Abstract:
In 1985, the school board of Cornwall County, New York, was confronted with the recurring issue of maintenance and cleanliness. There was tremendous variety between schools, some were well maintained while others remained covered in graffiti and dirty. The janitorial system was also inconsistent and, due to a tech boom which attracted manual workers, experienced a labor shortage. This case details a pitch made by ServiceMaster, an outside management service, to provide structure and repeat training to school janitors. Despite positive financial projections, the board ultimately voted against using ServiceMaster.
Learning Objective:
This case is intended to illustrate the consequences of public policy and management practices, as well as the politics within the board of directors.
