PSEA is a community of education professionals who make a difference in the lives of students every day.
It is difficult for districts to anticipate all the costs which will be incurred when private contractors are hired. As a result, administrators and school boards are frequently disappointed to discover that contracted services actually cost much more than anticipated. Too often, cost overruns, contract language loopholes, penalty payments for additional levels of service, or changes to the service itself cost more than the district budgeted for the contracted service.
Private contractors, like other for-profit companies seeking business, often under- price the original bid to obtain the first contract, then raise prices – sometimes significantly – when the contract is up for renewal. In the case of the largest contractors, there is little economic pressure from competitors. In addition, contracting for services does not save districts the costs of maintaining equipment and facilities, providing cleaning services and products, and paying attorney fees.
The overwhelming majority of education support professionals live in the school district where they work and often have children attending those same schools. Incorporating a contractor from outside the school district disrupts the sense of community. Contractors are rarely required to hire all the workers who previously performed the work. They can bring in workers from other cities or other states to do the work previously performed by district residents. Labor relations are removed from the district’s control. This is neither good for the district and its employees, nor the students they serve. Private sector workers are not subject to the same requirements as are public sector employees.
High employee turnover leads to a lack of consistency for students, and can hurt relationships between students and the caring adults in their school. Subcontracting is based on the misconception that cheaper is better, and does not guarantee high-quality service for schools or students.
If parents or community members complain about a contracted service, the district becomes only a "middleperson" who can only complain to the contractor or enter into costly contract renegotiations.
