Saline Area Schools support staff: Don't privatize us
Previous coverage: Saline Area Schools faces budget deficit for upcoming school year
“Don’t privatize us.”
It was the message Saline Area Schools’ support staff had for members of the administration and Board of Education Tuesday.
With its contract expiration date looming, the Saline Education Support Personnel labor union showed up in force to beg leaders for an end to the negotiations and not to privatize their services.
A child looks out the window of a Saline school bus in 2010. Saline bus drivers and other office and classroom support staff could face cuts, concessions or privatization in order for Saline to balance its 2012-13 budget.
AnnArbor.com file photo
Saline’s three collective bargaining units — the SESP, Saline Education Association and Saline Area Schools Administrators Association — all have contracts that expire June 30.
The SESP is comprised largely of bus drivers, custodians, secretaries and office staff. These employees are primarily who spoke Tuesday during public comment.
Several union members expressed their dissatisfaction with how long the negotiations have been taking.
District administrators entered into contract discussions with all three unions prior to December 2011. The discussions will need to be finalized prior to the June 26 board meeting, when the district will present and potentially vote on its 2012-13 budget.
Eileen Owen, an employee at the high school, said every year the support staff is “in the same boat.”
“We are asked to give more and more … with the hope that next year, someone is going to remember who made all these sacrifices,” she said, adding last year the board praised the staff for its concessions.
“The only time we feel you appreciate the work that we do is when we are willing to do it for less and less.”
A lack of respect was what employee Linda Downie called it. She said the staff recognizes the tough financial situation the district is in, but to be presented with “the choice of privatization or huge nebulous cuts in pay, benefits, sick days perhaps — it feels like we are being threatened.
“I would look for a little more give and take in the language between us… More show of respect,” Downie said. “These are the careers we’ve chosen… Some of the people in this room have worked for more than two decades for the schools. It’s not just mad money we put away or vacation money, this is how we pay our mortgages.”
Superintendent Scot Graden declined to address employees’ concerns about privatization, saying the district does not comment on ongoing negotiations.
Saline Area Schools is facing, best-case scenario, a $1.7 million structural deficit and a $375,000 fund-balance deficit for the 2012-13 school year, based on revenue coming in $390,000 less than current-year projections and an estimated loss of 71 pupils for 2012-13.
The district’s worst-case scenario would occur if the State Legislature takes no action on Senate Bill 1040, which would revise how the pension program through the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS) is funded.
If the MPSERS reform does not pass and school districts’ retirement contribution rates increase from about 24 percent to about 27 percent, as they are intended to, Saline would face a structural deficit of about $2.7 million and a fund balance deficit of about $1.2 million, said Saline Interim Finance Director Janice Warner.
Warner said Saline has just slightly more than $1 million in its fund balance.
At a February board meeting, Graden said when it comes to looking at ways to cut expenses, personnel is the “largest piece of the pie.” He estimated about 85 percent of the district’s general fund budget is for staff.
Administrators Scot Graden, Saline superintendent of schools, left, and Steve Laatsch, assistant superintendent of educational services, pose outside the district offices.
AnnArbor.com file photo
Graden said he could not comment on how staff layoffs, privatization or other employee-related concessions might come into play because of the ongoing union negotiations.
The contract renewals have impacted the 2012-13 budget process, he said, explaining in a typical year, Saline would have had a public forum or two to discuss possible reductions for fall already.
Saline Education Association president Juan Lauchu asked his district to carefully consider the level of care that could be lost in privatization.
“Support staff are our neighbors. How would … selling the service to the lowest bidder … (bringing in a set of strangers) increase care?” Lauchu said. “…Teachers work together every day with the support staff to bring forth the quality education that is expected from the community surrounding this school.”
Frank Carey, a bus driver for Saline schools, echoed Lauchu’s thoughts and emphasized the importance of positive interactions in shaping children’s development.
He said if the typical kindergartener currently spends three to four hours in the classroom and an hour getting there on the bus, about a third of their school day is spent with a bus driver.
“If you take away one-third of their day and give them over to a stranger, possibly someone from outside of the district that is just here for a job, to drive that bus from Point A to Point B for a paycheck … those kids lose one-third of their interactions with humanity,” Carey said. “With someone they’re going to see at the grocery story or when they’re at Saline’s parades in town. All that means a lot when these kids are being raised.”
High School Counselor Kathy Mussio also asked the board to reconsider privatization. She said the high school front office staff is a “well-oiled machine.”
“Replacing it with people that do not have the knowledge or the background or the history could make that machine fall apart,” she said.
The regular Saline Area Schools Board of Education meeting June 26 will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Liberty School Media Center, 7265 Saline-Ann Arbor Road.
The board has until June 30 to pass a balanced budget to comply with state law.
Staff reporter Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
Robert Jenkins
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 1:41 a.m.
I would be willing to bet that most of the people who think these people should be willing to work for less money and benefits make many multiples as much money as the bus driver's, office workers, custodians, etc... do. They already don't make enough to live in Saline without a spouse who makes much more. If they do a good job they should be able to live a decent life. Yes, many people are having to get by on less. I am in that situation and I can tell you that it doesn't improve you attitude at work to be asked to work harder and longer and to get payed less for your efforts. This isn't the answer. The school board will ask for cut backs this time and will want even more next time. Life is getting more expensive, not less. Don't mess with peoples pay, it's a sure way to decrease the quality of your employees.
sas parent
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 1:12 a.m.
ESP members are not whining or expecting too much. They are already the lowest paid employees of the district. They are just tired of continually giving and conceding far more than the certified teaching staff or administrators. In addition to these concessions, they are also now expected (due to past staffing cuts) to perform the duties of two positions, and they have done it well with no complaint. All this in an attempt to offer the excellent customer service that is expected in this district by parents and community members. We invite those of you who disagree with the ESP's position to come to school and spend a day in an ESP member's shoes. We guarantee you'll never again accuse an ESP member of "expecting" too much.
braggslaw
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 2:49 a.m.
They should quit and find jobs where people value their skill set....
Don Mclean
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 10:18 p.m.
Although I would never be willing to give up a dime I felt I earned, I would hope to have a better argument for keeping it than being the last interaction with humanity for a child. I do believe the schools need to do something about their budget. I do also believe that it is not an easy problem to solve. It seems to me that these employees on the periphery are the easiest to pick on yet I am sure they make the least amount of money. It would be interesting to see the cuts and concessions other levels of administrative employees are being asked to fork over.
L'chaim
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 11:50 p.m.
Agreed. It's a hard problem; but, in general it's about increased State and FEDERAL funding. It's irrational to have a limit on this kind of spending, if you ask me. IN effect, the military has no real limit on its spending. These priorities should be reversed. Until that time, yes, cut administrative and executive expenses in the same proportion as is usually done to workers and teachers.
Ivor Ivorsen
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 6:32 p.m.
"Capitalism is generally considered to be an economic system that is based on private ownership of the means of production and the creation of goods or services for profit by privately-owned business enterprises." Nice work Dan, copied that straight from Wikipedia (without attribution, naturally). Lucky for you Wikipedia is a cooperative enterprise of volunteers who work for a common good, and not profit. Does capitalism really govern every activity in your life? What have your kids done recently to earn their keep? Surely you just don't GIVE them food and shelter, what kind of capitalist example would that be? Can the platitudes.
u812
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 1:30 a.m.
capitalism is for Romney and his friends, it does nothing for the middle class except take from them. CEO's used to make a few times more then the guy on the line now it's a 1000 times more.
Dan
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 9:30 p.m.
That is a horrible example. Children are cared for a raised by their parents until their 18 years old. Hopefully parents are teaching their kids that they will be responsible for their own failures and successes based on hard work and effort. You learn from failure, not bailouts. If you choose to take a public sector job paid for with taxpayer dollars (keyword: choose) and the taxpayer dollars run out and are poorly managed, you will lose your job. Your right, capitalism does not govern every aspect of my life, but it is a core principle of this great country.
Dan
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 5:21 p.m.
At a February board meeting, Graden said when it comes to looking at ways to cut expenses, personnel is the "largest piece of the pie." He estimated about 85 percent of the district's general fund budget is for staff. Personnel is the "largest piece of the pie." Maybe Graden should lead by example and start off the cuts with himself. It's time for the public sector to start making sacrifices just like everyone else has in this country. If the public sector can't compete with the private sector than it should be replaced, it's called capitalism. Capitalism' is generally considered to be an economic system that is based on private ownership of the means of production and the creation of goods or services for profit by privately-owned business enterprises.
L'chaim
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 11:44 p.m.
The public sector has sacrificed. Public school workers in Washtenaw County have given concessions steadily over the past decade. READ THE ARTICLE. Talk to workers. Review the wages and benefits in their contracts. Yes, we live in a capitalist system -one in which private owners exploit the labor of workers to make a profit (which is the value that labor added to the raw materials after tuning them into commodities). BUT PUBLIC EDUCATION IS NOT A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. I, for one, hope it doesn't become one, because then it wouldn't be accessible to everyone, only to those with the resources to participate in "the market." The answer it to fund education more so that it provides for good wages, benefits and other necessary resources for schools. Instead of funding trillion dollar wars, we should fund schools. Instead of corporate welfare, education.
Happy Puppy
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.
Saline ESP endorsed supported the newly elected board members in the election. You reap what you sow.
sas parent
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 12:22 a.m.
ESP members have in their hands a campaign letter from the newly elected David Holden dated September 2011 where he states as one of his "core beliefs and positions": "I do not advocate privatizing support staff functions (transportation, maintenance, etc.). The support staff has given concessions and they are market competitive."
Ivor Ivorsen
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 1:52 p.m.
I totally think it makes sense to pay as little as possible to the people who take care our children and ensure their safety on a daily basis.
L'chaim
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 11:53 p.m.
It's sarcasm, JNS131.
jns131
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 5:45 p.m.
Might want to talk to a Trinity driver who does make very little and still needs to make ends meet to feed his or her family. Especially if the driver works two jobs? Now you have a tired driver. Your comment makes no sense at all.
Julie Lee
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 4:55 p.m.
Unless your Scot Graden or a member of his 'Boys Club'.
braggslaw
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 1:34 p.m.
If a person is unhappy at his/her job, they should quit and find a job where they can be happy
braggslaw
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 8:18 p.m.
Everybody overestimates their value and worth. I am important because XXX (some of these reasons border on reality) Everybody thinks they should be paid more. In the real world where governments are struggling to balance budgets, private sector employees are being taxed to death..... hard decisions have to be made. If the people doing these jobs were so undervalued they would be looking for jobs elsewhere.
Madeleine Borthwick
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 6:28 p.m.
braggslaw.....it's not as cut and dried as all that or are you perhaps unaware that we are in the worst recession since the great depression?! a lot of people are sticking with jobs that barely pay the bills because they haven't been able to find anything else!!!
ruminator
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 4:33 p.m.
How is this comment related to the story?
L'chaim
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 1:09 p.m.
Privatization is a threat, to get support staff to give up concessions. If they don't, and the board carries the threat through, it won't end up saving the district money in the long run. It will channel local tax dollars into private profits, though. And it will eliminate retirement accounts for ex-state workers and put more than a few workers on unemployment. It's good to see union workers organizing to fight back!
Plubius
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 1:05 p.m.
Privatization means having to prove your value to your employer on a regular basis. No wonder these people fear it - they will have to perform.
djacks24
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.
"Privatization means paying as little as possible to any random person to take care of your children and ensure their safety on a daily basis. Cheap man always pays more." They are welcome to apply for a job with the private contractor. They are even likely to be hired since they already have done the job. Why is this never thought of by the public employees? Hmmmm......?
jns131
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 5:43 p.m.
Take a look or even talk to Ann Arbor, Ypsi and WR drivers. They change the rules all the time. They still don't have a contract because WISD blocks them all the way. Ann Arbor started with food workers. They were still broke. Then 2 years later? Started in on the custodians and the drivers. Guess what? The BOE sold out the drivers. Good luck Saline. Hope your boat still floats in September. Unless the BOE sells you out as well. In Ann Arbor? The custodian contract is up in July. We still are not safe anywhere.
Ivor Ivorsen
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 1:54 p.m.
Privatization means paying as little as possible to any random person to take care of your children and ensure their safety on a daily basis. Cheap man always pays more.
L'chaim
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 1:15 p.m.
Privatization means private profit off of tax dollars. Talk about welfare bums!
Lac Court Orilles
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 12:28 p.m.
When a $24,000 a year secretary, bus driver, or janitor wants a pay raise, some will say it will ruin the nation. Like Dave & Dave say, "You're only appreciated when you'll do it for less and less."
u812
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 1:21 a.m.
Ryan Seacrest sold one of his houses for thirty-seven million dollars,isn't capitalism just so grand.
Shelly
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 12:19 p.m.
"those kids lose one-third of their interactions with humanity" So, you're telling me that only the bus drivers who live in Saline and drive buses for Saline are human? A bus driver from outside of Saline is not human? The other children with whom a child interacts on the bus are not human? Seriously, we all say things we regret later when we are emotionally overcharged. I hope this is one of those situations.
braggslaw
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 2:46 a.m.
I suppose we could become like Europe and collapse under debt and entitlements because people "deserve" jobs. That's how a society collapses...
u812
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 1:18 a.m.
there are cheaper and better alternatives to all the jobs in America although that's not how societies are sustained.
braggslaw
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 8:20 p.m.
Yep, people are really reaching here to justify their salaries.
djacks24
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7:22 p.m.
"those kids lose one-third of their interactions with humanity" I think an argument like that is called desperately grasping at straws in response to how to justify your existence when there are cheaper and possibly better alternatives.
AMOC
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 11:22 a.m.
Regardless of how long a bus driver may have worked for a school district, he or she will be a stranger to a kindergartener at the beginning of the school year. So all these emotional appeals about "strangers" being a threat to student well-being are irrational and disrespectful of the professionalism of school staff, no matter their collective bargaining status. While it is unfortunate that long-term school district employees may have to accept pay and benefit cuts or be replaced, the cost of staffing our public schools has become unsupportable to the communities they are supposed to serve. Fewer employees covered by MPERS may mean that more employees can be retained at all.
braggslaw
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 8:20 p.m.
Complete red herring... "those kids lose one-third of their interactions with humanity"
Julie Lee
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 4:52 p.m.
She never said that strangers were a threat. If you had continue to read. "With someone they're going to see at the grocery story or when they're at Saline's parades in town. All that means a lot when these kids are being raised."