FPS Board Looks at Controversial Proposal

We're live blogging tonight's Farmington Public Schools Board of Education meeting from , where officials are expected to discuss request for proposals (RFPs) to provide the district's support services. We'll follow the meeting in this article, which will be updated throughout the evening.

10:42 p.m. Richard Green returned to the podium. "I think you don't only have a fiduciary duty to the district, you also have an obligation to your employees," he said and then thanked board members for listening.

10:20 p.m. "This is about gaining information as we confront choices none of us wants to make," said board member Timothy Devine.

Board member Debby Brauer commented, "This is heartbreaking for us as well. We also have a responsibility to make sure our finances stay good and strong."

Board President Howard Wallach is giving administrators time to respond; Zurvalec said they will look into issues that were raised and post answers to them in a document on the district's Web site.

The vote in favor of pursuing RFPs was unanimous.

10:19 p.m. Wallach kicks off the board's response: "We don't do things rashly, we don't jump to conclusions quickly. We try to always look out for what's best for our kids." The board is committed to being financially responsible in the use of its resources, he said, and referred to a comment he made in his State of the Cities address about how the district is financed. (). "We're going to do what we have to do to do our jobs." The motion only allows officials to investigate what options are, with good data.

Board member Frank Reid said the board's fiduciary responsibility to the community requires the board members to take steps with which they are uncomfortable. "We're not doing this because it's a fun thing to do. ... We're doing it because we need to know all of our options going forward," he said. "Frankly, the money isn't keeping pace with what we need to provide our students within the classroom." He'll support the resolution.

Board member Priscilla Brouillette said it's clear the people who spoke tonight care about the district. She was interrupted by two audience members, and Wallach called for order. "As leaders of our community, we have to look at what the budget is doing to us, and we have to recognize the most important thing is what happens in the classroom. ... We need to investigate this, we need the information we can gain going through the RFP process."

10:08 p.m. James White, the last speaker, drew a round of cheers with this statement: "I'm a teacher, but I don't want to be on that team anymore when we're sending other people away to protect my job." The kids tell him the classroom isn't the most important part of the school. "Of course, we all know it is the bus drivers who set the tone for their day," he said.

"I know it would be irresponsible to not bring this proposal up, but I hope you would take this all into consideration as you consider this," he said.

10:03 p.m. Merilee Renard of Livonia has driven a bus in Farmington for more than 26 years, over half her life, and now trains bus drivers. She's president of the Oakland County Trainers Association. "As employees of Farmington, we look at ourselves as teachers. Our credentials may be different from classroom teachers, but they're just as important." She said the board would not get the same contribution from a private company. "There's a human factor that has to be considered," she said.

9:57 p.m. Sharon Bussell, Farmington, said for 12 years she got to know support staff. She looks at the district's check register and has calculated thousands of dollars being spent on consultants. "Central office administration needs to take a pay cut before we do this," she said. "We need to be realistic. ... We need to look at this as honest, open-table negotiations and let the public know what's going on. It's a tough road and everybody needs to cut, and it needs to start at the top."

9:53 p.m. An FPS dad is recapping horror stories from other districts that have privatized involving criminals being hired for transportation jobs. He doesn't have a lot of trust in private companies doing those checks and said the lower wages and benefits will result in high turnover rates. He said the board has a moral responsibility to people in the community as well. Morale in the district is terrible among support staff, he said.

9:50 p.m. Crawford Webb of Beverly Hills, a district employee, said, "We look for honesty and consistency, because that equals trust, or lack thereof."

Darcy Scott of Farmington Hills expressed a concern based on what a friend in a neighboring district said about private companies not conducting background checks. Wallach said any employee hired by a private firm would have to go through the same background checks as an employee hired by the school district.

9:47 p.m. Shari Anderson of Royal Oak, an employee, shared the impact of privatization on her community of 26 years, where she and her husband raised their two sons. Budget cuts resulted in outsourcing the food service and elimination of general education busing and privatized special needs busing. The district outsourced maintenance and eliminated hall guards at the high school. She lost her job but said, "I was one of the lucky ones. I found a new community to work."

"Responsible stewardship means that we must consider any option that keeps dollars in the classroom," she said. "Support staff does contribute to teaching and student achievement."

9:33 p.m. Dave Outen, Farmington, doesn't believe this has nothing to do with contract negotiations. He said he felt board members were turning their backs on him and all the other employees whose jobs would be lost if the district privatizes.

9:28 p.m. Dan Hoekenga of Farmington Hills charged districts that privatize aren't accurately reporting the costs. If people lose their homes, the district will lose students, he pointed out. An emotional speaker, he urged the district to rely on facts in making the decision.

9:20 p.m. Richard Green, chairman for the Farmington Coordinating Council, is speaking. "We have negotiated together. We have seen our way through tough times in the past," he said. "You're talking about 240 members of your family."

Green said he's not afraid of the RFPs. The union really can't compete, "but neither will you find on one of those RFPs what is not there," he said, referring to the "2,400 years of experience" among current employees. "Put a price on that," he said. "Tell them to put on those proposals what they will bring to this district as far as collaboration, cooperation and assistance."

9:15 p.m. First speaker is Laurie Moore of Farmington Hills, executive director for the Farmington Coordinating Council, representing the support services union members. "Education starts with the bus driver when a student first steps foot on the bus," she said to resounding applause. "Let's handle this together, in-house, the way any real family should." Moore's comments got a standing ovation.

9:10 p.m. This recommendation does not commit the board to a course of action, Ruhland said. Unions are welcome to respond to RFPs. He added the recommendation represents a commitment to responsible financial management, decision making based on data, rather than emotion, and maintaining the quality and integrity of education.

9:07 p.m. Assistant Superintendent Dave Ruhland is taking the stage to talk about RFPs; Wallach said speakers will be given four minutes. "Tonight, I'm taking a little different approach," he said, explaining that he wrote out what he wanted to say, in order to be clear about the "difficult recommendation."

9:05 p.m. Board member Priscilla Brouillette commented on "amazing recycling" in connection with the demolition of five empty school buildings. She said that would make a great feature story. Keep an eye on Farmington Patch for details.

8:48 p.m. A few minutes ago, Wallach reminded audience members they needed to get in their comment cards for the RFP issue, which must be filled out by anyone who wishes to come to the microphone. At the time, he had only two.

8:38 a.m. Six parents have signed up to talk about the Choice Options Study report. Lots of talk about moving away from Schools of Choice, which parents are calling "Schools of Chance," and making education programs "equitable" throughout the district.

7:54 p.m. Mark Wilson is delivering a report by the Choice Options Study Committee, which was charged with determining whether should be expanded, among other options. Read . She'll be following up on this story after the meeting.

7:42 p.m. Board president Howard Wallach read a statement even before the Pledge of Allegiance to clarify that no decision will be made about whether to outsource support services. If the board does decide to issue a request for proposals, it will be the start of a process to gather information.

There's a large crowd in Hunt Auditorium tonight. The parking lot is filled; WDIV Channel 4 and WJBK Channel 2 have both sent crews.