Press Goes After Shady Contracting Deals at MNPS

Local media uncovered a big stories this week about Dr. Jesse Register's plan to outsource custodial and groundskeeping  services in Metro Schools.

As reported by Nancy Amons at WSMV Channel 4 and by the Nashville City Paper, administrators at MNPS have been planning to outsource custodial and groundskeeping services since at least November of last year - well before Dr. Register knew what the tax revenues would be.
 
More importantly, Channel 4 found through a series of emails that MNPS administrators were having private meetings with one of the companies who has submitted a bid, GCA Services, for advice on how to structure the bid - arguably giving GCA an unfair advantage in the bidding process.
 
What's worse, in an email to SEIU when we requested this information, MNPS officials wrote, "the $5 million in savings was developed by GCA Services Group based on their experience providing custodial and grounds services to other school districts..."  In other words, the claims that the city would save $5 million came from a contractor who stands to make a profit if they get the job!
 
Take a look at what the press had to say:
 
WSMV (Monday's newscast):
 
WSMV (Last Friday's newscast)
 
The City Paper

Remember, the fight is not over.  If you haven't called the Mayor or the Council yet, do it right now.