Privatization looks less likely for 100 Saline Area Schools support staff
Members of the Saline Area Schools’ collective bargaining unit for support personnel will vote on a new contract Monday that includes significant concessions, but puts a halt to privatization talks.
“It took a while,” said Rita Engle, a Saline schools bus driver and member of the Saline Education Support Personnel (SESP) contract negotiations team. “But we reached a tentative agreement.”
Engle said union membership will be asked to ratify the agreement at 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Negotiations with the SESP and Saline’s other two unions, the Saline Education Association and Saline Area Schools Administrators Association, have been going on since about December.
Saline Board of Education members and district officials have maintained a policy of not commenting on collective bargaining discussions.
Engle declined to speak about the details of the agreement that was reached. But she said if all goes as planned, the union will approve the contract and the contract will come before the board during Tuesday’s regular meeting, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Liberty School Media Center.
On June 26, the Saline Board of Education passed a $48.6 million budget that called for about $3 million in cuts, including laying off 16 to 17 certified teachers and either $830,000 in concessions from the SESP or privatizing as many as 100 support staff members. Engle declined to comment on the amount or types of concessions that were part of the tentative agreement.
The SEA ratified a two-year contract on June 27 that saved the district $2 million in cuts and eliminated the need for laying off teachers.
The SESP and administrators' contracts expired on June 30.
Staff reporter Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
harry
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 4:43 p.m.
When ever you are talking about tax payers money we should privatize everything. Why should the tax payers get screwed because the union is stronger than the city lawyers. A perfect example of this is teacher who can retire at 53 years old with full benefits. How did this happen????? Privatize everything!!!!
Tom Todd
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 10:22 p.m.
and watch your housing value drop even more when people make less there is less for all, also your wages drop because the unions help support higher wages for all. stop be envious of your neighbor or your next one might be a meth dealer but hey maybe with more money in the governments pocket they will start another war.
jns131
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 4:37 p.m.
Its only a matter of time before union members and BOE reach a head to head decision and the unions loose out. Good luck.
Madeleine Borthwick
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 2:55 p.m.
Would that Ann Arbor could be so fortunate........nuff' said
dexterreader
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
Privatization is never the answer. Talking, negotiating and compromise is a win-win for all parties. It's a tough world in education these days. Glad to see that a lot of people will hopefully be keeping their jobs.
jns131
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 4:38 p.m.
Take a look at AAPS transportation. Kind of sad really.
Lac Court Orilles
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 11:25 a.m.
This is just an example of how valuable unions are at maintaining the excellence of the Saline public schools. Without unions, students suffer. If you don't believe me, send your kid to a low performing for profit cracker box size charter school that offers no extra-curricular activities to round out a kid's education.
Tom Todd
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 10:17 p.m.
Canton says it all, parents with some money who care and can transport there children to and from school.
harry
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 4:45 p.m.
I wonder why there is a two year waiting list for charter schools in Canton?
Steve
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
@Polecat-http://www.annarbor.com/news/charter-schools-no-better-at-educating-students-data-shows/ Please note the fact that the traditional public schools have a higher percentage of students passing the state tests then charter schools. This is even more meaningful considering the much higher number of students in the Public Schools then Charter Schools. They might provide a good education, but they are second best to the traditional public schools.
Polecat
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 11:51 a.m.
Written like a true union lackey. Charter schools have been proven to provide a very good education without all the costs that the unions add. No public employee should ever be allowed to unionize. You are employees of the people and our tax dollars.
Goober
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 11:13 a.m.
I believe they should privatize the school board, the supt. position and administrative positions. HR too. This process used by these education 'experts' is totally backwards and is causing our education system to continue to spiral downwards. There needs to be an education process revolution across the whole US.
jns131
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 4:39 p.m.
I would love to see that one. Is that after the Mayan end of the world date?