Memphis-Shelby County school board approves contract extensions for custodial services

The Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Board of Education approved contract extensions for custodial services within the district at Thursday’s special called meeting.

According to district documents, the board approved $4,025,438 to extend the district’s contract with HEC Facility Services for the provision of custodial services at 43 facilities in Zone 4. The extended term is from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025. The board also approved over $3.6 million to extend its contracts with ParCou LLC and Service Master Clean/SPE LLC for custodial services at several schools in Zone 1 until June of next year.

“We haven’t had any issues with paying or performing services, so this extension would allow continuity, if you will, with the current services being provided, while we take a deeper look at just how we need to move forward with custodial services,” Superintendent Marie Feagins said.

In other business, the board also gave the go-ahead to purchase 10,000 laptops for a total amount of $6,896.900 to “replenish and replace 1:1 devices for MSCS students.”

The meeting followed last Tuesday’s school board meeting where members voted 5-4 to postpone a vote to decide whether to oust Feagins after less than a year with the board. Board members said they were considering firing the former Detroit Public Schools leader for allegations of “professional misconduct,” such as failing to communicate important decisions with the board and misleading the public about overtime wages in the district, among other criticisms.

MSCS board member Natalie McKinney (file photo)

While the vote was ultimately delayed until Jan. 14, the introduction of the resolution has since been met with criticism from several members of the community, both at the meeting Tuesday and during a press conference held by the parent advocacy group Memphis Lift on Thursday. Educators at the press conference thanked board members Amber Huett-Garcia, Michelle McKissack, Tamarques Porter, Keith Williams, and Joyce Coleman for voting to delay the decision, and urged school board members to vote against Feagins’ termination in January.

Board member Natalie McKinney addressed their concerns about the atmosphere of Tuesday’s contentious meeting.

“To the students, parents, teachers, and community members who were concerned about the timing and the way the meeting was conducted, please know that I understand and share your disappointment and frustration,” she said Thursday.

“Moving forward, I am committed to transparency and accountability.”