Resource Lists
OUTSOURCING SCHOOL SUPPORT SERVICES
NCEF's resource list of links, books, and journal articles on outsourcing school services such as school maintenance and custodial services, food service, and student transportation. References to Books and Other Media
Cash-Strapped Schools Cutting Custodial Workers. Farmer, Blake (National Public Radio, Washington, DC, Apr 05, 2010)
Cash-strapped school districts are turning to some of their lowest-paid employees to bear the weight of budget cuts. Systems from New Jersey, Indiana and Michigan are joining Nashville schools in their plans to outsource custodial services. School officials say they are trying to avoid making cuts to the classroom.
MSBO Facilities Benchmarking Report.
 Moles, Robert (Michigan School Business Officials, Lansing, MI , 2010)
Assists Michigan school business and facilities managers to compare their maintenance costs and practices to the universe of school districts in the state. The survey report addresses outsourcing, custodial staffing and compensation, square foot coverage, and per student expenditures. The report also includes comparison data from each of the previous reports illustrating effects of changes made over time. 24p.
Contracting for Quality-Based Security Personnel Services.
(AlliedBarton, Conshohocken, PA , 2009)
Advises on contracting with building security providers. The document discusses partnering for continuous quality improvement (CQI), typical values sought in a service provider, bidding versus partnering, changing institutional process, and preparation of the RFP. 16p.
References to Journal Articles
Contract Services. Thinking It Through.
Kollie, Ellen School Planning and Management; , p54-56 ; May 2012
Experienced administrators share what to think about in designing unique contract services for a district.
Successful Outsourcing.
Devaney, Sean College Planning and Management; v14 n8 , p44,46 ; Aug 2011
Profiles Broward College's experience with outsourcing it's custodial services, beginning February 1, 2011. The custodians service office areas during the day to maintain face-to-face contact with the occupants. Classrooms are serviced after hours. Reaction has been positive. Advice on preparing an RFP and measuring the quality of the work is included.
Make Outsourcing Work
Fickes, Michael School Planning and Management; Jul 2011
Covers re-thinking outsourcing, deciding if outsourcing is right for a school district, finding the right partner, managing performance, and the benefits of outsourcing.
Make Outsourcing Work.
Fickes, Michael School Planning and Management; v50 n7 , p46,48,50 ; Jul 2011
Discusses the typical pitfalls of outsourcing school services and cites agreements with which the school districts are pleased. The article advises districts on deciding what services might be appropriate the outsourcing, finding the right partner, managing the contract through enforceable performance standards, and potential benefits of outsourcing.
Outside In?
Milshtein, Amy College Planning and Management; v14 n7 , p22,24,26 ; Jul 2011
Discusses in positive and negative terms the outsourcing of higher education services not typically considered eligible for outsourcing. These include legal service, human resource, and printing.
Outsider Trading.
Nardone, David; Novak, Mark Athletic Business; v35 n5 , p25,26,28,30 ; May 2011
Offers tips for making decision whether to maintain athletic fields with in-house staff and equipment or hiring outside professionals. Primary considerations include time, expertise, and equipment.
Seven Tips for Vetting an Outside Contractor.
Rizzo, David Buildings; v105 n5 , p40-42,44,46,48 ; May 2011
Advises on minimizing downtime and maintaining safety when engaging outside facilities contractors. Planning, checking credentials, safety, contingency plans, communication, and long-term commitment are addressed.
Are You in or Out?
Milschtein, Amy College Planning and Management; v13 n11 , p22,24,25 ; Nov 2010
Discusses advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing higher education services, focusing on bookstores and food service. Examples of successful in-house and outsourced operations are illustrated, and the shared responsibility of customer satisfaction between institution and contractor is explored.
Snow and Ice: An Outside Job.
Kobach, Ellen; Birch, Brian Maintenance Solutions; v18 n10 , p25,27 ; Oct 2010
Advises on pricing structures, contract, and insurance coverage for snow removal contractors. Accurate and detailed records of the contractor's work, various fee structures, typical challenges to snow removal, and prepared removal routes are discussed.
Labor Savings.
Thetford, Terry American School and University; v83 n2 , p28,30 ; Oct 2010
Discusses outsourcing of custodial services, advising accurate accounting data of custodial services, achieving a change in culture, establishing budget priorities, developing cleaning standards, alignment of other support services, and front-loading the contract to accommodate changes.
Secrets for Hiring a Janitorial Service.
Boyd, Neil; Lentz, Carl Facility Management Journal; v20 n4 , p18-20 ; Jul-Aug 2010
Advises on engaging outsources janitorial services, recommending collecting references, finding out how the cleaning staff is paid, securing a consistent person to call for problems, checking insurance, and determining the quality of their personnel.
Preserve and Conserve.
Gregerson, John Buildings; v104 n6 , p76-78 ; Jun 2010
Discusses standards and procedures for HVAC system inspection and predictive maintenance that are designed to save energy. In-house versus outsourced work is also addressed.
Critical Issues: Keys to Successful Contracting.
Zopf, Michael School Business Affairs; v76 n5 , p8-11 ; Jun 2010
Advises school districts on four key elements of contracting: understanding the contracting objectives, completing the contracting analysis, aligning stakeholder expectations, and understanding the context. Four references are included.
Building Virtual Classrooms.
Ravage, Barbara Campus Technology; v23 n7 , p12,14,15 ; Mar 2010
Describes how two rural community college expanded their distance learning facilities. The problems faced by the present systems, the solutions, and outsourcing where necessary are described.
The Bidding Process.
Zeman, Gail School Planning and Management; v48 n11 , p56-59 ; Nov 2009
Advises on preparing a bid proposal for outsourced services. After starting with the district's standard procedures for creating a bid, the article advises on what questions should be answered before writing the bid proposal, assessing the needs of the end users, consulting with colleagues who have done it before, the type of bid that is appropriate for the situation, and a reasonability test for the bid.
Outsourcing Facility Work.
Burke, Patrick J.; Klein, Jennifer R. School Administrator; v66 n9 , p20-23 ; Oct 2009
Describes how Fulton County Schools in Atlanta managed a large school construction project using program management, a comprehensive method of managing a capital improvement program that covers planning, pre-design, design and construction oversight. Since outsourcing program management, the district significantly tightened controls, linking all capital improvement accounting to the school district's integrated database and software system for enterprise resource planning. All documentation, communication, contracts, change orders and payment requisitions now go through a project control system.
Outsourcing: Does Contracting out Support Services Help Districts and Schools?
Hohman, James School Planning and Management; v48 n10 , p28,30 ; Oct 2009
Discusses a dramatic increase in outsourcing of school food, custodial, and transportation services. Differences between states in amount of outsourcing, and variance between public- and private-sector labor laws are cited.
The Bottom Line of Outsourced Facilities Services.
Ledbetter, Randy College Planning and Management; v12 n10 , p29,30,32 ; Oct 2009
Discusses outsourcing of higher education facility services. The skills and resources that outside contractors can provide, typical outsourced services, and a blend of outsourced and in-house services are addressed.
Outsourced: an FM's Experience.
Kischner, Mark Facility Management Journal; v18 n5 , p36,38 ; Sep 2009
Relates one facility manager's experience with losing his position to outsourcing, the reactions of his co-workers, and his reaction to job hunting in the same profession.
Meeting the Challenge: M & O Budgets.
O'Connor, Shannon College Planning and Management; v12 n8 , p20,22,24 ; Aug 2009
Describes how some higher education institutions are accommodating cutbacks in maintenance and operations budgets by asking non-custodial staff to do some cleaning up after themselves, bringing outsourced services back in house, reducing cleaning and maintenance frequencies, and adjusting thermostats.
Get the Best Service Contract in Four Steps.
Aker, Jenna Buildings; v103 n3 , p36-40 ; Mar 2009
Advises on selection of and contracting with a outside vendor for building maintenance services. Steps for familiarizing oneself with the vendors, questions to ask, specificity of the contract, tips for avoiding claims, and points of negotiation are addressed.
The Future Wave of Outsourcing.
Carroll, Joe Facility Management Journal; v19 n1 , p20,22-24 ; Jan 2009
Discusses outsourcing of services; seeking partners, not just vendors; and a obtaining a concise service level agreement that is easily understood by all parties.
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