District considers contract groundskeeping (Downingtown) - Daily Local News 2/6/2011

The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
District considers contract groundskeeping
Downingtown Area researches if outsourcing work would save money
Sunday, February 6, 2011

By ERIC S. SMITH, Staff Writer

UWCHLAN — Outsourcing some groundskeeping duties may be an option for the Downingtown Area School District, its facilities committee was told last week.

The school board asked the district's facilities department to research potential savings associated with outsourcing snow plowing, grass cutting and athletic field maintenance.

One member of the department retired near the end of last year and was not replaced by the district.

Lee Snodgrass, district facilities director, said the department can continue to meet standards without filling that position.

"We will absorb that loss and continue to provide all of our services," Snodgrass said Monday. "We will have to adjust some things and re-prioritize, but the quality will still be there."

Snodgrass said that if his department loses another grounds crew member, it may be necessary to outsource some grass cutting. He said the district should continue to monitor the need for outsourcing.

Board members agreed with that assessment. Member Robert Eldredge said equipment will begin to wear down quickly and at that point the board should take another serious look at outsourcing.

The facilities department requested proposals from a few companies in the area to compare the cost of doing services in-house versus outsourcing.

For snow plowing, the department found that during a storm last year when about 18 inches of snow fell, the district spent 360 hours clearing facilities. All of the hours were at an overtime rate and cost the district slightly more than $22,000. Snodgrass said Owen J. Roberts and Great Valley shool disticts, which both outsource snow plowing duties, spent about $30,000 and $27,000 respectively. Both districts have half as many schools as Downingtown.

Board President Jackie Fenn, who is the executive director of the Lionville YMCA, said in her experience outsourcing for snow plowing puts the onus of getting the job done at a certain time on the contractor. She said this could make decisions easier about whether to close schools because of inclement weather.

For grass cutting, the district spends about $95,000 for elementary schools and about $89,000 for the middle and high schools. The district received three quotes from local companies that estimated costs for the elementary schools at about $134,000, $79,000 and $68,000. These costs would also reflect the loss of a salary of the member of the crew that has retired. So the district would actually see a slight savings from the third quote.

For the other schools estimates were about $119,000, $71,00 and $62,000. If the district lost another crew member, it would save about $77,000 with salary and benefits. Therefore, Snodgrass said the lowest two quotes would result in a savings for the district but only if another member of the crew leaves.

For field maintenance, the district could not receive quotes because companies did not want to give prices without seeing the fields, which are currently covered with snow.

Athletic Director Jack Helm said the fields at Downingtown are always in great condition, because of the employees in the facilities department. He said those employees are always available and do a great job.

"The biggest difference between outsourcing and our employees is that (the district's employees) care about the students," Helm said.

To contact staff writer Eric S. Smith, send an e-mail to esmith@dailylocal.com.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/02/06/news/srv0000010848163.prt
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