Collier school cuts could hurt child's education
By
Melissa Cabral, WINK News
Story Created:
Sep 4, 2008 at 5:13 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Sep 4, 2008 at 7:52 PM EDT
NAPLES, Fla. - Collier County custodians are fighting to keep their jobs. They took to the streets protesting Thursday.
Superintendent Dennis Thompson is recommending the hiring of an outside company to clean the schools.
If board members decide to outsource, custodians will still have a job with the new company but at lower pay and benefits.
If the board votes against the outsourcing plan, some say it could hurt your child's education.
Superintendent Dennis Thompson tells WINK News if the board votes against outsourcing custodians, he will eliminate 80 jobs.
Those jobs include elementary media assistants and one clerical position per school.
Board members will vote on September 18th.
The board delayed the decision in June, a move that Superintendent Dennis Thompson says cost taxpayers an estimated $800,000 dollars.
The Teamsters Union came up with another option, changing the health insurance plan for all district employees.
The Union says it will save more than five million dollars in one year.
Thompson says it's not legal to not have other companies bid on the policy, and is not a viable option.