LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:
The L.A. Unified School District plans to hire 1,100 new, temporary custodians — which amounts to at least one extra custodian for every district campus.
These temporary workers will help fulfill LAUSD’s promises to keep campuses clean as they begin to reopen. (The first wave of elementary campuses reopen in the coming week.)
The district has pledged to ensure staff wipe down every classroom between rotating groups of students. LAUSD has also said staff will disinfect every restroom and high-touch surface in the school hourly.
"It is a daunting task," said Max Arias, executive director of SEIU Local 99, the union that represents LAUSD custodians:
“If you don’t increase staff to do the work appropriately, there’s going to be injuries, the work’s not going to get done appropriately.”
As part of the agreement with the union, the district may fill its need for temporary custodians by contracting with outside cleaning companies.
GO DEEPER:
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.