School Board Bucks Union Advice: Saves $2.9 Million and Avoids Program Cuts

Michigan Capitol Confidential ^ | 5/18/2011 | Tom Gantert

[MichCapCon]

Nearly four years ago, Barry Goode told the Howell School Board that privatizing was a political decision, not a financial decision, and called it “shameful.” Goode is a Howell resident who also serves as president of the Brighton Education Association.

This year, Howell Public Schools say that their privatization efforts have saved them about $2.9 million since that board meeting.

Without the privatization, Howell Superintendent Ron Wilson said the district would have to make “catastrophic cuts.”

“There would be huge cuts in programs,” Wilson said. “The privatization helped us put off or prevent some of these deep cuts in the classroom.”

Howell faces a $4 million deficit next year.

Goode’s comments were documented in the Howell Board of Education minutes from Aug. 13, 2007 and a Detroit News article. Goode didn’t respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

Howell has privatized its custodial, transportation, pool management and business payroll departments in the last four years to get that $2.9 million in savings.

[iowamark]

They should privatize all of the schools with a voucher program and then they would save real money and actually have quality education.