Ann Arbor lunchtime supervisors told to report for first day of school as outsourcing still planned
About 400 lunchtime employees at Ann Arbor Public Schools were told to report for work as usual today for the first day of school, despite the district looking to outsource their positions.
The AAPS Board of Education voted to privatize the district’s noon-hour supervisors and coordinators in June when it passed its $188.5 million budget for the 2012-13 academic year.
Students at Mitchell Elementary School goof around while eating lunch. Supervisors that oversee the noon-hour lunchtime and recess at Ann Arbor schools may be outsourced soon to save the district $75,000.
File photo | The Ann Arbor News
District spokeswoman Liz Margolis said correspondence was sent to all noon-hour employees about two weeks ago, instructing them to come to work as they normally would on the first day of school. She said nothing will immediately change for the workers.
School officials went out for bid late last month, seeking a management company that can offer experienced personnel to provide noon-hour supervision for the district's elementary and middle schools. According to the Request for Proposals, the district is looking to sign a three-year contract with the management company to begin Sept. 17.
District administrators are scheduled to present the bids to the Board of Education on Wednesday, with the contract appearing as an action item on the board's agenda for its Sept. 12 meeting, according to the RFP.
Margolis said if the board approves a bid, a transition plan addressing what could happen to the current lunchtime employees would be developed at that time.
District leaders estimated privatizing the noon-hour workers would save Ann Arbor $75,000. That savings would be generated from AAPS not having to pay in to the state’s retirement system for each of these workers, Margolis said. She added these workers won’t ever see their state pensions anyway, considering an employee must have worked for a district full-time for 10 years in order to access his or her retirement through the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System.
Ann Arbor’s approximately 400 noon-hour supervisors work anywhere from one to two hours per day, and many work only a few days per week, Margolis said.
“It’s a very part-time job. It caters most to our stay-at-home parent community and to our district retirees. It's a very attractive job to retirees.”
The position is very transient. Most noon-hour supervisors don't stay with the district for more than a few years, and AAPS is in a constant state of replacing these workers.
“Although, there is one woman at Bryant (Elementary School) who has been doing it since my kids started kindergarten 18 years ago,” Margolis said.
These workers are not in a collective bargaining unit and make between $8.60 and $11.67 per hour as a supervisor and between $8.86 and $14.16 per hour as a coordinator.
The RFP states that bidders must offer current qualified AAPS staff employment on a "right of first refusal" basis. Background check issues or physical and drug and alcohol testing results would be the two criteria for disqualifying an existing AAPS worker from future employment, the RFP says.
Margolis said because the district is not privatizing its lunchtime employees at the beginning of the school year, the savings to AAPS for the 2012-13 academic year could be less than $75,000.
The building principals determine how many noon-hour supervisors are needed at each school. New this coming year, principals will have more control over their budgets for these employees. The line items in the district’s departmental budget within the general fund will be moved to each building’s separate budget, making it the responsibility of the principal to monitor and manage how the building is spending money, in particular, on substitute teachers and lunchtime staff.
The principals decide how many noon-hour supervisors to employ based on student enrollment numbers and the climate and culture of the school, Margolis said.
According to the job description for noon-hour supervisors, their primary role is overseeing the children to insure they eat and enjoy recess time in a positive and safe environment.
Their essential duties and responsibilities are listed as:
- Supervise students at playtime and lunchtime and maintain a harmonious atmosphere by encouraging the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
- Organize group games and activities.
- Assume responsibility for the play equipment.
- Direct movement of groups to and from the playground, lunchroom and classrooms in a safe and organized manner.
- Assist students in lunchroom cleanup.
Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
newsboy
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 3:18 p.m.
Why not outsource administration? I'm sure a private company could get the job done for allot less. This could also free the district of frivolous law suits in the case of injury or death!
Carole
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 3:14 p.m.
Definitely need to respond again after reading some of the articles. As in all positions in business everywhere - there are some who do an excellent job and some not so good, but for the most part most the noon hour supervisors I know (quite a few having worked noon hour for 10 years), do a tremendous job of making sure the children have a safe noon hour. Privatization of the noon hour program will definitely hurt--I suggest that the parents step up to the plate and become active in what is going on -- it is your children who will suffer the most. What should be done is what is best for the kids.
actionjackson
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 2:37 p.m.
A very close friend of mine assumed this position at an elementary school in Ann Arbor. He had retired from VA Hospital and also had a teaching degree. One of the duties that I did not see mentioned in the requirement is First Aid! Dave noticed a young boy choking in the lunch room and immediately performed a Heimlich maneuver which very possibly saved this boy's life. Privatizing may be healthy for the pension savings however a child's life is obviously worth more than any savings the school system may incur.
jns131
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 2:06 a.m.
I totally agree. Plus how much screening is there going to be once these people come into our lunchrooms? Kind of scary to think someone might have a past and they are this close? This is why they need to stay in the system. To be closely monitored.
Dog Guy
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.
This privatization appears to be a paper change to save money.
music to my ear
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:18 p.m.
sorry my bad ,I thought it was lunch people hope that is not next but didnt that already happen
music to my ear
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:11 p.m.
I used to be a lunchlady it is really hard work.it really took a toll on my body. can the school realize, just how much these workers have gone through to provide meals 5 days a week and breakfast (yes I know they got a pay check) but, get cheaper workers and they will have a big turnover and guess what, that takes time and energy to train worker after new worker. and the money may not be worth it for the new worker and they will say I am outta here. every year before contract they would bring up privatizing talk about depressed ,how will they pay their bills maybe goverment supplement.
actionjackson
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 2:42 p.m.
RG the article does include lunch room supervision. "Supervise students at playtime and lunchtime and maintain a harmoniousj"
music to my ear
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 2:41 p.m.
yes I retracted that, right after I made the comment did you not see ,however some points were made
Robert Granville
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:47 p.m.
Umm.... I think you failed to read and comprehend this article. It's not about kitchen workers.
AMOC
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.
If more of the noon hour supervisors actually performed the duties described, I would think that perhaps it was wrong to "outsource" them. As it is, this is a sinecure to provide a little spare (unreported?) cash for stay-at-home parents and grandparents who are in good with the building principal. Most of the supervisors stand or sit together in the shade during noon recesses and completely ignore any student not bleeding or screaming for help. Some blatantly favor their own students, allowing them to flout the rules. When the PTO at one school I know paid for a consultant to teach playground games, bought balls and other equipment and recruited many volunteeers to "referee", the principal refued to allow the volunteers to be on the playground at noon recess. It was too threatening to the noon-hour supervisors to have adults actively recruiting kids into active, positive games.
Jake C
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 5:15 p.m.
All salaries to lunchtime staff have the proper state & federal taxes accounted for, it's rude to insinuate that they are somehow being paid "under the table".
noreaster
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 12:54 p.m.
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but as I read the article the savings is achieved not by reducing worker salaries (although that may happen) but rather by reducing a somehow mandatory payment to Michigan PERS. Folks, MPERS is the bad guy here, why do they get to demand money that will never be returned to those who earned it? Does the money get distributed to teachers (not such a bad thing, but still not good) or does it fatten MPERS administrator's pockets?
Jake C
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 5:13 p.m.
To answer your question: none of the above, really. It just goes into a big retirement fund that could conceivably be paid out to the lunchtime supervisors, but only if they went on to work full-time for the MI school system for a certain number of years. The same situation would apply to full-time teachers & other staff who worked for the schools for less than 10 years & then quit, except those people probably would have paid a whole bunch more into the system.
Momma G
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 11:54 a.m.
How sad for the lunch supervisors. I know there are some who are excellent and some who aren't but they all care about the children. I know one who retired after 30 yrs of service without a pay raise in many, many years. Then there was one who was forced out by an unsavory principal who got paid the high bucks to do "nothing" while everyone else did his job. Why does AAPS think privatizing those who make the least amount of money is saving them money? How about privatizing some of the coordinators and other administrators at the top levels, who make the big bucks. At least the lunch supervisors like the kids and are there to make sure they eat and enjoy their recess break.
jns131
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 4:59 p.m.
Once the BOE sets their minds to it there is no stopping them. Happened with the food service workers and 2 years later? Wasn't the custodians, but it sure was a close call, it was the bus drivers. Custodians are next to protect the over paid salaries. Good luck with this one.
Carole
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 3:08 p.m.
Momma G you hit it right on. I suggest that parents really get involved and stop the privatization of the noon hour.
dexterreader
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 12:42 p.m.
Because it's easy to target the "little guy", especially if they are non-union. They have no protection, no job security, low pay, etc.
Silly Sally
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 11:44 a.m.
Wow, haven't some of you ever needed to eat lunch at your desk to finish some work? Are teachers that different?Kids are less likely to misbehave around one of their teachers than a temp worker.
Jake C
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 4:52 p.m.
Yeah that'd make sense except many of the teachers I know *already* eat lunch at their desks while they're doing other work. When do you expect teachers to grade papers or make lesson plans if they're doing nothing but teaching or supervising kids for 8 hours a day?
Jim Osborn
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 10:55 a.m.
When I was a school kid, the teachers shared this duty. My middle school had 1200 students and perhaps 45 teachers plus another 6 vice principals and counselors. Each teacher or administrator spent one day a week on lunch duty. They were effective since they knew the students as opposed to outside people. The AA public schools could save a lot if they operated in this fashion, and save taxpayer money.
jns131
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 4:56 p.m.
I have heard some teachers are opening their doors for lunch periods. They still do their work and the children have a quiet place to eat if need be.
Silly Sally
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 2:59 p.m.
& a VP would be a much better deterrent for "student violence" and 911 (police) then and now for firearms. " solutions can't stay the same." it appears that most of the "solutions" of the past 25 years have not worked out too well. Back to what did work.
Robert Granville
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:45 p.m.
When you were a school kid class sizes were smaller, teachers weren't consistently under the gun for poor standardized test scores, schools were better funded, student violence was much more likely to include wet towels than firearms.... need I go on? Things have changed... solutions can't stay the same.
walker101
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 12:26 p.m.
Heaven forbid you have one day out of the week and help for 1 hour, get a real job and you'll find out many have to work through their lunch break due to workloads imposed. I guess when your an elitist what more can you expect.
Jim Osborn
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 11:39 a.m.
The vice- principals and counselors can always eat later. Plus, a VP has a certain fear factor. Some teachers did not have a class just before or after lunch, so they took their lunch then. If a teacher were to eat their lunch on site once a week, and use the bathroom, on site, once a week, that is not an awful hardship. I remember seeing a half dozen teachers eating together at a table in the cafeteria. Just being in the building was enough.
sh1
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 11:23 a.m.
When would those teachers eat their own lunches?
skigrl
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 11:20 a.m.
Don't you think teachers deserve to eat lunch and get a break to use the restroom during the school day?
Carole
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 10:47 a.m.
This is one of the biggest mistakes that the administrators have ever made short of the busing situation. As a former noon hour supervisor, it is very important to have individuals on the job who are compassionate for the children, who are very flexible, and caring. At the most, the hours are only 2 per day right in the middles of the day -- some schools only have 1 3/4 hrs. -- I really don't think so and those who have been working the noon hour have done so with no raise in salary, and when the last mileage failed, they even had their hours cut. My heart goes out to all of the children and the disruption that this will cause them. And, let's remember, it is all about the children. I ask any administrator to share a lunch hour with the children at the various schools -- see what it really is all about.
jns131
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 4:55 p.m.
I could not agree more. Especially since the food service workers are also privatized as well. Whats next? The custodians? Balais sure needs to be overhauled. Plus you get some of those drivers as well. Going to be interesting this year.
tom swift jr.
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 10:30 a.m.
Danielle, I would be curious to know if the language of the request for bids specifies how the salaries of the current employees is impacted as they move to employment with a for profit company. Will their salaries be cut or increased in the process? Do you have that information?
SEC Fan
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.
Typically, RFQs of this sort won't specify salaries. It'll essentially ask what the annual cost for the services will be and will leave it up to the company to set the salaries.
Danielle Arndt
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 5:02 p.m.
Tom, thank you for your question. When this option originally was discussed as a possibility to reduce the budget back in April, Deputy Superintendent for Operations Robert Allen said the move to privatize might actually allow the district to increase employee salaries. I've been told the reality of this has not been discussed since. If you would like to view the exact bid language, the bid can be downloaded here: http://www.a2schools.org/aaps/pbs.bids/view_bids_archive&mode=single&recordID=457668&nextMode=list. Thank you for reading!