The school year is starting off rough, according to a recent survey of Chicago Public School principals. Some 226 principals (out of 516 schools) responded to a survey taken by AAPPLE, an activist group under the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association.

The results were overwhelming unfavorable to the performance of the contracted cleaning companies responsible for maintaining schools. In fact, the Board of Education has been called to consider rescinding the $240 million contract with one of the two building service contractors responsible for the schools, claiming it has failed to maintain “ordinary tidiness” standards (APPA Level 2).

In response, Aramark, the contractor in question, laid off close to 480 custodians working in Chicago Public Schools.

CPS officials are quick to respond saying the staff layoff does not include current in-house custodial workers, but that the staff shortage will still impact cleanliness at the schools.

In a recent Chicago Tribune article, Troy LaRaviere, principal of Blaine Elementary School in Lake View, said, “The difference (between CPS employees and subcontractors) for us is meaningless. They're in our schools today, doing needed work. And they won't be there doing that needed work keeping our schools clean for children, and the adults who are dedicated to serving them, tomorrow. So the difference is absolutely meaningless for us."

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also went on the record to say that Aramark could “clean out the schools, or they can clean out their desks and get out.”

In the meantime, principals said they’re spending more time than ever on cleaning and restocking supplies, instead of coaching new teachers and getting into classrooms.

Examples reported by the Chicago Sun-Times:
“I have hardworking janitors, but they can’t keep up,” since several were cut, a principal of a 1,000+ kid South Side elementary school said. “When all the kids go to the lunchroom, they use the same bathroom and that bathroom is disgusting.”

Garbage spills out of flimsy new garbage bags, too, she said, and some of the janitors hadn’t been trained to use new equipment.

Another on the North Side complained of broken furniture, a dropped computer and missing instructional materials — things that’ll cost money to replace.

And the principal of Prussing Elementary School in Jefferson Park reported in the survey that some cleaning equipment was never returned after being used at other schools, and provided supplies aren’t holding up to school use. Toilet paper, soap, paper towels and soap dispensers weren’t going to be provided until after students reported to school.