Staunton City Schools are looking to save money any way they can, including using inmate labor to clean the schools.

Under a current proposal, the inmates would clean two schools each night starting around 11 p.m., long after children leave for the day.

The program uses only non-violent inmates supervised by a guard and a school custodian and is expected to save about a $250,000.

However, as with most of recent money saving proposals, jobs are being cut. During this time of high unemployment, finding another job could be difficult for many custodians.

School Superintendent Steven Nichols says he has spent sleepless nights trying to find a way to keep jobs because losing people is the last thing he wants to do.

Still, that they are losing their jobs to inmates is the last thing custodians want to hear.

Margaret Chambers, an evening custodian for Robert E. Lee High School says she was devastated three days ago when she learned she was losing her job to inmates.

Chambers worries that, with Waynesboro City Schools already using the inmate program, she will have a difficult time finding work as a school custodian.

Nichols says he understands the high cost of cutting jobs.

He says, "We're talking about people's mortgages, kids going to college. I mean, there is a tremendous cost to this."

Chambers says she was worried about how she would pay her rent and medical bills once she loses her job.

However, as bad as things seem for employees now, Nichols says he hopes the layoffs are only temporary.

"I do hope that at some point in time we can bring these people back and put people back to work where we desperately need help," says Nichols.

If accepted, the inmate labor will begin in July, allowing the current custodial staff to keep their jobs through June.