NORTH NAPLES, Fla. - Teachers get up to show their support for the Collier County custodians.

That support, along with a health care plan presented by the Teamsters this week has saved hundreds of janitors' jobs, at least for now.

The custodians are calling it a step toward a victory that many of them say they need to save their jobs.

The Collier County school board has voted to hold off on making a decision on out-sourcing the district's custodial services to GCA Services, Incorporated until September, so they can take more time to look at the Teamsters' proposal to change healthcare providers,which they say can save the district 12 million dollars over the coming years.

"Our numbers our sound, and the savings is sound," Teamsters Local 79 Chief Negotiator Randy Pines says.

The school board directed staff to look into all other healthcare options, and to use money from the district's strategic reserve to cover the three million dollars in savings they were looking for by out-sourcing in the meantime.
Its a move Superintendent Dennis Thompson says is very dangerous.

"Potentially, what we're doing is setting ourselves up for massive personnel cuts next year," Thompson says.

Still the board doesn't want to rush the decision to out-source.

Janitors like Leo Pozo hope this extra time leads them to decide its not the right choice, and to make the one that will keep a roof over his head.

"We might lose our house if we lose our job," Pozo says.

This decision to hold off on out-sourcing passed in a three to one vote.
Steve Donovan was the board member to vote against it.

Committees will be looking into not only the district's healthcare options, but also the districts financial issues.

Both of those groups have been told to come back with presentations for the board at their July meeting.