TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa Public School Board has voted to cut 174 positions, including 64 custodial positions.
The existing contracts custodian employees have with TPS will be valid through their expiration date of June 30, 2020. However, when, or if, employees retire or leave on their own terms, the district will simply not fill then 'delete' the position.
While members of the TPS teacher support union say they are happy existing contracts will stay enact, they're concerned about the already heavy workload for existing custodial employees.
Currently, they say they are understaffed and the option for new 10 month contracts instead of the usual 12 month contracts with TPS for next year may be discouraging for current employees.
Ed McIntosh, the president of the American Federation of Teachers Support Personnel for TPS, was in attendance when the decision was made Tuesday night.
"We haven't had enough people since the beginning of the year and it hasn't gotten any better," McIntosh said. "I don't know how many on a 12 month contract are going to want to work a 120 day contract, that's going to be the major concern."
TPS Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist says thought the custodial contracts are shorter for next year, employees will still have the option of health benefits.
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