District Response to Statements Made at BOE Meeting
Response provided to members of the media regarding statements made about NFA Main Campus at the Board of Education meeting held om September 15, 2026.
Thank you for reaching out and providing the district with an opportunity to respond. The district takes seriously any concerns regarding staffing, working conditions, and the cleanliness and safety of our schools.
The statements made during Tuesday evening’s (September 15, 2026) Board of Education meeting do not provide a complete or accurate picture of the circumstances.
The custodial staffing levels for the area referenced are currently 14 employees*, including four staff members assigned to the morning shift, with substitutes filling current vacancies as needed, and 10 staff members assigned to the evening shift. The evening shift is intentionally more heavily staffed because that is when most daily cleaning and building preparation takes place in our school buildings.
*This number does not reflect vacancies that the district is looking to fill. Where vacancies exist, substitutes are in place to meet operational needs until a provisional or permanent replacement is identified.
As with all staffing throughout the district, staffing assignments may change based on the reallocation of students and evolving operational needs. We currently have three vacancies resulting from internal promotions, which provided our staff with opportunities for career advancement, as well as standard personnel changes.
Throughout the course of last year’s budget cycle, custodial positions were added to the budget in preparation for the opening of a new school building. Those additions were discussed in public at that time. (Find budget presentations on BoardDocs or under the District Budget Information tab of the Board of Education section of the district website.)
The district continually reviews staffing levels and operational needs across all areas. In making staffing decisions, the Superintendent relies on the recommendations of supervisors, building leaders, district leaders, requests from collective bargaining units, operational requirements, and established best practices for the respective area.
Staffing is not determined by building size alone, but by a combination of factors including building configuration, student and staff populations, operational needs, scheduled events, and the scope of work required to maintain a safe, clean, and appropriate learning environment.
The district remains committed to ensuring that NFA and all of our schools are appropriately maintained and that our facilities meet the standards our students, staff, families, and community deserve.
Because personnel matters are confidential, the district cannot comment on or confirm the employment status or circumstances involving any individual employee, including any personnel action that may have been taken.
Employees are expected to accurately report all time worked, and the district does not authorize employees to work without compensation. Employees are expected to follow established procedures for reporting their hours worked and bringing any concerns regarding their assignments or working hours to the appropriate supervisor. With the opening of schools for a new year, the district authorizes overtime to properly prepare the buildings to welcome students and staff as a common practice.
Thank you again for the opportunity to provide the district’s perspective and additional context regarding custodial staffing at NFA.
ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!
