TOPSHAM

The School Administrative District 75 board of directors voted unanimously Thursday to cease consideration of contracting out custodial services, according to Superintendent Brad Smith.

As far back as 2010, the school board — as a cost-saving measure — considered seeking contracted private custodial services to replace SAD 75 grounds and maintenance staff. Again on Thursday, the school board was scheduled to consider whether to proceed with arbitration to determine if the district could contract out custodial services.

In an email to The Times Record, Smith said the board would not pursue the issue of contracting out custodial services and would not reconsider the option “unless the district faces significant changes in local conditions that warrant re-examination of any and all budget items.”

Smith added, “I believe the decision by the board to no longer pursue contracting out was an important decision for everyone. This issue has been examined in terms of potential cost savings, impact of cleanliness of schools, and the value of a system maintaining their own staff. The board’s decision affirms that the role of all employees in the district is important, and that our custodians are important employees who do so much more than simply clean buildings. They support students and staff, and work to care for the facilities provided to us by the community.”

Smith said he met with the custodial staff Friday to inform them of the board’s decision, “and encouraged them to focus now on the important work of getting our schools ready for the nearly 2,700 students who will be returning in the fall. Certainly it was a relief for them to have the board reach this decision.”

During Thursday’s meeting, the school board also approved a 1.5 percent salary increase for district office and other nonunion employees.

Following a scheduled executive session to discuss Smith’s evaluation and contract, the school board extended Smith’s contract an additional two years and set his salary at $112,150.

In other business Thursday, Smith also updated the board on the search for a new Williams-Cone School principal to replace Steve Ciembroniewicz, who accepted a position as principal of Coffin Elementary School in Brunswick. Smith said a search committee made up of staff, parents, board members and administrators held its first meeting.

Nineteen people applied for the position, and the search committee will meet Wednesday to select candidates for interviews scheduled for the end of July.