DECATUR— Decatur Public Schools offered custodians a raise of 60 cents per hour, according to the union representing them.
SEIU Local 73 said that is less than half the raise teaching assistants were offered and received and that it is also much less than the $3 raise for maintenance workers.
“It’s like a slap in the face when we know we’re getting change and everyone else is getting more than that,” said DPS custodian Anejhia Doss.
Doss and two other members of the union spoke at the Decatur Board of Education on Tuesday about ongoing contract negotiations. The most recent contract expired in June.
She told the board that custodians do more to support students than just cleaning up spills and vomit.
Doss said she helps students do their hair when they are getting bullied about it and gets items from the food pantry for them when they are too embarrassed to go by themselves. She also said that she assists the security team to lock up and check doors when they are low on staff for the day.
“We would like to be looked at a little bit more as a part of the family and we don’t feel like that,” Doss added.
Board member Devon Joyner urged administrators to make sure custodians do feel like they are part of the DPS family.
“The custodians are usually the unsung heroes,” he said. “And if our employees aren’t feeling that they’re getting a fair shake or that they’re valued, then we need to really take a hard look at that.”
The Decatur Education Association managed to get teachers, school nurses and social workers salary increases of 4.78% starting in July, with similar increases for two years after that.
A new custodian in Decatur makes $18 an hour, according to the union’s most recent contract.