Nearly 200 Pink Slipped in Walled Lake (MI)

May 7, 2010

Nearly 200 teachers were laid off, and custodial and transportation services were privatized for the 2010-11 school year at a Thursday, April 29 special meeting of the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools Board of Education.

The motion to privatize transportation services allows concession bargaining to continue, with a deadline of May 12 set, in hopes that privatization might be avoided for transportation employees.

The district currently has 956 teachers and 230 custodial and transportation employees.

"I want to say that this has been a sad and gut-wrenching process," said School Board President Michael Karson. "Two years ago, we never dreamed we would be here. But we have been backed into a corner and we don’t have the funding to keep people, programs and the resources we have had in the past."

The district is facing a $22 million deficit for the 2010-11 school year.

"This has nothing to do with our employees and their performance," Karson said of layoffs and privatization. "We face this crisis because of unprecedented legislative cuts to education. The governor’s arbitrary 20j (funding) cut cost Walled Lake Schools $9 million dollars. The Legislature cut another $9 million and our special education funding will be cut by another $1.2 million next year."

Judy Evola, director of community relations and marketing for the district, said officials estimate the district will save approximately $3.5 million per year by contracting with Enviro-Clean Building Services of Holland, Mich. to provide custodial services; and $1.6 million per year by contracting with Durham Student Services of Warrenville, Ill.

"In spite of the thousands of letters, numerous Lansing visits, and countless phone conversations made by our parents, staff and community … nothing has happened in Lansing to alleviate the funding dilemma," said Walled Lake Schools Superintendent William Hamilton. "It’s with deep regret that we recommended these reductions to the board."

Under the district teachers’ contract, teachers must be given a 30-day notice of any potential layoffs. Hamilton said he hopes some of the laid off teachers will be called back after retirements, leaves of absence and staffing is defined for the 2010-11 school year.

Calls to Walled Lake Education Association representatives for comments weren’t returned prior to press time.