MOSES LAKE, Wash. — The effects of the Moses Lake School District budget crisis are being felt throughout the community. For school janitors, the effects have been straining, as they have been working more hours for lower pay. Earlier this year, the district announced its budget was short by about $20 million due to an accrual error by financial staff who have since been fired, an overestimate of the number of students in the district and the rejection of two levies by voters. Almost 300 teachers were let go as a result. 17 of the 53 janitors were let go and those who were kept on had their hours officially cut from eight per shift to seven, but they say they’ve actually had to work much longer to keep up with the workload. Casey Gleason, a janitor at Garden Heights Elementary School, says he often works 12 hours per shift to keep the school clean, but takes home $400 less per month. “Some people have 25 rooms to do a night,” Gleason said. Teachers and administrative staff have started vacuuming classrooms and taking out garbage to help out the janitors. “Our principal here would vacuum all the offices, because we have no time,” said Meralyn Kirkendoll, a janitor at Moses Lake High School. Kirkendoll said she has to do the work of two people after another janitor at the high school was laid off. A new levy will be introduced in early 2025. It will help alleviate the effects of the budget crisis, but will lead to an increase in property taxes.
