Only one university has signed on to Tennessee's maintenance outsourcing plan so far

Only one public university has signed on to the state's controversial outsourcing proposal so far, while others say they are continuing to weigh the option months after the state announced it would be expanding its contract with Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle.

Austin Peay University in Clarksville decided in July to use JLL for its janitorial services after the university's existing contract with another firm ran out. It is currently the only college or university to have signed on to the proposal, according to the Office of Customer Focused Government.

Meanwhile, other schools are still working through the decision-making process while workers have expressed concerns that their benefits, hours and job security would be in jeopardy.

It's been more than four months since JLL entered into a new contract with the state of Tennessee, which has said the proposal to add colleges and universities, state parks and prisons to the facilities maintenance contract could save the state more than $35 million annually.

Read more: http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/education/2017/10/12/public-universities-tennessee-facilities-maintenance-janitorial-jobs-outsourcing/747085001/