SCHOOL RUNNINGS
RESPONSIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY FOCUS FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR (2007/2008)
The 2006-2007 school year was one of the most challenging in the history of Dufferin-Peel. A recurring theme throughout the year was the budget deficit
situation. This caused a great deal of uncertainty and operational challenges in all areas of the Board. The Custodial Services Department was not untouched by this uncertainty and faced many operational challenges with a budget that was reduced by 10%, in addition to a reduction in the custodial staffing complement.
The recently completed collective agreement negotiations yielded an important measure of job security for custodial staff through the implementation of a custodial staffing ratio which guarantees that our full time equivalent custodial staffing complement will be 567.17 F.T. E. The ratio was determined by dividing the Board’s total square footage by 18,150 sq ft. Some people have started dividing the square footage of their schools by 18,150 sq ft in the hope that there will be a bunch of additional staff hired for their schools. The staffing complement is for the entire Board not just one School.
What I have chosen as the main focus for this school 2007-2008 year in custodial services is “Responsibility & Accountability”.
I have in the past stated that custodial services is a profession not just a job. I have also stated that in order to become a professional one must do so through education, effort and commitment. In addition, we must be responsible and accountable in every aspect of custodial services.
We must also develop a commitment to service mindset in custodial services in order to meet the challenges of the future.
One area of concern that I would like to see significant improvement this new school year is in attendance. A review of the cost of absenteeism in 2006 revealed the average days absent for each custodian (sick and emergency) was 15.5 Days. If we take that number and multiply it by 8 hours/day and by 600 employees we get a total of 74,400 hours.
A full time employee works 2080 hours/year. Let’s divide 74,400 by 2080 and we get 35.76 F.T.E. Absences due to sick and emergency days cost us as a department 35 people. A reduction in the average absences will yield additional employee hours that will be used to provide service to the system. It is time for responsibility & accountability.
A new initiative that you will be seeing in the years to come is eco schools. The effects of climate change along with concern for the environment are becoming priorities for Governments throughout the world. In Peel Region, both School Boards will be actively participating in contributing towards addressing this situation. The eco schools program will be piloted in a number of our schools beginning in September, 2007.
In closing I want to thank all of you for your fine service to our Schools, Board and Community in spite of the many challenges during the past years. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Plant Operations Management Team to wish you all every success in the upcoming school year 2007-2008.
Richard. B. Moriah