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After a decade of privatizing facility management services, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is considering a shift back toward in-house management, as reported by the Chicago Sun Times. Since 2014, building service contractor (BSC) Aramark has been tasked with cleaning CPS buildings, but after a continued series of complaints about insufficient cleaning supplies, poor management and dirty schools, the district’s Board of Education is slated to propose the shift toward in-house cleaning. 

If the proposal is to go through, Aramark would no longer be the janitorial provider. Some contract companies would be hired on a smaller scale for some services — six vendors from both the Chicago area and one from Milwaukee — but these contracted employees would work night shifts only and still report to an in-house CPS custodial manager. That pending agreement would run for three years starting in March 2024 at an estimated total value of $110 million annually. This agreement would result in a three-month overlap with the ending of Aramark’s contract on June 30, with the intention that there would be no gaps in custodial services. Additionally, CPS has proposed an expanded agreement with Cintas for the availability of cleaning products which is estimated to cost $6.2 million in 2024 and $12.5 million in 2025.

Meanwhile, all day shifts would be in-house staff. The change was spearheaded by a union of custodians tasked with cleaning CPS facilities who have long protested the concept of privatizing janitorial services for the district. An estimated 70 in-house custodial managers would be appointed. The move to in-house hopes to give custodial teams more direct control over cleaning and prevent instances of insufficient work being done; which at times has resulted in teachers and staff cleaning themselves. 

In an effort to recuperate overtime costs that came from staffing shortages, CPS is also asking the district board for an additional $22 million on Aramark’s current deal. If approved, the total CPS has paid Aramark since 2014 will be estimated at $900 million. 

SEIU, the union representing the custodians under privatized management, were pleased with the decision, adding that they expect many of the cleaning supplies and payment issues under the current structure to be resolved. While the union stated their support to work closely with the district on the management transition, active contract negotiations between the two sides are ongoing.