpster, trying to find a retainer for a concerned student and her mother.

Dina McCaffery, a former district employee and current parent of a student in the district, made another point, saying that she would be concerned about the safety of the students in the district.

“When I leave my children at Lower Moreland, I know they’re in good hands,” McCaffery said. “Especially with everything that’s happening in the news, it’s nice to know that we have people we know and trust in our buildings.”

Don “Beau” Russel, Murray Ave. Middle School head custodian, and a district employee of over 40 years, said, after the meeting, that it has been a pleasure to recognize and be recognized the ongoing generations of teachers and families of the school community. As the SEIU, Local BJ32 shop stewart, Russel said that he is also hopeful that negotiations with the district go well, and expects an update by the end of April.

As it was public comments, and not board discussion, the board did not directly provide a response to the testimonials during the meeting. However, board president Dr. Murray Cohen did remark on the continuing SEIU negotiations.

“We are still in negotiation with the SCIU,” Cohen said, noting a meeting held between the SCIU and the board last week. “It’s moving along really well.”