Employees speak out against privatization of school services

By Mary Beth Almond
C & G Staff Writer

BIRMINGHAM — Members of Birmingham Public Schools’ custodial and transportation staff are up in arms about the district’s exploration of possible changes to school services.

Last year, the board approved a resolution directing administration to conduct a comprehensive investigation of how to provide the current level, mix and quality of custodial and transportation services through the most cost efficient delivery systems available — including seeking proposals from private contracting firms.

BPS Director of Community Relations Marcia Wilkinson said the investigation into privatization is due to the ongoing budget deficit the district faces.

“The Board of Education is committed to exploring all options that keep reductions as far as possible from the classroom,” she said.

On Feb. 5, an alert from the Michigan American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Council 25 was placed next to the agenda outside the Board of Education meeting room for members of the community to pick up on their way into the meeting. The flier, endorsed by Michigan AFSCME Council 25 President Albert Garrett and Secretary-Treasurer Lawrence A. Roehrig, stated, “As public school districts consider choosing moving forward with plans to privatize school services, they are treading a well-worn and ill-chosen path filled with pitfalls.”

Representatives of the district’s custodial and transportation staff echoed the flier’s message during public comment.

AFSCME Local 1860 President Christie Carr — who has worked for the district for 17 years as a driver — said the approximately 180 employees who have “dedicated their lives to the betterment of service to the students and parents of Birmingham” would be adversely affected by the privatization of district services.

“At this time I understand that the district has began to consider privatization as a cost saving measure. I have some concerns that I would like to share with you; the safety of your children is one, a safe and clean environment, and the turnover of help around children. I would request that over the next few months, or when you begin to discuss the possible privatization of services, that the dollar bottom line does not drive your decision, rather that you base your decision on the protection of our students and the quality services that have been provided by our dedicated employees,” she said.

Gary Stevens, who has a daughter Seaholm High School, also works within the district. He says the staff has done very well in maintaining the schools and keeping them clean and advised the board to remember that there is a price for privatizing and that has to be considered when they add everything up.

“The staff here is devoted. You’ve got people with five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years on your staff — hundreds of years of experience. You can’t buy that. You’re not going to get that from a contractor. You’re not going to get the dedication, and you’re not going to get the service from someone coming in at barely above minimum wage,” he said.

BPS transportation driver Sophia Shattuck, who has a son at Groves and a daughter at Berkshire, said she has already been a victim of downsizing at a former job and doesn’t want it to happen again.

“It’s hard to be positive. It really, really is, but when I get on that school bus every day I am positive. I am the first thing those kids see before the teachers, and I am the last face that they see at the end of the school day. I love my job,” she said.

As a closing remark, Shattuck told the board they would not get the same personal dedication from an outside company.

In the event that privatization of services did occur, Wilkinson said employee screening would continue at the same level currently used by BPS and would include fingerprint and criminal background checks.

“The Board of Education is committed to ensuring that all district services are provided in a safe, efficient manner by qualified staff,” she said.

Wilkinson said administration would present and discuss their findings with regards to possible changes of school services to the board no later than its first meeting in May.

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at malmond@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1060.