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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
November 21, 2006

Contents of this issue:
  • DPS, DFT disagree on compulsory dues, legal fees
  • West Michigan schools contract for substitute teachers
  • Garden City school board recall effort fails
  • Madison contracts stall over health insurance
  • Pellston teachers choose less expensive union health plan
DPS, DFT DISAGREE ON COMPULSORY DUES, LEGAL FEES
DETROIT — The Detroit Federation of Teachers and the Detroit Public Schools are arguing over the district's late payment of $780,000 in compulsory union dues, according to the South Bend Tribune. The district collects the money from teacher's paychecks, then forwards it to the union.

DPS claims that the union owes it $1 million in reimbursements for legal fees, while DFT maintains it owes the district only $550,000, according to the Tribune.

DFT President Janna Garrison was escorted out of DPS administrative office by police after meeting with DPS officials.

Garrison refused to leave the building until she could talk with the district's general counsel. Sometime after meeting with the district's attorney, the police were called, according to the Tribune.

SOURCE:
South Bend Tribune, "Detroit teachers union leader raises ruckus," Nov. 11, 2006
http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061111/News01/61111025

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "DPS fights union to keep at-risk program," Nov. 7, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/8059

Michigan Education Digest, "DPS teachers union strikes," Aug. 29, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7882

Michigan Education Digest, "Detroit teachers union wants more money," June 27, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7798

WEST MICHIGAN SCHOOLS CONTRACT FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Many west Michigan school districts are following the lead of Portage and Comstock schools by signing competitive contracts for substitute teachers, according to The Kalamazoo Gazette.

This year, seven Ottawa County districts hired Professional Educational Services Group to oversee their substitute teacher services. The move will cut back the amount the districts are required to pay into the school employee pension system, The Gazette reported.

Portage Public Schools has been working with another private company, WSI Educational Staffing, for three years and has saved at least $28,000 each year.

"It's been excellent for us," Portage Human Resources Manager Vickie Herzberg told The Gazette. "We've not had any problems or concerns."

Currently, districts must contribute an amount equal to 17 percent of a substitute's pay into the state retirement system, according to The Gazette. Privatization relieves the district of this burden and also cuts down on administrative costs.

Coopersville Public Schools Superintendent Kevin O'Neill would recommend contracting for substitute teachers to any district.

"They've been good to work with," O'Neill told The Gazette about PESG. "It's been kind of a seamless operation. We haven't seen any negatives to it yet."

SOURCE:
Kalamazoo Gazette, "Privatization of substitute teachers grows throughout western Michigan," Nov. 15, 2006
http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/news-20/116360784040410.xml&coll=7

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Houghton Lake to privatize substitute teachers," July 25, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7844

Michigan Education Digest, "Substitute teachers privatized in Grand Rapids," May 9, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7701

Michigan Education Digest, "Privatized subs can save schools money," April 11, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7677

GARDEN CITY SCHOOL BOARD RECALL EFFORT FAILS
GARDEN CITY, Mich. — Residents attempting to recall five members of the Garden City school board were unable to gather enough signatures to put the issue before voters, according to The Detroit News.

The group was led by Rick Smith, a former custodian for the district, who was not hired by a private company when the district contracted out maintenance services earlier this year. The group sought to recall the five school board members who voted to save $2.1 million over three years by signing competitive contracts for food and custodial services, according to The News.

"We're going to protest it," Smith told The News. "We're not going to give up. We don't have anything to lose."

The school board stands behind its decision.

"Hopefully this will be the end of it and we don't have to worry about an additional expense to the school district for the cost of running a recall election," school board member Patrick McNally told The News.

SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "Garden City school recall movement falters," Nov. 16, 2006
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006611160464

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Competitive contracting getting more popular," Aug. 8, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7866

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Schools continue to privatize," July 26, 2006
http://www.mackinac.org/7827

MADISON CONTRACTS STALL OVER HEALTH INSURANCE
ADRIAN, Mich. — Madison School District contract negotiations are at a standstill as the district and teachers union disagree over healthcare and pay increases, according to The Adrian Daily Telegram.

District business manager Jennifer Morin gave a presentation on the district's and union's proposals for salary increases and health insurance plans. The district's current proposal would allow for teachers to choose between the two plans, Supercare I and Choices II, provided through the Michigan Education Special Services Association. Teachers who pick the more costly Supercare could pay the difference between the two plans. The district's proposal would cost $200,000 less than the union's, The Telegram reported. MESSA is a third-party health insurance administrator affiliated with the Michigan Education Association school employees union.

The union filed an unfair labor practice charge against the district because it feels the presentation was inaccurate, and demanded an opportunity to give a presentation of its own, according to The Telegram.

"The bargaining team agrees that the presentation was not completely accurate," Jim Berryman, a Michigan Education Association UniServ director told The Telegram.

The district stands behind its presentation and proposal.

"I have every reason to believe that would be another frivolous ULP on their behalf," Superintendent Jim Hartley told The Telegram.

In addition to health insurance, the union and district also are arguing over salary increases for teachers. The district has proposed a 1.5 percent pay raise, while the union is suggesting a 4.25 percent pay increase. Hartley thinks that endorsing the union's plan would mean financial trouble for the district, according to The Telegram.

"When you run a deficit because of normal operational expenses, it's going to snowball and compound down the road," Hartley told The Telegram. "This is about creating a structural deficit that could force us into the same situation some other districts in the county have found themselves in."

SOURCE:
The Adrian Daily Telegram, "No end in sight," Nov. 15, 2006
http://www.lenconnect.com/articles/2006/11/15/news/news01.txt

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "St. Johns board declares impasse," Sept. 19, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7934

Michigan Education Report, "Blue Cross and MESSA," Sept. 6, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7907

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "MESSA Reference Page," March 10, 2006
http://www.mackinac.org/7643

PELLSTON TEACHERS CHOOSE LESS EXPENSIVE UNION HEALTH PLAN
PELLSTON, Mich. — Pellston Public School teachers have opted for a more cost-effective health plan that will save the district 3 to 8 percent on insurance, according to the Petoskey News-Review.

Teachers agreed to a two-year contract and will switch health insurance plans from MESSA Supercare I to Choices II. Both plans are sold by the Michigan Education Special Services Association, a third-party health insurance administrator affiliated with the Michigan Education Association school employees union. The contract also includes a 2 percent pay increase for teachers.

SOURCE:
Petoskey News-Review, "Pellston teachers getting raises," Nov. 16, 2006
http://www.petoskeynews.com/articles/2006/11/16/news/local_regional/news04.txt

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Fruitport teachers flock to less expensive MESSA," Sept. 12, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7926

Michigan Education Digest, "Pinckney teachers voluntarily abandon MESSA," Feb. 7, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7585

MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education Report (http://www.educationreport.org), a quarterly newspaper with a circulation of 150,000 published by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy (http://www.mackinac.org), a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute.

Contact Managing Editor Sarah Grether at
mailto:med@educationreport.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to
http://www.educationreport.org/pubs/mer/listserver.aspx?Source=wwwMED
Related Topics: Education
Michigan Education Daily
Tue., March 9, 2010
"A public education advocacy group said Monday that Michigan should begin taxing consumer services at 5.5 percent, while reducing the existing sales tax from 6 to 5.5 percent, as a way to generate $550 million for schools in 2011." >>
Tue., March 9, 2010
"Michigan Future Inc. has awarded an $850,000 grant to Detroit Edison Public School Academy to help it open a new high school this fall, the first in a planned series of grants." >>
Mon., March 8, 2010
"Members of the Fenton Education Support Personnel have voted to leave the Michigan Education Association and join Teamsters Local 214, saying they want better representation." >>
Mon., March 8, 2010
"The Kent County Circuit Court has upheld an arbitrator's decision that Grand Rapids Public Schools did not violate a labor contract when it privatized transportation workers in 2005, even though their contract with the district had not expired." >>
Sun., March 7, 2010
"The Detroit school board and its emergency financial manager must work together on a school redesign plan if they want to receive federal funding intended for low-achieving Michigan schools." >>
Sat., March 6, 2010
"Hudson Area Schools and Morenci Area Schools are considering sharing a superintendent and other services, though the plan is still exploratory." >>
Fri., March 5, 2010
"Michigan did not make the cut in the first round of Race to the Top, though it can try again this fall." >>
User Comments
JackI
Is it true that young ones today are losing interest on these subjects? Obviously, the White House is promoting programs that will help students on coping up with math and science subjects. But, The federal government thinks that the quality of math and science education can repair credit with the scientific community and improve US education with a few <a rev="vote for" title="U.S. Government Spends $250 Million on Science and Math" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/Payday-Loans/ ">payday loans</a> of sorts. In reality, it will take far longer to accomplish than they might think – US educators can't even get students to accept that "irregardless" isn't a word, and the difference between their, they're, and there – our students can't even learn their own language! It's a noble aim, to be sure, but throwing money at it may not work in the long run. >>
beggarsall
I am a teacher in the same county who is presently trying to quit the union. Like Caldwell, I strongly disagree with the MEA.

This article was timely.

Rob Olson
Pittsford Area Schools

>>
rickolson
I agree this is a change worth making. I describe some of the uneven effects of the idea on my blog at http://rickolson.blogspot.com/2009/08/statewide-health-insurance-plan-for.html which you may also wish to read.

The devil will be in the details, so this is one we will need to monitor closely.

Rick Olson from Saline, former school Business Manager >>
MichelleO

Nowadays, saving money is very crucial and properly investing the money can keep you and your family away from the effect of the financial crisis. The sad news is that a lot of the options for short term funding have been drying up. Short term funding is a necessary thing to have around, and going through traditional channels such as banks isn't an option for a lot of people anymore – basically it's only open to Ken Lewis. Installment loans are an option, but some people, including senior citizens, have been thinking about raiding their retirement fund. Getting into your pension retirement plan or 401(k) funds is the last thing you want to do if you don't qualify for any withdrawals yet. The penalties are substantial, and you'll end up needing installments loans to pay them if you use retirement funds for <a rev="vote for" title="Installment Loans Reliable Option As 401(k)s are Dwindling" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/05/17/installment-loans-reliable-option-401ks-dwindling/">short term funding</a>.


>>
QUEEN_BEE_09
I AGREE >>
colonelb
Godfrey-Lee on the west side of the state has been running all-day, every-day kindergarten for several years. >>
BenjaminY
We have a problem in Detroit Public School, their system had cash flow problem for years now. And honestly it getting worst in terms in progression with more children leaving to charter their schools almost every year. The state decided to give the Detroit school districts cash advance of $70 million so they would meet the schools expenses, as well as payment for teachers. Robert Bobb, the newly appointed emergency financial manager, requested the funds early in order for him to get the house in order before he had to start panicking. President Obama has been giving out large sums of money for troubled school districts, perhaps that’s where a generous portion of the aid came from. Getting Detroit Public Schools in working order is a worthy cause.

LINK TO READ FOR MORE INFO:
http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/03/10/state-advance-detroit-public-schools-70m/


>>
colonelb
I am all for school choice and think its great that charters are finally moving forward. However, I'm wondering if the research accounts for a playing field that is not level. I can't take my school buildings and move them anywhere I want, nor can I simply slap up a pole building and make it a school. If anything, public schools need less state regulation and oversight so we can play by the same minimal rules charters do. If you want public schools to compete to improve, remove the barriers to doing so. I will gladly except less funding per pupil if the playing field is level.
>>
karen
The purpose is to encourage non excercising children to excercise but my daughter's highschool gave her an improper body fat percentage and made my healthy daughter who trains 20 hours a week in tap jazz and ballet believe she was overweaghit instead of a person with muscles.
I believe the public schools do not have the right to make the diagnoses with these kids because they are using one measurement and recording it from their arms that they have a certain percetnage of body fat with one arm caliper test.
Does any one have feed back?
>>
deepakp9
Specifically, 81 percent of students in religiously affiliated schools and 82 percent of students in other private schools have parents who report being "very satisfied" with their schools, compared to 55 percent of students in assigned public schools and 63 percent of students in chosen public schools.

High levels of satisfaction among private school parents also extend to opinions about their children's teachers, academic standards of the school, order and discipline at the school, the amount of homework assigned, and interactions with school personnel.

http://fitt.in >>