Michigan Votes Forum

This is an outrageous bill.  If you want to mandate privatization of bus and custondial services, then I would suggest you also mandate a fee schedule and benefit schedule for all staff employed by school districts.   But I suggest the legislature go first.  And for that matter, why don't all districts go into receivership, because as a board member for 8 years, you are chopping off my hands! 

 If a school district has a top notch support staff you would require them to spend the time, energy and money to privatize their services?  School districts already have that option.  Why would you want to impose more expensive govermental controls that would cost the tax payer big bucks for the goverment to administer?   

 For example, a district operating a school lunch program that does not take money from the general fund (and in fact pays its indirect cost) would be required to trash that working program and hire a private company who would take no less than $100,000 (out of a small distirct) do to the exact same as the self-operative.....hmmm makes no sense to me.  I worked for a management company for nine years and know a management company cannot do the job as cost effectively as a school operated program.  Of course there are self operated programs that are losing money and if that happens the district will privitize the school lunch program and any other support system that does not operate within their cost guidelines. 

Bill 5594 is not necessary and a waste of an elected officials time.  Why not spend your energy on finding new ways to fund schools so that they know how much money they must budget for the coming year instead of finding out midyear they will not be paid the amount promised six months ago.

Bill 5594 is a waste of ink.

 This is a terrible bill I worked for the public schools as a school bus driver for 26 years until they privitized this year I cannot tell you how that just devastated me. I lost my insurance and had to leave a place that I  loved working at and the kids that I had know since they we in kindergarden. I also had to leave people who I had seen their children grow and the many different bosses. I couldn't sleep and cried alot. I am a democract and I do not  support this bill. Thank You Michele York from Shelby Twp, Michigan

 Seriously, are you kidding me?  Michigan (the powers that be) can't seem to figure out how to run anything to do with this state. They are always making the wrong choice. When it comes to our schools, they already cut and cut and cut the public schools.  So now, their master plan is to force our schools to outsource (privatize). O.k. so where  in the bill does it say it will somehow save michigan money?  It doesn't, not that i have been able to find.  I am a public school worker and have been for 11 years. I started at a school who had already outsouced.  I was and neither was my son happy with their food services.  Outsourcing is another way of saying " big corportation paying little to their employees and giving the cheapest to our kids".   When does it end?  I have seen things that happen with our food due to companys that don't care.  I now work in a school district that puts the kids first, rather it be bussing, costodial, or food service. I am scared of what will happen when this state thinks it knows best about our kids.  They haven't for decades, but here they are sticking their nose in when they (if anything was broken) are the ones who broke it.   This state has an enormous amount of money from lottery tickets alone that are supposed to go to our schools, but they never, ever account for it.  where is that money?  State of Michigan should be audited to see where all of our kids money is.  (just a thought,  somehow we would pay for that to).  So onto bussing and custodial work.  Really, outsourse those?  I will be driving my child to school and sending him with his own toilet paper and soap, or maybe i'll just home school him.  Oh now I know, thats how Michigan will save money, there wont be no schools.  GOT IT!!!!!!!   

 I am assuming that with privatization of custodians, there would not be a background check.  If this was a requirement, I think it would be a given no one would check with the company to see if they did do a check.

Consequently, what do you think the consequences would be to keep children in a specific school if there was a sex molestation, or a kidnapping?

We go through drills to keep intruders out, with this new bill, we are opening the doors to most anything happening.  With employees being paid minimum wages for private companies, there would be turnover in employees.  Principals wouldn't be able to keep track of who was wondering their building.