ADAMS TWP — Three support staff employees in the Mars School District on Tuesday night implored the school board to keep them on and not outsource custodial, secretarial and paraprofessional positions.

The board, frustrated at the lack of progress in contract negotiations, voted last month to seek bids from companies to provide support staff workers.

Superintendent Wesley Shipley said in June that the move was made to determine the cost of outsourcing the district’s 95 support positions. He said it is his hope that such a company would hire a number of the displaced Mars workers.

At Tuesday’s board meeting, Faye Riley, a secretary in the special education department, said she and her coworkers are disappointed at the board’s decision to seek bids for a support staff contractor.

She said since the current contract was settled in 2013, there has been an unprecedented turnover in staff because many of the benefits had by the support staff were taken away.

She said the district is able to fund a reconstruction project at the administration office, make expensive changes to top administration, negotiate the sale of real estate, and fund competitive sports teams.

“But you cannot afford to compensate the lowest-paid employees,” Riley said.

Custodian Bonnie Herp told the board she agrees with Riley.

Herp said the support staff members are loved and appreciated by the students and parents.

“I’ve been here as custodian for nine years,” Herp said. “I don’t make that much money, but I’m very loyal, and I take pride in everything I do for this school district.”

She asked the board to reconsider the outsourcing idea.

“Give a second thought to our jobs and the benefit to the kids instead of bringing in strangers,” Herp said.

Mindy Matthews said she has been in the paraprofessional field for a decade, and the school district for two months.

She said she was happy to get the job at Mars after losing other jobs due to facilities closing.

“I’m asking the board to let us know soon,” Matthews said. “There are not many jobs out there. We don’t make enough to live on.”

Board President Dayle Ferguson thanked the women for sharing their thoughts, but did not expound on the issue.