FLINT, Mich. — Flint Community Schools will enter talks with private companies on providing transportation and maintenance services as school trustees look for ways to reduce spending by $9.5 million and balance the coming year’s budget, The Flint Journal reported.
Concurrently, the trustees rejected one custodial services bid that would have saved the district an estimated $2.5 million, but that board members said set wages too low, The Journal reported. A representative from that firm told trustees there is room to negotiate on wages.
The district also will continue talks with union employees who currently provide non-instructional services, according to The Journal.
District administrators have proposed a minimum of 15 percent budget cuts in each department, The Journal reported. Failure to balance the budget could lead to a state emergency financial manager, some board members said, according to The Journal.
“That financial manger can come in and make changes you don't like,” said board member Fred Bashir, according to The Journal.
SOURCE:
The Flint Journal, “Flint
schools moves step closer to outsourcing services,” May 18, 2011
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, “Michigan School Privatization Survey 2010,”
Nov. 30, 2010
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