6/10/14 - The Brighton Area Schools Board of Education Monday night discussed, but took no action on, outsourcing some of the district's support staff. The employees affected would include about 35-40 kitchen staff, 30 secretaries and six maintenance workers. All are represented at the bargaining table by BESPA â the Brighton Educational Support Personnel Association. The district hopes to gain significant cost savings with the union in negotiations toward a new contract, which would replace the one set to expire at the end of the month. If that doesnât happen and the employees are outsourced, district officials say Brighton would realize a savings of $423,000. Thatâs because the district would no longer be required to pay the state the employeesâ retirement costs. Toward that possible end, the board Monday night approved a contract authorizing Professional Educational Services Group, or PESG, to administer outsourcing services for the district. But Superintendent Greg Gray empathizes that the board did NOT make a decision to outsource its support staff. Gray tells WHMI such action might come at a future meeting, but only if the district and BESPA are unable to reach contract agreement. Gray emphasizes the goal is that the employees continue to be employed by the district. He says the two sides have been working diligently toward a new agreement, and need to continue those efforts as the calendar gets closer to the June 30th expiration date. The downside for the employees is if the district ends up outsourcing them, and they are contracted out to a private company, they would lose their state retirement benefits. The 40 para-professionals on staff are not subject to being outsourced because they are considered instructional employees, and by law cannot be outsourced. (TT)
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