Outsourcing
Enfield School Board Dubious About Outsourcing Custodians
The suggestion was one of four options outlined in a report of a subcommittee of the audit committee.
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I don't think outsourcing would be a good move here. Like they said the custodians are close to the kids and the families. I still remember my elementary custodian - Butch! He was great and I couldn't imagine seeing a company replace the nice staff they have. Considering the money is very much comprable then there should not be a question about outsourcing. I also believe you will find high theft with outsourcing!
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Joined: Apr 3, 2008
Comments: 8
Enfield
ISP Location:
Prospect, CT
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Also decided at the meeting, was the BOE's choice of where to allocate any funds raised raised from the check off box on the taxes. The BOE unanimously decided to spend the money on books (both library and/or text books). This way people will know exactly where the money they donate will be going. They also discussed other options for future years should this continue. Some items mentioned were, mini-grants, cultural events, technology, and the arts.
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If Chuck Johnson had HALF a brain, he would be dangerous. What an arrogant and obnoxious person - who is simply a Turner puppet! Get an original thought Chuck!
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No money was spent on a study about custodians. This was a volunteer external audit committee that made this suggestion. As far as your shot about "unskilled workers", that was very ignorant to say, and nowhere did anyone say the wouldn't do the work. |
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I did it as a highschool job...tell me whats skilled about a custodial position? does it require an education, tradeschool, or any other kind of training other than on the job "this is what you do" from another custodian? |
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AOL
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I agree with "Good Grief" that Johnson has lost his way. He and Hozempa have no thinking of their own. They ask Turner what to do and then do it.
He even has a hard time speaking in an intellegent way. I leave the BOE meetings wondering what in the world he was saying. and where was Hozempa last night? Hiding because she did not find corruption is my guess. |
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I don't think anyone was expecting to find "corruption" - the purpose was to find efficiencies and see where we could streamline, which is what the Republicans on the BOE promised they would do.
Nothing of this sort has ever been undertaken and if there is nothing to hide, what is the harm. No one wanted to see corruption, geez! |
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Joined: Jun 17, 2008
Comments: 35
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I spent my entire public school career, from K - 12th grade in Enfield and I remember my custodian! When I worked in the school as a volunteer through college, every time I saw him I got a great big welcome and a huge hug.
One of the major things that I have heard people complaining about lately, particularly in my profession, is outsourcing jobs for cheap labor. If we get rid of the custodians we have, then the jobs will go to foreigners who are willing to work for less to get by, and to me that's just as bad as sending a contract for the US military out to Europe. Also, it is my opinion that the custodians work hard and deserve a good paycheck. Would you want to pick up after hundreds of kids each day? They clean the floors and empty the trash in ever classroom on a daily basis, and some school aren't even air conditioned! I would not want that job, and I would only be tempted to take it if the pay was extremely high. Skills do not always equal "deserves to be paid a lot." Sitting at a desk in an office in front of an AC working on a computer, making 6 figures, is a lot easier than cleaning dozens of classrooms and getting no respect. |
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The point of outsourcing is lower wages, benefits, break-up unions. Under a private contractor, custodians will earn less money, have fewer benefits, and enjoy a reduced standard of living. Is that what you want? And to top it off, the town may not save any real money.
You can outsource almost any job, and ship most jobs to India. Kudos to the school board for recognizing that its staff delivers value above the job. |
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I'm a knuckle-head for stating the obvious that Mr. Johnson has no mind of his own??? Perhaps YOU should check your mirror ELMO! If you can't bring any intelligent discussion to the table, then go away hungry! Knuckle-head...very mature...MORON! |
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Oh I'm not hungry at all, GoodGrief. You're dishing up quite a blue-plate special.
It's interesting to see how embittered Democrats believe the local GOP gang operates. Your characterization of Mr. Johnson's party relationship with Ms. Turner is so far off base its sad. The follow-me-or-else crap is a Donkey-game in Enfield. And one your crew can keep to themselves. Pleasure communicating with you, Elmo |
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The issue of NOT outsourcing custodians is a decision I believe was in the best interest of the school system and students.
The attacks on Mr. Johnson are without merit. Although Chuck and I disagree on this item, Chuck makes up his own mind and votes the way he sees things. I claim that right for me and I will stand up for his right to do likewise. The BOE is running now the way it should...nine people with one vote each....showing respect. When you weigh out the decisions that have been made this year, I believe wisdom has prevailed. I do appreciate reading everyone's comments and take in all I can...thanks Greg |
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Joined: May 23, 2008
Comments: 22
ISP Location:
Wallingford, CT
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Elmo is right that "do as I say and obey — or else" is the democrats' game. The fate of Lewis Fiore is "Exhibit A" to the truth of this statement. Ultimately my political positions are driven by bedrock conservative principles. I am a "true believer" in conservative political philosophy. I know this to also be the case for Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Lavelli-Hozempa. Both are people of character. As to the issue of outsourcing, it shouldn't be treated as an all nothing proposition and there should be no sacred cows. One question that needs to be asked: is there a volume of work in the school system to justify the retention of nine skilled tradesman (plumbers, carpenters, electricians)? If you recall, the audit committee could not find records to show a large volume of trade work being done. Could an outsourcing arrangement be worked out to migrate current night custodians onto a contractor's payroll? Could the BOE issue outsourcing bids to put a lid on unreasonable demands in collective bargaining? This discussion has become very heated because contracting is a threat to union monopolism— the ability of the union to be the sole authority on market wages and benefits. Is monopolism a particularly American concept? We didn't like it when Standard Oil and Microsoft used monopoly powers to engage in price-gouging. Why is union monopolism over the labour market any different? The hard reality is that this year's budget is indicative of what's to come. The age of large budget increases is over. Enfield is a poor suburb— there's not really much money left to extract from the citizens, especially if the current downturn lasts into 2009. As Generation Y makes its way through college, the school age population will decrease substantially. When that happens, the education bubble will burst— in elementary, secondary and higher education. I think what is lost in this discussion is that cost savings from outsourcing will free up money that can be plowed back into the children's education— science labs, computers, musical instruments etc. Given the finite amount of money available to the BOE, is it just to deny these services to the students, when the money can be found? Ultimately, the BOE's fiduciary duty is to the students, not union bosses. James Bailey Brislin The Carpet City Chronicle http://carpetcity.wordpress.com/ |
Excellent well thought out response. Thank you. |
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Mr. Brislen stated:
I know this to also be the case for Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Lavelli-Hozempa. Both are people of character. By saying this are you saying that Greco, Stokes and Droney are not people of character???? I hope you that is not what you wanted to say!!!! |
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Lavelli and Johnson were taking unnessessary shots earlier in this thread... No one here questioning anyone's character. Quite the contrary. The full board right now is a good bunch with solid leadership with some interesting ideas in my opinion. (Good call moving the extra donated funds to the text book account as Ms. Brennan noted above.) |
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Joined: May 23, 2008
Comments: 22
ISP Location:
Wallingford, CT
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ERTC Faithful, You have thrusted, and now I shall parry. Such an assertion was neither implied nor stated. Thus far Messrs. Greco, Stokes, and Droney have not been subjected to attacks in this forum, making any defense of them purely superfluous. "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow republican." —Ronald Reagan, "The 11th Commandment" Nice try, but no cigar. James Bailey Brislin The Carpet City Chronicle http://carpetcity.wordpress.com/ PS Are you really on the ERTC? |
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Joined: May 23, 2008
Comments: 22
ISP Location:
Wallingford, CT
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It was neither stated nor implied. Note that Messrs. Greco, Stokes and Droney have not been attacked in this forum, effectively rendering any defense of them superfluous. "Thou shalt not speak ill of another republican." Ronald Reagan, "The 11th Commandment" Nice try, but no cigar. James Bailey Brislin The Carpet City Chronicle http://carpetcity.wordpress.com/ PS Are you really on the ERTC? |
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