Lincoln University administrators believe outsourcing the school's buildings and grounds operations will provide "several advantages" in the future.
"First, the staff will receive training, including cross-training that will assist them in providing a better quality of service," University Relations Director Misty Young told the News Tribune. "In addition, by outsourcing, we will seek a vendor that will offer upgraded equipment, which will once again bring a better quality."
Although LU administrators "anticipate seeing lower costs in the area of building and maintenance in the future," Young said, "this move is not about cost-savings."
Young said Monday the proposed change would be submitted to LU's Board of Curators for its approval.
The board's next scheduled meeting is Sept. 10 with another on Nov. 12.
"We are working internally to prepare materials to present to the Board of Curators," Young said. "A date for that presentation will be set when we can provide the members with complete details to allow them to make an informed decision."
Until it's approved, she added, no time frame has been set for changing from a university-run service to a contracted one - and no employees have been told they're losing jobs.
"Since we have not entered negotiations yet, an exact timeframe has not been set," Young said. "We would anticipate to have the transition finalized 60 to 90 days after a contract has been signed."
Young said earlier this week if the change is made and the current buildings and grounds work is turned over to a contractor, it would affect 46 positions - including 41 that currently are filled.
She acknowledged some of those are long-time LU employees nearing retirement age.
"There are a few employees that would be affected by this due to a soon-approaching retirement date," Young said, "and we are considering ways to ensure that long-term service is still a recognized benefit."
And, if the change is made, she said no one should be concerned about employee quality or safety issues.
"The university recently adopted a campuswide background check for all employees," Young said.
"It is our expectation that any vendor with employees working on campus will have background checks of their employees."
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