‘Crystal ball? predictions can be inaccurate and frustrating when looking into the school district’s financial future, says Assistant Superintendent Jillynn Keppler. But some in the community want to know if privatizing support staff ? and potential cost savings ? is coming through the mist and into reality.
Only time will tell, says Superintendent Ken Gutman, who noted that while he’s philosophically against privatizing, it might be a path the district takes in the future.
‘I don’t like it. We have such hard-working people in this district ? our custodians, our bus drivers, all of our AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) employees are phenomenal people,? he said. ‘But, we still need to do our job with due diligence and we are requesting proposals for privatization. We would be remiss in our responsibilities to not find out what the potential savings are.?
He added that last year the district went out for bids to privatize, but couldn’t recall exact prices.
This year’s budget for custodian services, including staff and supplies is just over $6.1 million; transportation staff and supplies is around $3.9 million; and food service staff and supplies is $2.4 million.
Gutman says in the past, union concessions have kept privatization at bay, but couldn’t comment on future contracts or concessions. According to Kathy Sandstrom, AFSCME Local 1472 president, union members? took a pay freeze in October 2009, changed health insurance packages, which increased the cost of prescriptions and mental health coverage, and gave up holidays, like Good Friday.
Sandstrom said she’s personally ‘willing to take a pay cut as opposed to out-sourcing our jobs because it doesn’t just hurt us, it hurts the whole community,? but couldn’t comment one behalf of the union.
‘When you privatize or outsource, you take the control out of the school district, and that money is going for profit. The more money that business can make, the better off they’re going to be ? they’re looking out for themselves,? she said.
Unconfirmed rumors suggest the district hired current Human Resources Executive Director Margaret Hazlett and former Executive Director Patricia Murray because of their hand in privatizing Holly and Albion schools, respectively, before coming to Lake Orion.
But Gutman says that’s not why they were hired.
‘For me, you look for the right combination of characteristics in someone and either having privatized or not having privatized would not have changed the outcome,? he said.
At a recent school board meeting, Sandstrom spoke to boardmembers of the value of keeping current staff, and listed examples of custodians reading to students before school and bus drivers who know each child’s name, bus stop and family as loyal and responsible employees.
‘The point is the high ethical standards these folks have for their jobs. What more can an employer want?? she asked the board. ‘We could follow other districts and privatize support staff and that means bringing in companies from outside our community and even outside this country. Privatization might be one way to solve this crisis, but is it the right way??
Gutman says he’s heard of school districts that outsource staff to private companies and those companies go on strike, which is against the law for public employees but not private ones. He says he also knows of companies that come in with a low bid and the costs creep up.
‘We need to understand all of the variables including costs, savings, employee loyalty and community,? he said. ‘To sit there and say we’ll never privatize would be foolish, but we’d be foolish to sit there and say we will.