Ann Arbor school board approves bus consolidation
The Ann Arbor school board gave its final approval Wednesday to joining a countywide transportation plan.
The move means at least four districts will consolidate their general education and special education busing into one entity to be run by the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, officials said.
The Ann Arbor school district plans to join the countywide transportation system.
It also means all of Ann Arbor's bus drivers and other employees in the transportation division will be laid off. They will be allowed to reapply for jobs with the new organization.
Other districts joining the countywide system are Willow Run, Ypsilanti, Lincoln and Whitmore Lake.
WISD officials have said they want to hire as many employees as possible, but they haven't promised anyone a job. Bus drivers who are hired will take cuts in pay and have to pay more for health insurance.
The move will save the Ann Arbor school district more than $1 million in the first school year, officials project.
School board President Deb Mexicotte said the board had several options to get savings in transportation. Board members have said they preferred this approach to privatizing because the employees would stay eligible for the same government workers' retirement plan.
“Doing nothing in a year when we have a $20 million budget deficit wasn’t an option,” Mexicotte said. “We’ve been talking about everyone making sacrifices.”
She said the board also recognized that without Ann Arbor - the county’s largest district - joining the plan, it would have been hard to do. That would have impacted the budgets of smaller districts facing steep budget holes, she said.
“We felt we needed to be a good partner to the other districts in the county. We understood we had to be leaders in this.”
David Jesse covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.
Comments
proudparent
Mon, Jul 12, 2010 : 11:03 a.m.
This is ridiculous. And come to find out, Lincoln is now out of consolidating their transportation department. I dont think this was a well thought out plan, not to mention the way they have been treating the drivers involved with this transition. We cant even get anyone to tell us whats going on. Ann Arbor Public schools has lost all respect from me. I still hope for a positive outcome from this.
msc
Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 3:43 a.m.
The way the Drivers have been treated from A2 Board is ridiculous. The drivers have been left hanging with NO INFORMATION about this "fabulous consolidation with WISD". They were called last week and told to apply for this job by end of the week with no clue on what the job they are applying for includes(or does not include). After all that the drivers do in keeping our children safe, the LEAST the board could do is respect the drivers and give them a little heads up on what to expect for their future.
proudparent
Tue, Jun 29, 2010 : 2:09 p.m.
@steve norton Bus drivers are not gauranteed anything! They must reapply for their jobs, and it clearly says "they are not gauranteed they'll get it back". How can this be better?
Tony Livingston
Tue, Jun 29, 2010 : 7:25 a.m.
My kids never ride the bus in the morning. They have to go out there a full hour before school starts for a 5 minute drive to Pioneer because of the way they route the buses. Very few kids are willing to stand out there at 6:45 in the morning so most parents get their kids there by private car. Only the kids that don't have that option ride the bus in the morning. In the afternoon, the bus arrives here 15 minutes after school is out and it is packed. I can only anticipate much more of this kind of ineffective service when they consolidate.
jns131
Mon, Jun 28, 2010 : 11:26 a.m.
Teachers take a 5% cut and get the money back in 5 years? O yeah, that is saving big dollars isn't it? Teachers are to blame for their hi salaries on the back of transportation and custodians to keep what they are making. It will still be a big huge mess in September when parents start screaming where is my bus for my child and it is how late? Can't wait to see this one. Blame will be on teachers and the board.
Steve Norton, MIPFS
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 11:43 p.m.
I'm not happy with the way this went either, but pointing the finger at AAEA isn't really accurate. The district indicated that they wanted to privatize or get similar savings from both custodial and transportation, and this plan came before talks with the AAEA had gotten very far. In theory, this option is better than privatization because bus drivers do not lose their pensions as food service workers did. I know that's small comfort, but for people not yet vested, it may make a big difference. Especially since buying years of service for pension eligibility is now prohibited. Districts are already under legal pressure to consolidate non-classroom services, and future funding is likely to be tied to steps such as this. I still think this is better than the privatization option....
AlphaAlpha
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 : 6:48 p.m.
"if your childs current school is deemed low performing" Where is the list?
jns131
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 : 12:40 p.m.
I have information that if your child lives in a failing school district that you can intradistrict. Know your school choice options in Michigan. In Michigan your child can attend any school in the district (called intradistrict choice) if your childs current school is deemed low performing. Your child can also attend a school outside the district (interdistrict choice), provided that there is space and the receiving district agrees to accept the student. Charter schools are also available. Ann Arbor has publicly announced they have the room for more children. Under the federal No Child Left Behind law, students attending a Title I school designated as in need of improvement have the right to attend a higher performing school in the district. Ann Arbor. Nuff said. My child will continue with Ann Arbor whether or not I apply to WISD or not. The feds would love to have AAPS for lunch if they don't comply.
gild
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 : 9:44 a.m.
gus-- Maybe applying to WISD isn't a condition of receiving benefits, but why wouldn't you? Are you saying people should just sit around collecting unemployment instead of applying for jobs they know they're qualified for?
Carole
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 : 7:55 a.m.
This is truly a sad day for sure. And, with only 2 months before the start of school, I wonder how the consolidation of four districts will come up with enough drivers and routes to insure that our "children" will be safely delivered to school. Once again, cannot impress upon the public and the AAPS, that a child's day starts when he/she steps into the bus - with a driver that they have probably known for some time, who they and they parents feel safe with and who will deliver the children to school secure and sound for a "great" academic day. Now, who will be driving who, when, and where. All studies indicate that if a child has a bad beginning to the day, academics certainly go bad as well. This is also true for the noon hour -- bad noon hour, bad p.m. academically. And, yes, us noon hour folks took a hit as well with getting our hours cut by 3.5. This, in my opinion, is a sad day. Surely, other options could have been provided to keep our bus drivers with AAPS. To you the drivers, I commend you for all you have done for the children and community -- I hope that you will find employment with those who truly appreciate you contribution to the community.
Kerry
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 : 7:34 a.m.
I have though for years that AATA and school buses should be combined for older kids. My son already rides a AATA bus home from Skyline. This could be a win-win for AAPS and AATA.
schoolsmuse
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 10:18 p.m.
Regarding "grandfathering" in students--the Ann Arbor schools have a policy that students of employees who don't live in the district can apply for admittance to Ann Arbor schools based on their status as children of employees. Some number of bus drivers (I recall a number of 70 for bus drivers and maintenance/custodial) have children in the district even though they don't live in the district. If the drivers are no longer district employees, their children will not qualify to go to Ann Arbor schools. This was discussed at one of the school board meetings quite a while ago.
AlphaAlpha
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 8:51 p.m.
"I will only drive for Ann Arbor. No one else." Why?
gus
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 8:49 p.m.
WRONG..you do not have to wait for them to give you a pink slip to file for unemployment. AAPS and Ypsi have to honor anyone that files for unemployment since we are not guaranteed a job come fall. And dont let administration fool you into thinking you have to reaply to WISD. It is not a condition of anyone receiving unemployment benefits.
jns131
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 8:32 p.m.
Proudparent? Supervisors are not going to tell you anything because they are fleeing the sinking ship as well. We will get the pink slip August 31 because AAPS does not want to pay unemployment before then. Ha! I don't think there is anyone left to write that letter. We all knew this day was coming. Why do you think over 20 drivers took retirement over lay off? 10 left for AATA. I think. I do know that WISD is going to hurt in September because they have no clue as to what to do. I too am considering not re applying as well. I will only drive for Ann Arbor. No one else. I am still clueless as to how this will all unfold. I would also like to know what promises are and are not being kept and why not transition like they did in Livingston county. Going to be one big mess in September and parents are going to scream. Can't wait. By the way, can you really see a preschooler or K riding an AATA bus to school? I can see that going over great with the parents. By the way Washtenaw County's unemployment rate rose to 8.8%. Going to rise much higher with nearly 300 plus workers applying for assistance. Good luck WISD.
annarbor
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 8:26 p.m.
@PhillyCheeseSteak- The consolidation of the school bus systems has absolutely nothing to do with the incident those two girls were involved in. One of the girls was a runaway from Windsor and the other was a runaway from the Ann Arbor/Ypsi area. Both girls were picked up at the Blake Transit Center. The incident had nothing to do with the regionalization of the public bus systems.
PhillyCheeseSteak
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 7:09 p.m.
While it does seem wasteful to have 3 bus systems in the greater Ann Arbor area (AATA, U of M, and various school buses), we must first of all keep children safe. Remember, it was only in February that 2 school-age young women (14 & 15) were "picked up" on an AATA bus by 2 men in their mid-20s, and later sexually assaulted by the men. From AnnArbor.com, "Police said Williams and Wayne Rankin met the girls on the bus one afternoon and spent a few days partying with alcohol and drugs. An Amber Alert was issued for the younger girl and they reported the sexual assaults to police." http://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti-parolee-returns-to-prison-on-home-invasion-conviction/ We must keep students' safety as the top priority, before budget cuts and consolidations.
AlphaAlpha
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 7:04 p.m.
School district consolidation next?
Stephen Landes
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 5:20 p.m.
It seems to me that a more useful consolidation would be to merge the three bus systems in Ann Arbor into one: combine AATA, U of M, and the A2 School transportation systems. We now have U of M and AATA buses running on some of the same routes. One system could save money and improve system-wide access. I also suggest a card with car readers on the buses so students could still get their free transportation and other riders could be charged appropriately based on their card's info (e.g.: retired, full pay, etc). A card system could also be used to charge riders preferential rates during rush hours to encourage more riders to use the buses instead of drive to work.
proudparent
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 2:23 p.m.
@Eileen Yes, i did see this coming, but i also assumed i would hear this from a supervisor or director of mine, not a writer from a2.com. They knew this was going to happen, they should have told us (the workers) before we were let off on summer break. I refuse to go back to work for an institution that claims they value their employees and clearly just stabbed transportation in the back. Reapply? Why? I should have my job just like the rest of A2 school employees do. I dont see custodians, food service, teachers, or any public school worker having to reapply. Why transportation? This is sad because i have bonded and made great relationships with my parents and students. I will miss them. But as for the people who approved this without adding in that they would keep the drivers already in place, i have one question. What will you do come September and you dont have enough drivers to fill all runs? Good luck with that!
Eileen Peck
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 1:56 p.m.
jns131 said: "...Our children inside the system already? I don't think the board really considered that they will loose a lot of money by not grandfathering the children of the laid off workers for transportation in Ann Arbor. jns131, I don't understand this reference. "Grandfathering" what?
ironyinthesky2
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 1:40 p.m.
Eileen Peck - Wow. Logic. That is really refreshing - Thank You! I am also sorry for the drivers, but anyone who didn't see it coming was probably in a coma for the last five weeks.
jns131
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 1:38 p.m.
What I am now curious about is this. They have now put several districts out on the unemployment line. Does this mean everything we have worked for is out the window? Seniority? Our children inside the system already? I don't think the board really considered that they will loose a lot of money by not grandfathering the children of the laid off workers for transportation in Ann Arbor. How did I find out? I saw my job posted by the time clock on Wednesday morning. Then this mornings confirmation when Chai asked Jesse about the vote. Transportation does have its ways of telling its people thanks for the memories. Proudparent? You know better then I this is the way things are in Ann Arbor. Surprised? I'm not. By the way, if you read in between the lines? It says they want to hire as many employees as possible, but they haven't promised anyone a job. Good luck there.
Eileen Peck
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 1:11 p.m.
Proudparent, The school board has to vote on issues like this, and to vote, they have to meet. The Open Meetings Act says they can't meet privately, so almost everything outside of things like direct negotiations and receiving legal counsel has to be presented in an open forum. The board did put the item on the agenda and the meeting was open to the public. From the information in previous Board packets, it appears as though the Teamsters Union was invited to make a counter-proposal by June 18, and unless I misread something (always a possibility), it appeared as though the Board indicated that it would approve the countywide transportation plan if it didn't get a spectacular union proposal. If you were unaware that the board was voting on this, you may have a beef with your union, but everything the school board does is done in the open. I'm sorry that the situation affects so many people and I'm sorry that you've lost your position with the schools, but nothing in this story that comes as a real surprise, does it?
gus
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 11:58 a.m.
I think the union members at A2 public school transportation really tried to put up a fight for there workers. Unlike the union we have here at YPS transportation that folded soo easily under fire.
proudparent
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 11:53 a.m.
Does anyone know when they planned on telling the employees? Or was this are only way of finding out?
gus
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 11:46 a.m.
Don't feel bad..the transportation department at Ypsi has been waiting for a final decision from A2 public schools for about 2 weeks now.Ypsi claim they wont make a final determination untill A2 is fully in on the consolidtion. Well, I guess we all know now and we should immediately filed for unemployment. Also, you don't have to wait for them pink slip either to file. Good luck to all the people who works in the transportation department.
Pat Montgomery
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 11:45 a.m.
Was this a unanimous decision by the Board?
proudparent
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 11:16 a.m.
Geez, thanks Ann Arbor public schools, i appreciate how i found out I dont have a job anymore. Real classy way of treating your employees!