Memphis School Board Awards New Janitorial Contract
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board approves a deal with ServiceMaster Clean despite past audit concerns.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Home Cleaning
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The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board has unanimously voted to award a $16.3 million contract to ServiceMaster Clean for custodial services. The new agreement is part of a plan to split janitorial responsibilities across the district into two regional contracts.
Why it matters
The board approved the new contract to achieve a projected $3.5 million in annual savings. These financial measures are part of an effort to optimize district spending following previous controversies involving the vendor.
The one-year contract is valued at over $16.3 million and is expected to contribute to a total savings of $14 million over four years. This deal covers janitorial services for schools in the Northeast and Southwest regions of Memphis.
The players
Memphis-Shelby County Schools
This is the primary public school district serving the city of Memphis and surrounding Shelby County.
ServiceMaster Clean
The company is a major provider of cleaning and disaster restoration services that has previously held custodial contracts with the district.
The details
ServiceMaster Clean will share district custodial duties with HES Facilities starting in January 2027. This decision follows a history of complex contract shifts, including a 2023 cancellation due to service complaints and an emergency reinstatement in 2025.
Timeline
2022: ServiceMaster Clean was originally awarded a district-wide cleaning contract.
2023: MSCS cancelled the contract with the firm due to cleaning complaints.
January 2025: ServiceMaster Clean assumed an emergency custodial contract after the district fired Fresh Start.
July 2026: A forensic audit identified $48 million in potential spending abuse from a previous contract.
January 2027: The new contract term officially begins for ServiceMaster Clean.
Culture Shift
The school board's choice to work with a previously audited vendor reflects a larger tension between aggressive cost-cutting and vendor accountability in public procurement. This move follows the findings of the July 2026 forensic audit report as a central benchmark for district fiscal oversight.
The shift in custodial contracts aims to standardize cleaning quality across district regions, which may change janitorial schedules for parents and students. The financial savings of $14 million over four years are intended to redirect funds toward other school operational needs.
The takeaway
District officials must balance the need for substantial budget savings with the requirement for reliable facility maintenance. Residents should monitor the implementation of these new contracts to ensure that cost-efficiency does not impact the cleanliness of local learning environments.
Further reading
Learn more about local standards in Home Cleaning.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chalkbeat.
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