Oct. 26, 2026 – Duval County Public Schools is beginning a transition to in-house custodial services, with a pilot program already underway at several schools across the district. As part of the transition, custodians will become DCPS employees and report directly to their school site.

The pilot includes Spring Park Elementary School, Matthew Gilbert Middle School, and Andrew Jackson High School.

In addition to increased cost savings, district leaders say the change will help amplify the connection between custodial staff and the students, staff, and schools they serve.

“Our custodians are often among the first people to arrive and the last to leave each day, and their work has a direct impact on every school,” said Jim Culbert, Chief Officer of Operations and Technology Services. “By bringing these positions in-house, we’re able to strengthen that connection and make them an even more integrated part of the DCPS team.”

Among those participating in the transition is Malecia Simmons, who recently joined DCPS as a Lead Custodian after serving the district’s schools in custodial roles for the past 26 years.

“Employees like Malecia represent the dedication custodial teams bring to our schools every day,” said Culbert. “Their work helps create the clean, safe, and welcoming environments our students and staff depend on, and we’re excited to welcome them as DCPS employees.”

As the program expands in the coming years, additional schools will be brought into the initiative through a gradual transition. The district expects the move to provide operational efficiencies that are expected to result in more than $3 million in annual savings, while giving schools greater flexibility to address campus needs.

While startup costs are higher during the initial phase, the district expects long-term savings to outweigh those investments as the program expands to additional schools in the coming years.