Portland School District's budget proposes cutting 43 custodial jobs

PORTLAND, OR -- Each day, custodians in the Portland School District keep their schools safe and healthy for children. Custodians are the eyes and ears of public schools. They are the first line of response in time of imminent danger, such as fights, fires, vandalism or bomb threats. They are also trusted problem-solvers for students and teachers.

But that's all at risk. A recent budget for the school district submitted by interim Superintendent Diane Snowden proposes cutting 43 custodial jobs to save $1.5 million.

The custodians are members of School Employees Local 140, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union. Many were on hand at a school budget public meeting April 30 to shed some light on all that custodians do and show ways to save the jobs.

Since 1991 the Portland School District has trimmed its custodial workforce by 19 percent -- from 460.5 full-time employees to 374.5. If the School Board agrees with the current recommendation, that number would drop to 330.5 full-time custodial workers.

Union officials insist the school district has the resources to prevent the custodial cuts, and has identified $5 million in the budget without tapping into "teachers or textbooks."

Tim Nesbitt, executive director of the Oregon State Council of Service Employees, said the proposed school budget includes an advanced recognition of a $3.2 million reduction in state funding due to reduced enrollment. "This money will not actually be reduced in the state funding until 1999-2000," he explained. "It makes more sense to use $1.5 million of this to keep our schools and children safe and healthy. Besides, the Legislature will meet in January 1999 and will make new decisions about school funding."

School district officials also want to use $1.7 million to bolster self-insurance reserves for workers' compensation and liability.

"They want to increase reserves by 35 percent, during a time when other businesses are experiencing reductions in workers' comp premiums," Nesbitt said.

"We have the same number of school buildings as 1991, with slightly higher enrollment," Nesbitt said. "Many people don't realize that custodians do more than clean toilets and mop floors. They do a lot for the safety and health of students."

For instance, custodians check to be sure fire extinguishers are full; they are trained in first aid and CPR; they find and dispose of syringes; clean and disinfect for head lice; secure and clean areas hit with pepper mace; watch for and confront strangers and suspicious people on school grounds; identify hazardous building conditions; lead energy conservation and recycling programs which save $167,000 annually; keep buildings up to code; get the ball off the roof during recess; find lost dental retainers mistakenly thrown away during lunch, and walk around during evening use of school buildings to help direct people to their events.

The Portland School Board is expected to make a decision on the cuts by next week.

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