Shared electrician provides skills, savings in new Sullivan County BOCES service |
On Board Online • May 27, 2013
By Susan Schmidt and Donna Hemmer
As school districts and BOCES face tax levy limits and large increases in expenses including health insurance and retirement contributions, they are looking for ways to stretch their operating dollars. In consultation with component districts, Sullivan County BOCES has developed a way to save money by sharing trades professionals.
A recently hired licensed electrician currently serves three school districts as well as the BOCES. Similar to BOCES itinerant personnel, electrician Kurt Mall has a rotating schedule. Instead of working with groups of students, Mall’s daily planner is filled with a list of buildings with electrical needs that have been prioritized by district personnel.
From changing the light fixtures in classrooms and gymnasiums, to replacing or relocating wires for computer and phone drops, to installing new electrical panels, the roving electrician always has a project in the queue.
“Working in this capacity is very interesting,” Mall said. “Every district is a little different and it’s nice to be able to go into a district and do whatever they need done.”
While the new Shared Facilities Services Co-ser does not generate BOCES aid, it has accomplished two things: it is fulfilling an identified need and it’s saving the districts and the BOCES money. If the districts had to go out to bid for the services that they are currently sharing, estimates indicate that the hourly wage would be at least $10 per hour higher. And contractors typically charge a 20 percent markup on supplies and materials.
The BOCES is also working with the participating districts to compile a list of needed supplies and materials. They plan to issue a cooperative bid to maximize purchasing power and generate additional savings. It’s anticipated that the districts and the BOCES will see a combined cost savings of $20,000 this year on electrical material and services.
“The combining of services that Sullivan BOCES has pursued at a variety of levels, over the past few years, has saved school districts money and has kept a high quality of service at the same time,” said Ivan Katz, superintendent of Fallsburg Central School District. “The new shared electrician service follows that pattern.”
In the Livingston Manor Central School District, officials typically held off on repairs until there was enough work to hire an electrician for an entire day. With the BOCES service, small jobs can be addressed quickly, said Arthur Hoag, interim superintendent of building and grounds. “We are now able to begin to look more at preventative maintenance rather than just repairs,” he added.
The shared facilities service was designed by an advisory committee of superintendents, business administrators, and buildings and grounds supervisors. The team prioritized the services desired and participated in the electrician hiring process.
Next on the advisory committee’s hiring schedule is an HVAC technician. A plumber may follow.
In other areas, the districts have expressed an interest in sharing a buildings and grounds director as well as a human resources director.
“I am proud of the partnership Sullivan BOCES has with our component districts,” said Larry Thomas, district superintendent. “Our collaborative efforts have allowed us to be innovative in our methods and find cost effective ways to provide high quality services that benefit not only our districts but also our students.”
Susan Schmidt is assistant superintendent for finance and management services and Donna Hemmer is director of communications for Sullivan County BOCES.
Produced in cooperation with the state’s 37 BOCES, this page highlights innovative work by BOCES and component districts to efficiently deliver high-quality education services despite tighter resources, as well as programs to address 21st Century Learning. This coverage is an outgrowth of NYSSBA’s Be the Change for Kids initiative. For more information, see www.facebook.com/bethechangeforkids.