Review Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 6/20/2024 - 6:30 PM
Category: Consent Calendar
Type: Action
Subject: Custodial Attrition Plan Update
ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 4: Strategic Resource Allocation
ACPS will strategically provide differentiated resources and supports to schools and departments.
Policy: GDI - Support Staff Assignments and Transfers
Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
File Attachment:
240620_Memo_ACPS Custodial Attrition Plan Recommendation_v1.pdf
Agenda Item Summary: This memo provides an update regarding the Custodial Attrition Plan. We have reached the attrition threshold at one school and thus request this school’s custodial services be contracted out. The last update was given in April 2023, where John Adams Elementary School/Early Childhood Center were approved to contract out their custodial services. In addition, the School Board approved the transition of Francis C. Hammond Middle School to contracted cleaning services through the approved FY25 budget.

At this time, staff requests board approval to contract out custodial services at James Polk Elementary School effective July 1, 2024. This school meets the requirements for outsourcing as outlined in the Custodial Attrition Plan.

Any remaining full-time ACPS staff currently serving at this school will be reassigned to Charles Barrett Elementary School or Samuel Tucker Elementary School. No full-time employees will be terminated based on this approach. Casual employees across all schools will be relieved of their current assignments. As part of this adjustment, Maintenance and Custodial Services leadership would negotiate contract terms with its custodial services contractor to offer positions to casual employees. Using full-time custodians instead of casual also provides 18 more work hours per week which are needed at other schools.
Background: The Custodial Attrition Plan outlines the effort to systematically contract out the custodial staff at all Alexandria City Public Schools over time, as employees retire and/or resign. ACPS contracted out George Washington Middle School and the Minnie Howard campus on July 1, 2019. ACPS also contracted out John Adams Elementary School/Early Childhood Center on July 1, 2023. ACPS custodians who worked at those schools were reassigned to other ACPS schools (“in-house schools”) that hadn’t been contracted out yet.

As custodians leave their tenure with ACPS, their respective in-house schools are supplemented with casual custodians to provide coverage until the required attrition threshold is met. Currently, the Custodial Attrition Plan can only move forward when there are less than 50% ACPS custodial employees at a given school. As the custodial attrition plan continues to progress, reassignment of ACPS custodial employees will continue to occur. The following order was recommended and approved by the School Board on June 10, 2019.


George Washington Middle School – July 1, 2019
Minnie Howard Campus – July 1, 2019
Francis Hammond Middle School – July 1, 2024
James Polk Elementary School – July 1, 2024 (proposed)
John Adams Elementary School/Early Childhood Center – July 1, 2023
Charles Barrett Elementary School – TBD
Samuel Tucker Elementary School – TBD
Recommendation: The Superintendent recommends that the School Board review the information and approve the recommendation to contract custodial services at James K. Polk per the Custodial Attrition Plan.
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Dr. Alicia Hart - Chief Operating Officer
Signed By:
Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt - Superintendent
Vote Results:

Original Motion
Member Meagan L. Alderton Moved, Member Christopher Harris seconded to approve the Original motion 'The Superintendent recommends that the School Board review the information and approve the recommendation to contract custodial services at James K. Polk per the Custodial Attrition Plan.'. Upon a Roll-Call Vote being taken, the vote was: Aye: 8 Nay: 0.
The motion Carried 8 - 0
   
Meagan L. Alderton     Yes
Jacinta Greene     Yes
Dr. Michelle Rief     Yes
Kelly Carmichael Booz     Yes
Tammy Ignacio     Yes
Christopher Harris     Yes
Dr. Ashley Simpson Baird     Yes
Tim Beaty     Yes