School Board Members Survive Recall Attempt

All four school board members at Lakeview (Macomb County) targeted for recall by opponents of competitive contracting retained their positions in a vote held May 2 in St. Clair Shores. The board members privatized custodial services in a move expected to save $423,000 in 2005 and another $553,000 in 2006, according to The Detroit News. The board also angered labor officials by purchasing health insurance directly from Blue Cross Blue Shield instead of using the Michigan Education Association’s insurance arm, Michigan Educational Special Services Association (MESSA).