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Help Wanted: LAUSD Hiring 1,100 Temporary Custodians To Keep Reopened Campuses Clean
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.
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"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:
- Everything We Know About LAUSD's Plan To Reopen Schools In April
- A Look Behind The Scenes At Preparations To Reopen LAUSD Campuses
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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