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\u201cBenefits will eventually be equal to or more what we\u2019re paying a beginning custodian,” Deputy Superintendent Alvin Hudson said.<\/p>\n
Hudson asked for the board to consider \u201coutsourcing\u201d the existing custodial staff at Valdosta\u2019s middle school.<\/p>\n
Currently, the district is struggling to pay its janitors and keep up with the rising cost of employee health plans. To combat this, Hudson is proposing a plan to replace the middle schools\u2019 current custodial staff, with janitors from a third-party cleaning company.<\/p>\n
“Keep in mind that all benefits for custodians, that\u2019s on the local,” said Hudson. “We receive no state funding to help offset the cost for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Chairs](\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/a3\/2a\/8678d00847459d0395d4e2910b55\/51592652208-cde317d8bb-c-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Valdosta High School already has a contract with an outside vendor. By adding another, the district could save even more money on employee health care, workers comp, and retirement-investment plans.<\/p>\n
Board member Warren Lee said he can get behind the idea of outsourcing janitors, but thinks any janitors the school keeps on staff, for example at elementary schools, need higher pay.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s poverty salary,” said Lee. “I assume this is full time salary, that\u2019s really embarrassing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Valdosta Board of Education agreed in 2021 to raise the minimum wage for custodians from $8.35 an hour to $11–bringing the starting salary for a Valdosta City school janitor, to just over $23,000.<\/p>\n
The federal poverty line for a family of three is roughly $26,000. <\/p>\n
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