Custodian Privatization - Its deja vu all over again!

(6/6/2005) -- Word has it that the Hillsboro School District is threatening to contract out the work of its custodians and perhaps other support staff. JwJ members will recall a similar fight here in Portland where a largely upper middle class school board threw out the modestly paid custodians in favor of low paid privately contracted workers.

The Hillsboro district is home to corporate mega-giant Intel which recently weaseled its way to another massive tax break. Hmm, maybe a few hundred grand less in tax breaks for Intel would have undercut the districts drive to privatize. But privatization is as much about ideology as it is saving bucks. Witness the current Bush Bamboozlepalooza tour promoting the privatization of Social Security.