tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526659937118816707.post6202390241768328943..comments2023-10-31T10:36:24.845-05:00Comments on K12 Reformer - Mike Reno: I agree with the MEAMike Renohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02321695059501190325noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526659937118816707.post-54884276378945654832007-12-04T01:05:00.000-05:002007-12-04T01:05:00.000-05:00Considering how gaseous and UTTERLY meaningless Ro...Considering how gaseous and UTTERLY meaningless Rochester school board meetings are, ask yourself what your employers might be trying to tell you by clearing the decks so you can attend?<BR/><BR/>Give that some long, hard thought fella.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526659937118816707.post-10020416323581107912007-12-03T19:51:00.000-05:002007-12-03T19:51:00.000-05:00It will be a very cold day in you know where befor...It will be a very cold day in you know where before Mike actually agrees with the MEA.<BR/><BR/>I.P. Address Marco Polo time.<BR/><BR/>This was the first time in two (2) years that I could not get my employer to reschedule a buisness trip in order to attend a board meeting.<BR/><BR/>If one cares they will make more effort.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526659937118816707.post-64440080860326907892007-12-03T11:00:00.000-05:002007-12-03T11:00:00.000-05:00Mike Reno agrees with the MEA? Careful, they'll q...Mike Reno agrees with the MEA? Careful, they'll quote you on that!<BR/><BR/>--Nick<BR/>www.RightMichigan.comRightMichigan.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09225711215771842548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526659937118816707.post-34935265716575332952007-12-01T21:25:00.000-05:002007-12-01T21:25:00.000-05:00Bill Milligan said:I posted the above reply. I quo...Bill Milligan said:<BR/><BR/>I posted the above reply. I quoted a paragraph of Mike's to start my reply (the part with the quotation marks around it) but after that small part the rest is my response. I apologize for any confusion the formatting of the message might have caused.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526659937118816707.post-63315327078424866582007-12-01T21:22:00.000-05:002007-12-01T21:22:00.000-05:00Mike Reno said:"First of all, schools boards may b...Mike Reno said:<BR/><BR/>"First of all, schools boards may be pinching pennies, but they are stepping over dollars to do so. They ignore opportunities for consolidation, most won't consider privatization, and the cost increases for health benefits continue to rob dollars from the classroom."<BR/><BR/>I am an MEA union member who was on a committee at our community college that looked at feasible plans to run our college bookstore. We looked at both in-house options (continuing to have the college fund and operate the bookstore) and outsourcing options. <BR/><BR/>In the end, our team--and I personally--voted to outsource the bookstore to Follett. It has proven to be a good decision so far. Now: it's proven to be a good decision for a couple of unique reasons that in no way proves outsourcing is a blanket cure for all situations: 1) The college had allowed the infrastructure of the bookstore to remain stagnant for a long period of time and upgrades to technology would have been nearly impossible without outside help 2) The bookstore manager, a non-union employee, was retiring after several decades of service and he was the only employee receiving benefits affected. <BR/><BR/>Because of the unique circumstances--the bookstore needing literally 6-figures worth of upgrades--and the fact no college employees were going to get brutally whacked, it made sense to outsource operations to a company that had a proven track record. And I will go on record now and say I was part of that process (even though certain folks--not you, Mike--will no doubt misuse this information from me in an attempt to discredit what I stand for).<BR/><BR/>Other issues: 1) The war in Iraq. According to Bart Stupak, the war in Iraq will cost each man, woman, and child in the United States of America $8,000. And counting. Where is the outcry from the conservative think tanks about this? Instead we see the Education Action Group whining because district________ would *allegedly* save ______________a year if the districts foisted more cost and risk onto the backs of the hardworking teachers, staff (all of them themselves taxpayers, mind you) of Michigan. That's not "tripping over dollars to save pennies"--that's tripping over armored trucks to save pennies. <BR/><BR/>Another issue: FOIAs:<BR/><BR/>I've had personal experience with such things recently. When I challenged Kyle Olson (EAG) about one of his editorials in the Detroit News, his response was FIRST to contact the president of our college and, essentially, ask her if she might be able to do something about her uppity employee (my paraphrase). After I printed my own editorial in the Escanaba Daily Press saying that I had been a member of our college's health care ad-hoc team that had studied costs (the result being we found MESSA to be the most cost-effective for us when comparing apples to apples), Olson filed FOIA with our college. That I have no problem with at all. <BR/><BR/>When he posted his "findings" at the EAG blog (look for it under "thug watch"--I'm there), I shared the information he posted with our VP--the very person he obtained the information from at our college and the person whom he alludes to in his blog. It was her opinion that Olson spun the information to suit his purposes. <BR/><BR/>There has been one or two other things that have happened I can't divulge right now, other than to say it's been apparent to me that someone, somewhere has taken the time out of his or her busy schedule to take a personal interest in me. <BR/><BR/>The above is completely relevant to your story here. The EAG is linked to your site. You quoted them prominently in your November blog; Olson (or Doster or whomever writes the blog at EAG) links to your blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526659937118816707.post-42803694873689319232007-12-01T16:52:00.000-05:002007-12-01T16:52:00.000-05:00First of all, this article was simply intended to ...First of all, this article was simply intended to point out the absurdity of the MEA's arguments against it.<BR/><BR/>With the support boardmembers have received from the union, I don't think they would ever SERIOUSLY consider outsourcing, and I'm not about to propose it unless others would give it a fair shake.<BR/><BR/>Can you please provide links to the stories involving the outsourced bus drivers? I believe that is a red herring argument, but am open to considering any objective information you may have. I've looked around and cannot find anything other than alarmist opinions.<BR/><BR/>I invite you to review the transportation outsourcing bid at Rochester; it was a complete sham. They would've required the contractor to hire a substantial percentage of the current district employees at their current wage, with the same benefits. It was amazing how that requirement drove the price to be roughly equal to what the district is already paying.<BR/><BR/>I am well aware of the ONE effort Rochester and Avondale considered -- years ago -- in conjunction with the City of Rochester Hills. They looked at creating a single maintenance depot. Avondale backed-out for some reason, and that one effort made years ago is now frequently used as "proof" that consolidation has been considered. And, it's also used as an excuse for having no further discussions. I've raised the idea with the Rochester board -- twice -- that the board consider some sort of informal discussions with Avondale, and the point that Avondale backed-out years ago was offered as a reason for not considering any further discussions with them.<BR/><BR/>As far as the safety issue goes, there is no reason a district couldn't write in a requirement to do the same background checks it currently does, and subject them to independent audits.Mike Renohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02321695059501190325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526659937118816707.post-39909674680858179792007-12-01T15:53:00.000-05:002007-12-01T15:53:00.000-05:00Private contracors are not always better. Yes her...Private contracors are not always better. Yes her statements linking bad behavior in an unpopular war have nothing to do with schools here. However, we have had many kids left on busses late after school in Michigan and most of these events involved contract supplied bus companies.<BR/><BR/>Rochested had considered outsourcing the transportation and we found out that we would not save money. We also upset many of our employees in the process. What opportuinty cost would you put on that ill will?<BR/><BR/>Rochester and Avondale were in talks and negotiations to CONSOLIDATE some services many years ago. Some local politics got in the way and killed it. You either don't know the history of this district or you want to sperad more missinformation regarding consolidation.<BR/><BR/>You can stop using the won't and never consider statements regarding consolidation. It has been attempted here. Look into it! Rochester Schools have a history that pre-dates you Mike. If you would look into our history and consider some of the LONG term characteristics of this district, you might fare better with those you support for elections.<BR/><BR/>Our food service makes money so why outsource it?<BR/><BR/>Now my last counter points regarding when outsourcing goes bad.<BR/><BR/>It's just our own kids in the hands of these NON screened individuals. News story after news story has examples of people that slip through the security cracks and get near our kids.<BR/><BR/>When these contractors start to do a much better job of policing themselves, We should consider hiring them.<BR/><BR/>So for now we need to pick the right services and right contractors. It isn't easy and they don't always save us money.<BR/><BR/>Second; if a contractor takes our money and then quits or stops the service we can sue him or try other remedy to get the money back.<BR/><BR/>But in the short run we are screwed. We already paid and the show must go on. <BR/><BR/>Ask yourself this. How will I (A Trustee) explain to a parent why saving a few bucks made their child expendable?<BR/><BR/>Mowing lawns, fixing pot holes in parking lots, repairing equipment, no problem.<BR/><BR/>Driving around way out in rural Oakland Township alone with my kid, preparing food for my kid, cleaning the inside of the building with full access to my kid, NO way!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com