A slight majority of districts — 51.8 percent — contract with private firms to clean and maintain district buildings. This is a three-district decline from 2017, when 282 school districts did so.
Over time, more and more districts have used private vendors for their custodial needs, and it is now the most frequently contracted service. In 2003, only 6.6 percent of districts contracted out for custodial services. By 2015, 51.1 percent of districts did, and the number has stayed above 50 percent since then.
Graphic 3: Custodial Service Contracting, 2003, 2005-2018
Five districts entered into new contracts for custodial services this year, and eight districts brought the service back in-house.
St. Louis Public Schools expects to save $200,000 during a three-year contract, including $72,000 in the first year. Breckenridge Community Schools added one part-time janitorial worker who is employed by a leasing agency. Coloma Community School District contracted out to clean some district buildings. Ecorse Public Schools contracted out the service to lower its costs. Bay City Public Schools recently added full-time custodial staff through a contractor, as well as substitutes through the same service.
Several districts reported having difficulties with their contractor’s ability to recruit and retain employees. This was especially true with custodial services. Boyne Falls Public School reported that it brought custodial services in house because of deteriorating service, while Chippewa Valley Schools ended its contract because the vendor could not supply enough qualified employees to meet its needs. Both districts reported that the change would increase their expenses. Concord Community School District had leased out a joint maintenance and transportation manager, but the leasing agency went out of business. East Grand Rapids Public School District brought two custodial positions back in house, hoping that its own would provide better service. Elk Rapids School’s custodian, contracted through a leasing agency, retired. Westwood Heights Schools ended its contract after facing quality-of-service issues. Tahquamenon Area Schools insourced custodial services because of quality and customer service issues. Wells Township School District used a contractor last year on a trial basis when it couldn’t find an individual to fill a position. The contract has since ended and district returned to an in-house arrangement. None of the districts that reported insourcing their custodial service reported direct savings.