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BIRMINGHAM — As part of a plan to eliminate a projected deficit of $3.2 million for the next school year, Birmingham Public Schools voted to contract out the district’s custodial and transportation services, according to The Oakland Press. The move is expected to save the district $2.7 million. In order to balance its books, the district explored cutting 26 full-time equivalent positions. With contracting, however, the district will add 15 positions, according to the Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle.
The district selected Durham School Services to provide transportation services and GCA Services Group to provide custodial services, the Press reported. According to the Mackinac Center’s 2007 school privatization survey, Birmingham is the first Michigan school district that has contracted with GCA.
The district already has experience with contracting out support services. Its food service is managed by Sodexho. If the contracts are signed, Birmingham will join just five other school districts in the state that contract out for food, custodial and transportation services.
References
“BPS to privatize school services to save nearly $3 million,” Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle, April 2, 2008
“School support workers going private,” The Oakland Press, April 3, 2008
