Garcia promises no privatizing services

Terry Webster

Friday, May 11, 2001 | 10:31 a.m.

Hundreds of Clark County School District support staffers went home happy Thursday night after Superintendent Carlos Garcia assured them that he is not planning to privatize any services in the district.

About 1,000 people rallied in a lot adjacent to the Education Center on Flamingo Road before Thursday night's School Board meeting.

The rally was held to protest talks school officials have had with independent companies that issued proposals for various services the district provides, such as transportation and food service.

Following the rally, a large crowd spilled into the board room.

"We heard what he said and he said it in front of all of the television cameras and the print media,' said Bobby Mancuso, president of the Education Support Employees Association. "But if things change, we will be back here again.'

Garcia said he has repeatedly told school staffers the main reason he heard proposals from various groups was to show that the district is understaffed.

Hearing that, Mancuso told union members at the meeting that they could leave.

Not one company that submitted a proposal for privatizing services could do it at a cost cheaper than the district, Garcia said.

"Our employees are doing one heck of a job,' he said.