Board considers future options for custodial services
BIRDSBORO » Less than a year after hiring its second outsourced custodial and maintenance firm, the Daniel Boone School Board is seeking bids to hire a new company.
Last April, the board unanimously approved a $4.5 million, three-year custodial and building maintenance contract with Interstate Premier Facility Services Provider of Horsham, Montgomery County, effective July 1.
“We’re not ditching Interstate yet,” said board President Julia Olafson, adding, “there’s no harm in asking for bids.”
Interstate replaced GCA Services of Media, Delaware County, as custodians in the district’s two
elementary schools, middle and high schools, and the district offices.
GCA was hired in May 2016 to do custodial, building maintenance, grounds-keeping, and snow plow removal services, a controversial and unpopular decision that furloughed 35 custodial employees, who were all local residents.
Many of those employees were re-hired within a month by GCA.
GCA failed to meet new protocol guidelines that the district implemented in March 2018, which were aimed at improving the company’s custodial and maintenance performance.
Interstate was hired in April 2019.
“In July, they (Interstate) started off on the wrong foot,” said board member Kevin Stroble.
He said Interstate has not been fully staffed and has been unable to complete building maintenance projects.
Stroble added that Interstate has been in full communication with the district about its continuing efforts to hire additional staff and to provide improved custodial and maintenance results.
“We’re getting bids to gather the information for options,” said Stroble.
In other business at the Feb. 24 meeting, the school board approved the resignation of High School Assistant Principal Frank Flanagan, effective Feb. 13.
Flanagan was assistant principal for two years.
“He is moving onto another opportunity that is closer to his home, and he will be missed,” said High School Principal Preston McKnight, adding, “he brought a lot to the high school, and he would be welcomed back [if he requested].”
The board appointed Angela Owens as the high school’s new assistant principal, effective Feb. 25, at a prorated salary of $80,000 per year.
Owens, a Daniel Boone School District graduate, has been with the district for 13 years.
She is currently an instructional coach, after previously teaching third, fourth, and fifth grades for a number of years.
“I always aspired to administration — and wanted to help teachers and students grow,” said Owens.
Lease deal
Board members also approved a lease agreement with Berks Encore for space at 2144 Weavertown
Road, Douglassville.
The building is the former Amity Primary Center, the previous location of the district’s offices, and currently a site for River Rock Academy and Day Treatment.
Olafson said Berks Encore, a nonprofit provider of senior services in Berks County, will use the top floor offices for administrative staff, and their management of local programs, including the distribution of food to volunteer drivers for Meals on Wheels.
She said Berks Encore also plans to conduct some outreach activities, including but not limited to computer and wellness classes.
GCA was hired in May 2016 to do custodial, building maintenance, groundskeeping, and snow plow removal services, a controversial and unpopular decision that furloughed 35 custodial employees, who were all local residents.