BRENHAM ISD TO BRING CUSTODIAL SERVICES IN-HOUSE

  

Brenham ISD is moving custodial services in-house.

The Brenham School Board voted unanimously Monday to enter into a separation agreement with ABM Texas General Services, Inc., an affiliate of ABM Industry Group, LLC.

Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Clay Gillentine said the move will allow Brenham ISD to offer custodial employees additional pay and benefits.

 

ABM’s employees will join the district’s existing pay scale used for maintenance and child nutrition employees, and will get credit for past experience.  Employees will be paid twice a month.

Gillentine said employees will begin the transition process into Brenham ISD today (Tuesday), meeting individually with the district’s Human Resources department to discuss wage increases and benefits.

Forty-three ABM employees are planned to transition into Brenham ISD.  The district’s contract with ABM cost just under $1.5 million annually.

Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin said the district looked into offering the $1,000 COVID-19 stipend approved at Monday’s meeting to employees of ABM and Durham School Services, but is not legally able to do so at this time.

Trustee Tommie Sullivan said he is “very excited” to be able to provide more pay and benefits to custodial employees, saying with COVID-19 that they “put their life on the line each and every day.”  Trustee Jared Krenek said the employees “deserve it” and that he “can’t wait” to do this.

Also on Monday, the board:

• Approved a request for qualifications (RFQ) for construction manager-agent/program management services and facility consulting services. Chaplin said the item is tied to the district’s bond election called on February 14^th, and prepares the district for the next step in the bond process should the bond pass.  If the bond fails, the district only loses the advertising fee to put the RFQ in the local paper.
• Took no action on revising a school policy pertaining to class ranking, opting to gather further information before proceeding.
• Adopted a resolution to compensate staff members for days missed due to recent inclement weather.
• Met in executive session to discuss assistant superintendent contracts.