"We have a little over 250,000 square feet," Harman said. "We have custodial staffs that are bare minimum."
The Jefferson County School Board is looking at cutting around $67 million over the next two years. Many teachers, librarians, and other staff members are the on the potential chopping block along with 59 custodians district wide.
"As our custodial resources dwindle, we run the risk of increased illness in our buildings," Harman said.
She says right now, they are already so scaled back they have to engage in what's called a "deferred cleaning" plan.
"Classrooms typically are only being vacuumed every other night," Harman said.
She says if these cuts go through over the next two years, the new routine might be cleaning classrooms only once-a-week.
"Disinfecting desktops, happening once-a-week is certainly not going to help," Harman said. "When you look at an illness factor, we not only take into consideration just regular illness, colds, flu viruses, but we also look at allergies through dust."
Bathrooms, clinics, and the cafeteria are currently cleaned every day. But Harman is worried that an understaffed facility management team might have to clean those areas less frequently, as well.
"The care of the building begins to disintegrate," Harman said.
Freshman Ashlyn Maher says this is a really big deal to students.
"Students in the classes after you or even the next day may catch whatever they have," Maher said. "It's just dangerous."
John Bucknam is the executive director of Facilities Management for the Jefferson County School District. He says with $67 million in cuts on the table, the school board may have little choice.
"At this point, these are suggested reductions," Bucknam said. "There has been a desire to keep the cuts away from the classroom."
Harman says these cuts would do the opposite.
"The phrase, 'Cutting farthest from the classroom' doesn't involve custodial?" Harman said. "Custodial services directly affect the classroom every single day."
The Jefferson County School Board will vote on the proposed budget in the spring.
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