Hundreds of school districts across Michigan will have a hard time securing some of the $150 million in funding offered by Gov. Rick Snyder, unless they’re willing to battle with their teachers union.
As part of the new budget deal, Snyder said K-12 public schools will get that money if they start following “best practices.”
The best practices include a higher rate of cost-sharing by employees for health care and making efforts to privatize and consolidate services.
Schools have to achieve four of five best practices to be eligible for the extra money.
Details still have to be worked out and the compromise budget deal still faces final approval but, according to The Mackinac Center, here are the five metrics:
- Districts must implement a dashboard similar to what Snyder pitched for the state bureaucracy that would show metrics and measure the effectiveness of the district.
- Districts must have a 90/10 employer/employee cost-sharing agreement on health care expenses.
- Districts must show a competitive bid for non-instructional services over $50,000.
- Districts must have a shared service agreement with a neighboring district for things such as payroll, purchasing, busing or custodial services.
- Districts must produce a consolidation plan that shows cost reductions.
It’s unclear how existing union contracts impact the five metrics overall.
But a 2008-09 survey by the Mackinac Center found that
300 of Michigan’s 551 school districts did not require any percentage contribution from employees for health care.
It is time something is done to allow more money to go towards education, not just the educators.
Health Insurance needs serious change. In Berkley taxpayers pay $19,000 for health care policies. Dearborn teachers got a policy through the AFL-CIO for $11,000. About $1,800 of the per pupil spending goes to health care.
The retirement system needs a major make over. It is similar to the system that put the auto companies in bankrupcy. Next year school districts will spend close to 30% of budget on retirement.
Teachers work hard and deserve a fair salary, as do many in the private sector. However the taxpayers will no longer support exhorbitant benefits.