This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

FPS Board Moves Forward with RFPs

Despite pleas from staff and parents, officials approve a measure to seek proposals for support services.

The Farmington Public Schools Board of Education took the first step Tuesday toward possible outsourcing of transportation, maintenance and grounds, snow removal and food services.

Board president Howard Wallach explained that officials moved their meeting to Hunt Auditorium at , anticipating a larger than normal audience.

The district could save as much as $4 million by privatizing, said David Ruhland, assistant superintendent of human resources and legal services. The current budget for those services is $11.5 million.

Find out what's happening in Farmington-Farmington Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In a unanimous vote, officials approved the development and issuance of requests for proposals from contractors for services are currently handled in-house. If the board approves privatization, 240 workers could be laid off when the unions’ contracts end this summer.

“Since 2002, the district has struggled to operate within its means,” said Ruhland at the board’s meeting Feb. 15. “Rising costs and shrinking revenues have gained momentum year after year.”

Find out what's happening in Farmington-Farmington Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Shortfalls in the budget, he said, have been covered by “budget cuts and dipping into the fund balance.”

“After a decade of cutting and dipping, today we face continued uncertainty with the state’s funding of education. As a result, Farmington Public Schools is confronted with the reality that responsible fiscal management means that more cuts are needed.”

Laurie Moore, executive director of the Farmington Coordinating Council, representing the support services union members, told the board that she found the request for proposals confusing, as she recently attended a meeting at which the district’s desired culture was discussed. The culture, she said, was described as inclusive and respectful of everyone, and stable.

And she said she was told, “We reward and recognize what we value. Where does this (proposal) fit in with the district’s desired culture?”

The employees in danger of being displaced are members of the community, she said. Ninety-seven of the 240 live within the district.

And they are as valuable to a child’s school experience as teachers, she added.

“Education starts with the bus driver when a student steps foot on the bus,” Moore said. She added that she’s worried that contractors, who tend to come and go, and don’t feel as connected to the students, will not be part of the “family culture” that is a hallmark of Farmington Public Schools.

“Let’s handle this together, in-house, the way any family should,” she said.

'240 members of your family'

Richard Green, chairman of the Farmington Coordinating Council, represents maintenance and food services union members.

“There are 240 members of your family that you’re going to look at and say that the price of bread might go up tomorrow, so you’re going to invite proposals from those who might have smaller appetites,” Green said.

Though Ruhland said that the unions, along with the contractors, will be able to bid on the work, the unions can’t meet the bid requirements such as bonding and insurance, Green said.

But the district’s workers have something that no other bidder has, he added. They have “a combined 2,400 years of experience” and a long relationship with the district.

“None of that will show up on requests for proposals,” Green said.

There is no way the district can accurately predict how much money the schools will save by privatizing, said Farmington Hills resident Daniel Hoekenga.

He said that the savings will not be sustainable and the assumptions are based on “propaganda from the Mackinac Center", and anti-union organizations.

He urged the board to not react to the $4 million estimate, because it’s a number that is not likely to pan out.

“You should be really sure that the destruction” such cutbacks would cause “is worth that trouble,”  Hoekenga said.

Farmington resident and district employee Dave Outen told the board he believes that the requests for proposals are a bargaining chip the district is using in contract negotiations.

“They are turning their back on me, and they are turning their back on my friends,” he said of the board. “You’re talking about people, members of the community. Is it worth it? Is my livelihood?”

It’s not, said James White, a teacher in the district.

According to Ruhland, the cuts are being made to protect the district’s core mission, which is classroom teaching.

But White said, “I deeply appreciate that we’re looking at trying to protect the classroom. But I can’t be on that team when we’re sending other people away to protect my job. I don’t want to be protected that way.”

He said his students tell him that the educational experiences they value happen on the bus, in the hallways and in the lunchroom as much, or more, as they do in the classroom.

$5 million in retirement costs

But economic realities weighed heavy on board members' minds. Even as the board discussed the outsourcing of non-instructional support jobs, the district was awaiting the Governor’s Feb. 17 budget presentation, which is expected to include reductions in public schools spending. On top of anticipated budget cuts, Ruhland said, retirement costs are expected to rise to 27 cents per every dollar the district spends on payroll.

“That’s up from just 16 cents on the dollar just five years ago,” he said. That means the district is spending an additional $5 million annually on retirement costs alone – a significant hit to the district’s total budget, which is $149 million this year.

Board President Howard Wallach said the board does not take such decisions lightly, and it doesn’t  “jump to conclusions quickly.” He added that the board’s fiduciary responsibility requires the exploration of available options.

Board member Priscilla Brouillette said the district is fortunate to have a “remarkable, dedicated staff.” But she also said the board has to “recognize that the most important thing that happens, happens in the classroom” and it’s the board’s responsibility to preserve that.

The board voted 6-0 in favor of issuing the requests for proposals. Board member Sheilah Clay was absent.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Farmington-Farmington Hills