By John Saccenti, Staff Writer
The West Windsor-Plainsboro School District pays approximately $1.5 million more to run its buildings and maintenance department than other districts in Mercer County, according to a report by Edvocate School Support Solutions.
According to the report, commissioned by the district, WW-P pays $7.27 million compared with $6.226 million in other districts.
Employees represented by the West Windsor-Plainsboro Service Association and West Windsor-Plainsboro Foremen’s Association “enjoy wages that are well in excess of the 75th percent of their occupations and also receive a generous benefits package that far exceeds the industry norm with respect to health insurance benefits, annual paid leave days and pension benefits,” according to the report.
Members of the unions get up to 22 vacation days, 21 holidays, 14 cumulative sick days, three personal days, three family illness days and up to seven bereavement days.
Edvocate School Support Solutions was hired to the efficiency of its custodial, maintenance and grounds operations and recommend savings.
The report looks at management, labor utilization, the labor agreement and the organization and method of service delivery.
Larry Shanok, assistant superintendent for finance, said the district has similarly reviewed academic spending in the past.
However, members of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Service Association, teachers, parents and students have spoken out against the possibility of outsourcing the staff, saying it won’t save money in the long run, and the maintenance workers are more than just the people who set up for programs, sweep the floors and fix things. They are as much a part of the school community as teachers and students.
Mr. Shanok said the report makes no recommendations and only presents the facts of its study. Discussion and public comment on the report is scheduled for the board’s Jan. 5 meeting.
According to the study, based on a total student enrollment of 9,800, gross square footage of the district of 1,543 million and total district custodial salaries of $3.643 million, the custodial cost per square-foot is $2.41, above the public school average of $1.35. Custodial salaries are $372, above the $278 average.
The report also says three quarters of custodial staff work in the evenings without effective supervision; operations foremen work during the day performing work that should be done by lower-paid employees; and core functions suffer because of poor management, oversight and focus.
Mr. Shanok said the district is facing a difficult budget season. As it stands, if the budget were to remain status quo, the district is looking at a $7.8 million increase. However, under the state’s 4 percent tax levy cap, a $5.3 million increase is allowed. In addition, if the budget were to increase 2 percent, the district would face a $3.1 million increase.
”We’ve been having moderate budgets for the last seven years,” Mr. Shanok said. “Seven years ago, the district was spending $500 more than the state average per student. Last year, we were $300 below the state average. We’ve been providing a first-class education at an average to below average cost. We’ve been moderating costs over the last few years to do that.”
The 2009-10 school budget increased 1.6 percent, or $2.4 million, from $147.2 million to $153.5 million. Mr. Shanok said the upcoming increase for 2010-11 can be attributed to the rising cost of health benefits and negotiated contracts. He also said, no matter what is done, the district will need to cut between $2.5 million and $4.7 million from the upcoming spending plan.
”We can’t just stay the status quo because the budget can’t go up that much,” he said.
jsaccenti
@centraljersey.com.
