Mt. Blue budget passes: Subcontracting off the table
Director Raymond Glass (left, grey shirt) meets with with Doug Hodum (right, striped shirt), lead negotiator for the support staff, during a recess in the budget meeting Monday evening, surrounded by other directors.
FARMINGTON – Public outrage gave way to last-minute diplomacy at Monday evening's Mt. Blue Regional School District budget meeting, leading to the passage of the $28.9 million budget after the school board agreed to rescind the administration's authority to subcontract out custodial services.
More than 100 people attended the meeting, spending more than an hour on Article 1, with all voters who chose to speak indicating their opposition to a proposal to subcontract out custodial services for the school district. At the April 26 meeting, directors voted to give Superintendent Michael Cormier the authority to contract with a private janitorial company, if necessary, to achieve $200,000 in savings. Subcontracting out custodial service was estimated to eliminate 18 custodial jobs and 23 health insurance packages, as 21 bus drivers also work as custodians and qualify for full-time benefits.
Residents of the 10 towns that comprise the district, some support staff members, others unaffiliated, spoke against the proposal. In addition to being opposed to subcontracting out services in general, some expressed concern and anger with the budget process and the ongoing negotiations between the support staff and district. At last week's mediation, according to a letter to the editor submitted by the support staff's lead negotiator Doug Hodum, the support staff offered concessions to cover the $115,000 directors put back into the original budget. Those expenditures include $30,000 for technical support and $35,000 for special education behavioral services, as well as two teaching positions.
"It's like being in an auction," support staff member Wenda Hunter said. "Bidding against yourself."
Selectman Kathleen Lynch of Temple recalled when the original MSAD 9 district formed, saying people had complained that the community-oriented nature of the schools would be threatened. This proposal, she said, was the first time she felt that threat had been realized.
"You're asking us to vote for something today that we do not approve," Lynch told the school board.
Other residents complained that the subcontracting proposal was a tactic to "bully" the support staff, and that they didn't trust the administration or school board. Multiple directors called for speakers to be respectful.
"To hear what I've been hearing," Director Mark Prentiss of Industry said, "it really is a bit shocking."
More than 100 people attended the budget meeting.
Board members who spoke in favor of the subcontracting proposal did so as the latest of a series of cuts in the face of reduced state and federal funding for schools. Director Claire Andrews of Farmington listed programs and positions cut since she arrived on the board four years ago, including tech integrators, elementary school world language and courses at the middle school. The subcontracting proposal, Andrews said, was the result of an "extended process."
"We're at a point now, where we've cut everything we can cut," Andrews said.
Hodum said that the support staff had wanted to be part of that process, and had requested in the past to sit down with the finance committee and administration when subcontracting was discussed.
"Now there's a public perception that we are part of the problem," Hodum said, "and we want to be part of the solution." He added that putting the reduction "on the backs of the people who can least afford it" was "incomprehensible."
"The best thing we can do is vote the entire budget down," resident Bob Neal of New Sharon said.
Ed David of Farmington moved to amend Article 1, $9.09 million for Regular Instruction, to $1. Moderator Ron Aseltine, after consulting with the school district's legal representative, ruled that motion out of order. Aseltine said it was tantamount to passing no budget, which he said was the responsibility of the meeting. Instead, those in attendance were advised to approve a budget and then vote "no" at the validation referendum on Thursday. Those in attendance spoke against that proposal, refusing to support the budget Monday evening.
At that point, board members called for a recess to discuss available options. Meeting in one corner of the gym, directors talked about taking subcontracting off the table in order to get the budget passed. There is not believed to be an enormous difference between the $200,000 in savings in Article 8, Transportation and Buses, and Article 9, Facilities Maintenance, and the concessions offered by the support staff negotiating team before mediation broke down last week. That difference, Cormier noted, could be covered by shifting funds out of the carry forward balance surplus.
Directors brought Hodum over to present what Glass would later describe as "assurances." A majority of the directors indicated they would move to rescind the subcontracting proposal at the next available opportunity, if the support staff negotiating team would honor its latest offer if and when negotiations begin again.
"We can't do the negotiating," Glass said at the board meeting following the budget meeting, "but we can give each other some assurances."
Hodum took the proposal back and eventually the budget meeting resumed. Glass told those attending the meeting that the board was willing to take subcontracting off the table. The 16 budget articles then passed within 20 minutes, setting a $28,907,417 budget in place for the next fiscal year. The validation vote for that budget is Thursday.
After the budget meeting, directors met for a previously-scheduled board meeting. Some expressed disappointment with tone of the meeting, while others were pragmatic.
"We had to come up with a response," Director Helen Wilkey of Vienna said, in regards to taking the subcontracting off the table. "I'm not bent out of shape about it. It's democracy in action."
In that board meeting, selectmen voted to rescind the authority of the district's administration to contract out janitorial services to a private company. That motion also included language to the effect that there existed an understanding that the latest offer made by the support staff negotiating team would be honored as a starting point for future negotiations. Directors met briefly in executive session with legal counsel during that meeting, in order to inform directors not on the district's negotiating team what the latest offer was. Director Keith Swett of Wilton and Director Paul Druan of Weld were opposed to the motion.
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I am very happy to read that the opposition to subcontracting these jobs was successful. I wasn't able to be at the meeting, but I am proud of Doug Hodum's work. He is fulfilling his role extremely well with a properly channeled response. This is how local control is supposed to work -- all the people working through challenges.
As for the directors who think the tone was hurtful, I must just say that if everyone remained upbeat and positive and grateful for the work that the directors were putting in for the community, there may not have been the urgency to do the right thing. If you decide to do something that hurts a lot of people, expect a response that might not be stated exactly as you wish.
Doug Hodum - great job advocating - your work should shine as a great example for the students!
I applaud the decisions and compromise of all parties at this meeting. The subcontracting proposal was clearly a bad idea and wouldn't have saved much money if the difference can be covered by a $200,000 from the carry over fund.
I am proud of the work Doug Hodum has done for our district. Thank you, Doug, for your dedication, professionalism and concern.
Thanks to all community members who came out last night and ended what I believe is the most shameful chapter of School Board bullying I've ever seen. Doug Hodum deserves great praise for leading this battle.
As for the School Board, aside from Iris and Bob Flick's strong support of the District's employees, not much to commend on this sorry chapter.
Congratulations Doug and the Mt. Blue folks!
I wish to say thank you to all parties involved in this decision. Thank you to the union, thank you to the community members, thank you to the teachers, thank you to the administrators, and thank you to the board. Mostly, I say thank you to the support staff for continuing to work tirelessly for the good of the kids, the teachers, the administrators, and he district as a whole. Thank you for having the willingness to do what you do and to believe that all of us support you too! Thank you to everyone who was willing to compromise and meet in the middle. When we choose to put others first we all win. When we choose to see the value in an actual person, rather than just in their position, we become better, each and every one of us.
And I wish to extend my gratitude for the opportunities that my children have in this district. I am proud that they are learning in an environment where people work their differences out, hopefully as civiliy as possible, and grow to represent the best we have to offer.
The union, through vigorous political action, rolled the school board. That is clear. A very small proportion of the taxpayers in the district attended.
A note of appreciation to the Board for listening to the people in attendance, recognizing the depth of feeling on this subject and attempting to right a wrong. There are many more negotiations to come.
In this day and age what is 200,000 dollars? Spend it! Especially if thats all it cost to spare someones feelings. Stop trying to be so tight RSU9, you got it.
The $200,000 will be made up of at least $115,000 in concessions from the support staff, and the rest will be found in budget surplus, or through cutting other areas of the budget. The district doesn't have $200,000 just laying around.
I have refrained from commenting on the Bulldog due to the fact that I disagree with the anonymous forum, I feel if you have something to say you should own it, but after last night’s meeting I feel the need to post a comment. As a school board member and member of the budget sub-committee for the past two years I know how difficult this budget was to put together. We have cut so much for so many years, and this year faced with an increase of over $800,000 in fixed costs, plus safety issues and maintenance problems in our buildings, add to this the fact that we will not be receiving the funding for four teaching positions covered by the Federal Jobs Bill, a sum of $200,000. When you add these figures the total is over 1 million dollars – that was this year’s budget shortfall. (Not including other programs and positions the sub-committee felt were necessary – but just couldn’t be covered.)
So, on one hand there are many who come to me and say, “Please don’t raise my taxes – they’re too high already, I can’t keep up.” On the other hand there are those who want better programming for their children, who see our teachers and staff struggling to keep up. ”We need help with behavior problems.”, ”Class sizes are too big in our elementary schools”,” Why aren’t our test scores where they should be?” Another hand has those who don’t want jobs or benefits cut, theirs or those of their friends and neighbors. Guess what? We can’t have it all – lower taxes, all of the jobs and benefits, and necessary programming for children, something has got to give! People spoke out last night, a compromise has been reached, and jobs were saved, but the problem still exists – there just isn’t enough money for it all. Hopefully the compromise made last night will help us to hop-along another year – I will be surprised if there aren’t serious cuts that will need to be made in other areas next year. Last night the people who spoke up stressed for us to raise their taxes – I can’t help but feel that that sentiment may not be the feeling of the majority of the voters in the district.
If I tallied up how much money I was being paid hourly over the past year on the school board it would probably be about 5 cents an hour, no benefits – that’s okay, I didn’t run for school board to make money, I ran because I care about educating the children in this district and advocating for them, I knew it was essentially a volunteer position. What I didn’t bargain for is the venomous comments spewed from the mouths of those at last night’s meeting. This was absolutely unnecessary. Passion and emotion don’t have to equate with hatred, disrespect and incivility, one can be passionate, respectful and civil at the same time. The continued mud-slinging at board members will only result in those serving resigning, not seeking re-election, and in people who could do a wonderful job refusing to run for the office. According to last night’s meeting the public would be thrilled if we would all step down – so perhaps this was the purpose of their disparaging remarks. I, for one, have a great deal of respect for my fellow board members, we may not always agree, but I feel that they have the best interests of students in mind. I am pleased to be working with a group of dedicated, caring, respectful, and hard-working individuals – no matter what was said to the contrary about us all last night.
I am so pleased to hear of this outcome concerning the current RSD9 budget. To have 100 people attend a meeting is a statement in itself. This is no small number when you consider the sacrifice to personal time to sit through an hours-long meeting. What has occurred is truly democracy in action and is the reason we should all be proud to be citizens of the great state of Maine in this magnificent country of ours. I am proud of all sides for following through on their ultimate goal which is to fulfill the district's mission statement (taken from the district's website http://www.mtbluersd.org/index.php/district-information):
MSAD #9 - District Mission Statement
MSAD No. 9 is committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and accepting environment where students can explore and develop their creative and intellectual abilities. We shall educate students, promote their self-esteem, and encourage them to achieve their maximum potential.
Students will demonstrate the ability to solve problems and to be self directed life-long learners.
As productive members of our society students will demonstrate compassion and ethical judgment.
Adopted January 11, 1994
The part that stands out in this statement is the last line, "productive members of our society will demonstrate compassion and ethical judgement."
While those of us in elected office strive to do what we think is best we must be open to hearing from the public that our perception of 'what is in the best interest of the public' may be wrong. I have come upon this in recent times in Readfield, where I live and serve as Chair of the Select Board, and have learned first-hand that we do not always make the correct decision, that we must listen to the public (though all parties must be respectful in their speaking of the issues), and we must fulfill their mandates as voted upon. So I applaud the RSD9 Board of Directors for their actions last evening.
Often times we, the public and elected officials, get bogged down in the numbers and forget the human impact of our budgetary actions. Director Claire Andrews of Farmington was quoted in this article saying, "We're at a point now, where we've cut everything we can cut." To me, this is the point in a budget process where you 'man up' and say we must have more money to fund our budget. Locally we cannot continue to cut costs at the same rate as the state and federal governments cut our funding. Yes, we can cut costs wherever there are real savings to be found, but to cut costs for the sake of cutting costs is irresponsible in my opinion. Ultimately what we do as elected officials will be voted up or down by the voters at large and the process will have worked. Not all folks will be on the 'winning' side yet we all must support that side, as that is one of the tenets of a democratic society. So I applaud the employees, their negotiating team, and the citizens who attended the meeting for their actions last evening.
I have always been proud and thankful to work in this school district and have enjoyed teaching over 3000 of your sons and daughters in my 24 years as a Mathematics teacher at Mt. Blue High School. This district stands out in our state in so many positive ways and I am thankful that your children continue to be cared for by so many wonderful people.
@betsy hyde et al,
anonymity is a regular and expected part of internet culture, which helps stimulate healthy democratic discourse. you are welcome to use your real name, but if you insist on being the real name gestapo, perhaps you'd feel more comfortable joining in a lopsided discussion at the sun journal website, or the seemingly invite-only asmainegoes. the editors have the power to screen comments based on relevance and civility, but requiring a "real name" policy does nothing but stifle speech.
As Betsey said of her fellow board members, we may not always agree. Last night community members showed up for the meeting because of sincere concerns which they felt had not been heard.
Betsey, all members, we appreciate your work. Thank you. Being a School Board member is not a rewarding job. Frankly, it can be rather like being a town official, or even being a grammar teacher. Those of us who take on these jobs do so because we think they need to be done. We put our hearts into them. After a vigorous discussion, it's important to step back from the controversy and say, "Okay. We've heard each other's thoughts. Now let's get to work."
Democracy requires listening, and compromising. The Board found itself able to do that last evening: It's my hope that the support staff will be able to do so also. Schools are expensive -- pocketbooks are lean. We cannot always afford everything which it might be desirable to have. It was a tough evening. It will be tough living with those realities.
Board members felt that their product (a budget which already represented difficult cuts) was not appreciated.
The community felt that some items were cut which should be preserved, and said so, firmly.
Still, it felt good that, at the end, we were able to feel that both sides had been heard. I will vote in favor of this budget Thursday. I hope that you will, too, and that you will thank those who hammered it out last night.
betsy, what you are saying is right, but about the anonymous message board i would have to say that it is valuable and necessary. we stopped an outrageously priced monstrosity of a police station from being built because people felt safe bringing to light criticisms such as the state of the art weight room which is a redundancy in downtown farmington. now we have a reasonable solution and it is all a result of a mixture of anonymous and owned commentary on the Bulldog. i would not want to pit myself with my real name against the police force, but they should be accountable just like the school system. I dont like the venomous anti-teacher rhetoric that pops up from time to time but that is part of a discussion where people can find their own stance. Dan Ryder often puts out a challenge to man up and write your own name, but i disagree with him on this....... even though i agree with him almost every time he posts on the issues important to the education of our kids.
I was at last night's SAD9 Budget meeting at MBHS as a member of this community and a parent to two children currently enrolled at Mallet Elementary School and another that started at the old Mallett School and graduated from Mount Blue High. It is our community which makes our little corner of the globe unique and special to us personally and I came out in support of that community. I was pleased that the School Board elected to rescind their proposal to subcontract the SAD9 facilities management and bus driving jobs, at least for the next fiscal year. That to me, felt like a victory.
However, leaving last night's meeting I was left with a bad taste in my mouth and a feeling that I was being played by both sides as a bargaining chip in contract negotiations. Passing the district's education budget is too important to all of our community to have it held hostage to a NO vote in protest to something that should have been decided at the negotiating table. Fourteen months is ample time to construct a fair contract if all parties are negotiating in good faith. I became involved in this issue to the extent of carrying protest signs down Middle Street to Mallett School and I do not regret doing so, but I should have never been put in that position.
At the least, I hope that the School Board of Directors received the message that we as a community do not support the outsourcing of our local custodial and bus driving jobs. I was not privy to the behind-closed-doors negotiating that went on at last night's meeting, but as a result our superintendent announced that a compromise had been reached and the money could be found to make up the shortfall in the budget caused by the removal of the proposal to subcontract these jobs. I am guessing this was the case long before last night's meeting and if this impasse could have been overcome in a more amicable fashion, I could have spent those two hours last night with my children.
Thank you, Betsy, for giving many of the reasons for the boards actions. So little explanation was offered till now.
There was a lot of nastiness directed to the board members who work for practically nothing. One member was said to be from "the dark side!" It displayed very little comunity spirit.
Thank You Peter Hardy. Very Well said. I believe if negotiating was done in good FAITH and the community
was listened to at the April board meeting there would not have been any questions on the proposed budget.
Its a sad fact but true people don't feel free to using their names because of retaliation occurring, thus its a safe way for persons to get their voice heard and communication on issues. Thank You Daily Bulldog for this opportunity.
What I would like any board member to address and answer is with all the difficult cuts and where to make them where if any are the cuts in administration items in Articles 6&7?
I do thank the board for realizing the error of subcontracting and rescinding the decision but I would like them to remember education requires many facets of people and that all involved and affected by a decision that effects people of the communities all around need to be heard and a part of the budget process. Maybe in the future the budget committee might involve other than board members, but some community members at large to get fresh ideas.
I do feel that anonymous comments allow far too much of a shield to hide behind for verbal sniping. I understand that not ALL of those who post anonymously spew venom, but I feel that if you are speaking out for what you think is right, then there is no NEED to hide. Standing up means speaking up and showing people who it is that believes this.
I'm not suggesting that this is happening, but how would people feel if some of the anonymous comments were from a group set to be the subcontractor for the positions being discussed? Wouldn't that be important information to know? What if the information has no basis in fact? What if it were someone posing as a school board member or Superintendent? What if it is slanderous? I'm just saying that anytime I consider the opinions of others, I temper it by considering the source. I think that's time tested advice in any situation.
Freedom of speech carries some responsibility. It doesn't mean you have to take that responsibility but I think the world would be a better place if more people did.
jeff -- i like the spirit of what you are saying , but you are wrong on two points: 1. most anonymous comments do not contain venom, not some as you stated, although that changes according to the issue, and 2. the fact that you consider your source might in itself be an argument for anonymity. community issues should be an exchange of ideas not a place to make a name for yourself. people will be more apt to jump on a bandwagon for reasons unseen if part of posting equals some kind of boost in status.
i say keep posting as yourself because your name and position give weight to your insights on educational issues. we need you for this. but stop this nonsense about ending anonymity on the internet. what you don't realize is that ending anonymity ends the free discussion this community benefits from.
I'm very glad that it turned out the way it did. I did want to mention that I'm thankful we don't have to use our real names. I've been attacked on here for my views a number of times, and at one point, someone even tried to find out where I live. Some of the people who write can be very violent and/or insulting in their writing, and I'd just as soon they not know who I am. It's a little scary to think that the people one passes on the street might be harboring such thoughts sometimes.
Granted its not my benefits on the line, I must disagree with all of the people who would not pass this budget with the cuts. Because really, your job has nothing to do with education. Eliminating your job will not affect whether or not the kids learn. Eliminating teaching positions (which will be inevitable next year) will affect what they learn. Isn't what this is all about? The education of our kids?
The custodians and bus drivers have a great deal of influence on the "education" of my children. The bus driver is the first interface of the day and also the last. He or she creates an environment that promotes learning from that first "Good Morning" as they board their bus. I count on and am indebted to them for getting my children safely to and from that education. My children love their bus driver and the ones who preceded him who either retired or changed jobs. One of my children was on the bus that was crashed into by a tractor-trailer. If her bus driver could have thrown himself in front of that truck to save the children, I have no doubt he would have. If he could have received the stitches, cuts and bruises instead of the kids, he would have. He calls them, "My kids" and I don't doubt he sees them that way. Do I think that a subcontracted company would feel that way about my children? No, I do not.
The condition and cleanliness of the school promotes an atmosphere and environment in which learning can take place. I don't think you can define "educating the kids" as something that only teachers do. As someone said at the meeting, "they are a part of the fabric of our community." To that I would add, "they are also part of the fabric of our childrens' education."
@M. Smith- Are you seriously saying the custodial positions (which a large percentage of which are also bus drivers) have nothing to do with impacting the education of children??? Please share with us the facts you have to back up such a powerful statement. We would LOVE to hear them. And no, I do NOT work for RSU9 nor does my job have anything to do with schools, and/or children. Seriously, please tell us how you came to the conclusion that a custodial/bus driver position does NOT impact the education of our kids. I won't be holding my breathe waiting but I hope you respond. Please and thank you.
Let's see. the first two years by contracting with an outside company, would yield around $600,000 savings. If we project out four years that would be a savings around $1,200,000. What would the tax payers think about that? Would it occur to them that $1,200,000 could be better spent, could yield more educational results, than paying extra to the custodians? What if all the taxpayers in the 10 towns were aware of the savings? And they showed up at the budget meeting????? Those people on the School Board were flat footed when it came to defending their work and, as a result, the union trampled on them. Bulldozed them!!! I would hazzard a guess that most all those at the meeting were employees, relatives of employees, friends of employees, friends of the union, or the usual left wing leaners who came to do their thing, including insulting the school board.
REALISTIC wrote "@M. Smith- Are you seriously saying the custodial positions (which a large percentage of which are also bus drivers) have nothing to do with impacting the education of children??? Please share with us the facts you have to back up such a powerful statement." I would ask REALISTIC what proof "facts, beyond the anecdotal, do you have to establish the opposite? Please share it with us and @M Smith. The question is this, is the impact of the school hired custodians significant enough to overwhellm the effect that contracted cusodians would have? And would it be worth an added $1,200,00 per four years? After all, there will still be custodians on duty and bus drivers driving no matter how they are hired. Surely contracted cusodians would not all be sour children haters. What's YOUR proof RELISTIC?
Why why why is no one mentioning that administration gets a raise while support staff gets cut? And not one administrator stood to address this issue during the meeting, whether it was to defend it or appologize for it. I am having a difficult time understanding why those on the very front line of student care has to pay while others do not. If administrators did not take the pay raise, couldn't that money be used in other places?
In response to Vanceboro. If you look at the contract proposal that was handed out in the April meeting
You can read that it is a potential savings, that potential could be off by $100,000 or more per year. Be real these private companies are in the business to make a profit so you can't look ahead 4 years. Also you'll notice there isn't any breakdown as to just what these companies are offering for the money. Is this just employee cost if so how many do they employee? Do they supply all the cleaning supplies and equipment needed? Also the little note that they charge for extra time activities could be substantial at $20 an hour. We also don't really know what was included in MtBlueRSD's total . Do we know if any administration salary was included? There was a lot of questions unanswered by the board, but they did correct their error by rescinding and they can be thanked for the right decision and all can learn by their mistakes. A person can't really make a sound decision on a total $ figure without seeing a breakdown of whats included in that total. Wouldn't you want to know what your paying for.
What? Are the busses equipped with chalk boards and computers these days? Does the bus driver quiz the kids on their times tables while en route? Do we pay them to teach reading, math, science and history? If you ask a kid, "what have you learned from your bus driver and how is that going to help you in your adult life?" what will their response be?
I am not saying the bus drivers do not play a significant role.....obviously our kids need a ride to school. And we need the assurance that our kids are in good hands. Did you know that, the back ground checks that the employees of the contracted company will be subject to, are even more stringent than the current one? I know the current employees are good people and love our kids. I commend them for that. That is important to me. But not more important than my child learning Spanish, phys ed or music. And Its not like these people are being fired. Most likely those same drivers and custodial workers will be hired by the contracted company. They will all get their jobs back. Did you know that? And I know the pay will be a nickel less an hour, and the benefits package will change. And that's painful. I understand that. We all hate paying our insurance premium. But if I have to choose between the bus driver having 100 percent insurance coverage and keeping a great math teacher employed, I am going to choose the math teacher. Every time. There is no substitute for a great teacher and I vote for hanging on to as many f them as we can. Because ultimately what our children need more than anything else is EDUCATION.
"But not more important than my child learning Spanish"
There lies part of the problem. Why so many specialized courses at the elementary and secondary education levels? Leave these to the post secondary level.
When I was in high school back in the 60's Latin and French were taught and I had to take one because I was in the "College Course" at Wilton Academy. That course has done absolutely nothing for me in the years since.
I'm VERY grateful for the out pouring of community support voiced at Monday's MBRSD's public budget meeting and that I live in a democratic society. I remain proud to be a member of the district's support staff and of my peers commitment to their roles in our school system.
I also appreciate the comments that question what the real and true cost savings are to subcontracting to companies outside our community.
Cathy Ibarguen
To CatLady, I think you hit the nail right on the head(Administrative Salaries?) Also To M. Smith Are administrative offices equipped with all the items you listed that are not on the bus? Are they in contact with the students? Are they teaching the students in their offices? So M. Smith why would they be getting raises that nobody can seem to answer? Seems like your putting people in high and low classes of people Also I disagree that students don't learn on the bus. The bus driver is always teaching , attitude, respect, disipline, safety obedience.They handle conflicts and much more. also by the way M.Smith most all students have lap tops on the bus so computer is there. I have to agree with Maineiac when I went to school I took 2 years French and have never used it. Also taught myself music and how to play piano.
@M. Smith- I don't want to sound like a broken record so I will begin by telling you most of the things I was going to say as to how bus drivers and custodians educate have mostly been answered by @Wondering. Like he/she said bus drivers educate children by teaching respect, positive attitude, discipline, and they are the FIRST to interact with your child. Most build relationships with the students on their bus that is basically the front door to a healthy educational environment. Some of the best education comes from experience and how those experiences can relate to the real world.
@M. Smith you said "And Its not like these people are being fired. Most likely those same drivers and custodial workers will be hired by the contracted company. They will all get their jobs back.
If I told you sorry M. Smith I am firing you from wal-mart, but you're in luck! We are hiring through an agency now so go see them and they'll hire you for less money and benefits for the same job! You would look at me and laugh because that's just a cowards way of firing someone. You can not tell me with any bit of certainty that they would ALL be hired back as you have stated. And yes it IS like they would have been fired, because they were going to be, I mean come one what kind of elementary aged term would you call it? Letting you go ever so slowly and compassionately??? No, it is called being Layed-off or simply put FIRED. Thank god the community came to their senses and voted this out. Don't get me wrong I don't want to sit behind this keyboard and attack you and you alone. I just want people that haven't taken a moment, to try, to actually SEE these interactions of educational value that our kids get from their locally known and respected bus drivers/custodians. If not for these people many kids lives would be impacted negatively.
REALISTIC, let’s be realistic. The “teaching” that bus drivers and custodians do is not essential to their jobs. It is incidental, that is, it is something that happens or could happen in connection with what is more important, fulfilling the duties of their jobs. A merchant on Front Street or Main Street in Farmington incidentally has to behave well too. It can be argued that they also “teach” our students, but RSU9 does not put them on the payroll also for that “service.”
Let us be realistic again, REALISTIC, and realize that whomever RSU9 hires for cleaning bathrooms, driving busses, and sweeping floors will not be mean spirited ogres snarling at the students. Even employees of outside contractors would have to be cooperative and friendly.
If an outside contractor was to be engaged for RSU9 custodial work it would be crazy for the company not to hire as many of the former employees as it could. There would be jobs for them. After all, they know the duties and physical plant well. To suggest that somehow an outside contractor would hire non local people to do those jobs, commuting from Rumford, Lewiston, Augusta or Waterville is not honest.
I’ve watched the School Board for a while and I believe that the members have the very best intentions for educating the students, for the wise use of resources, and for dealing fairly with the taxpayers. I’m not privy to all their evidence and what led them to budget as they did, but they certainly are in a far better position to know the facts than custodians, bus drivers, and union officials. As Ms. Hyde pointed out, above, Board members work very long hours for, essentially, a pittance, and what they received for their careful attention and difficult work the other day at the budget meeting was a lot of rude abuse from poorly informed people.