Memphis Schools Award New Custodial Contract to Save Costs
The district expects to save $3.5 million annually by restructuring cleaning services in two regions starting in 2027.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Home Cleaning
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Memphis-Shelby County Schools has awarded a new $16.3 million custodial contract to ServiceMaster Clean to handle cleaning services in the Northeast and Southwest regions. The board expects this transition, which begins in January 2027, to reduce district maintenance costs.
Why it matters
By restructuring regional cleaning services, the district aims to cut annual expenses by $3.5 million to better manage school operational budgets. This move follows a period of shifting service providers and prior financial audits within the district.
The one-year contract is valued at $16.3 million, with the district projecting $14 million in total savings over four years through this split-service model. This follows a July 2026 audit that flagged $48 million in potential spending abuse from a previous 2022 agreement.
The players
Memphis-Shelby County Schools
The local public school district managing custodial operations for regional facilities.
ServiceMaster Clean
A provider of residential and commercial cleaning services that previously managed district custodial contracts.
HES Facilities
A commercial custodial services firm that will share regional cleaning responsibilities with ServiceMaster Clean.
The details
Under the new arrangement, custodial services will be divided into two regional zones between ServiceMaster Clean and HES Facilities. The district is moving away from its current four-region setup to streamline management and improve cost efficiency. The board opted for this split after the district previously faced challenges with emergency service transitions and performance complaints that led to earlier contract cancellations.
Timeline
2022: ServiceMaster Clean held a district-wide contract.
2023: MSCS cancelled a previous contract due to cleaning complaints.
January 2025: ServiceMaster Clean began an emergency custodial contract.
July 2026: A forensic audit identified $48 million in potential spending abuse.
January 2027: The new one-year contract term officially begins.
The Home Front
This custodial shift follows recent institutional efforts to address district-wide financial irregularities documented in a 2026 forensic audit. The change reflects a broader move to consolidate school maintenance spending through competitive regional service contracts.
Families with students in the Northeast and Southwest regions should monitor school facility cleanliness as the new service provider takes over in January. Parents can contact the school board office to report concerns regarding sanitation if building maintenance fails to meet established district standards.
The takeaway
The district aims to stabilize its facilities management while achieving long-term savings through this new regional contract structure. Parents should keep an eye on school-level maintenance updates as the transition takes effect in January 2027.
Further reading
For tips on maintaining high-traffic facilities, visit Home Cleaning.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chalkbeat.
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