ESP
Just Protect Students

Michigan ESPs fight privatization plan.

For 23 years, Lois Riever has worked as an education support professional for the Jackson, Michigan, public schools. So Riever, a custodian at High School Alternatives, was shocked last spring to learn that her job might disappear as part of a plan by the school board to turn 200 ESP jobs--including transportation, maintenance, and skilled trades positions--over to private contractors.

"I was stunned," says Riever. "We all were. I think the school board timed the announcement because school was about to let out for the summer, and they thought no one would care too much. They were wrong."

Indeed, Jackson ESPs, who belong to the Jackson Educators Support Personnel Association, acted quickly to oppose the privatization plan and to educate the community about the dangers of privatization.

"Education support professionals are in a unique position to communicate with the community," says JESPA UniServ Director Pat Robins. "They grow up with and live among the parents whose children they serve, and they are a trusted voice."

Before school board members met in June to discuss the privatization plan, Jackson ESPs canvassed the community, delivering key information about privatization, says Robins. They highlighted these facts:

• Privatization does not save money. Contractors get in the door with low-ball bids, but quickly increase their charges. Meanwhile, local job loss means less money going into the community.0000
• Private contractors are not accountable to the school board or the community. When privatization comes in, essentials such as employee background checks and education and training for public school employees disappear.
• Private contractors have no incentive to provide quality service to children. Because making money is the bottom line for contractors, the real incentive is to reduce or cut services.

Jackson bus driver Manfred Costello sees the drawbacks of privatization from both the parent and school employee points of view. Costello and his wife have adopted eight special-needs children, so they work closely with the district's support professionals, he says.

"My wife and I had to build trusting relationships with every school employee who comes into contact with our children, from the bus driver to the teacher's aide to the custodian. The parents of the kids I drive build that same relationship with me," Costello says. "If a kid isn't at the bus stop in the morning, I go back to see if he or she was late. If a parent doesn't meet a kid at the door, I don't leave until I know the child is safe. Believe me, no subcontractor ever went back to look for a kid who missed the bus."

So far, the Jackson ESPs have had great success winning community support. They go door-to-door to talk to parents and wear T-shirts with the slogan "Just Protect Students" so people will stop them to ask about the privatization issue.

When the school board met to discuss its privatization plan, 450 community members attended the meeting to voice their opposition. About 250 people walked a picket line outside the meeting, and more than 700 people signed a petition opposing privatization.

"But the fight's not over," says Robins. "The school board is still planning to accept bids from contractors. We've got to make sure the community continues to raise its voice until the board listens."

Costello agrees. "No one can win this for us," he says. "We have to do it. We live here. We are the community. And we need to lead the way in carrying the message that this community does not want privatization."

Riever thinks school workers in every district can learn from what the Jackson ESPs have experienced. "You have to make the public understand the reality of privatization," she says. "And no one can do that as well as we can."

--Matt Simon

For more: E-mail Pat Robins at probins@mea.org.

ESP -- Profile
Helping After Hurricane Floyd

Name:
Bill Snow

Job Title:
Maintenance mechanic-carpenter, Neshaminy School District, Neshaminy, Pennsylvania

What I Do in My Job:
I remodel bathrooms and offices. Most importantly, I upgrade classrooms.

The Most Rewarding Part of My Job:
I enjoy it all.

Why I Do What I Do:
I prefer it over daily maintenance, like fixing locks. I really enjoy the benefits of the job. I used to do construction, but this school district and job have better benefits.

My Favorite Pastime:
Camping. I go down to the shore every weekend.

My Community Involvement Includes:
After Hurricane Floyd hit in 1999, many people in the area lost their houses. There was devastating damage. I worked to put people's houses back together. Neshaminy is on a creek, so many of my employees were out of luck. Many didn't have flood insurance. I personally worked with electricians, plumbers, and other people to make the necessary repairs. People were really grateful. I was nominated for Employee of the Year for Pennsylvania that year. People were more than willing to write letters for that. I was overwhelmed by their gratitude.

Going the Extra Mile

Prepared for Political Action
As the first ESP member to serve on the Tennessee Education Association's Tennessee Political Action Committee, Christine Denton is laser-focused on this month's election. Denton, an elementary media aide from Clarksville, helps decide which political candidates to recommend for member support. Denton recently completed the first year of her three-year term on the state committee.

"I hope it shows other ESPs they can go as far in the Association as they want to," she says.

Shortly after Denton joined the Clarksville/Montgomery County Education Association three years ago, the local president designated her as the affiliate's representative for ESP members. Fellow members then encouraged Denton to run for her district's spot on the state's political action committee. Denton secured her seat on the committee during an election held at Tennessee's Representative Assembly.

"There are a lot of people who don't join the Association because they don't feel the Association can do anything for ESPs," Denton says. "This shows them the Association is here for everybody, every ESP and every teacher."

Bus Drivers Focus on Safety
New Jersey bus drivers are now better prepared to deal with potential terrorist-related crises, thanks to training they received from the Toms River Transportation Association (TRTA).

TRTA organized a workshop, with help from the Toms River Transportation Department and the Dover Township Police, that addressed ways school bus drivers should handle violent or life-threatening situations. The session included tips for reducing the chance for violence on and around school buses and for defusing volatile situations between students. About 250 transportation employees attended the workshop.

"The most important thing is that we must protect ourselves so that we can protect these kids," says TRTA President Grace Kelliher.

Wisconsin ESPs Build Tech Skills
The Hartford Support Association in Wisconsin has used a $3,000 NEA ESP Technology Grant to upgrade its staff development program. The local purchased two laptop computers and tutorials that ESP members can take home to practice their computer skills.

Consequently, members no longer have to wait until the end of the school day to use school computer facilities, says Sue Hoefs, co-president of HSA.

The additional computer skills will help ESP members advance in their jobs, Hoefs says.

For more on grant opportunities, see www.nea.org/lachome/gotv1.html.

Resources

Health on the Job
Do you need information about health and safety on the job? Check out the Labor Occupational Health Program at the University of California at Berkeley. This community outreach program offers information, publications, and training on collective bargaining, construction safety, ergonomics issues, lead-safe schools, workers' compensation, and other health and safety issues. Many LOHP publications also are available online. For more information call 510/642-5507 or visit http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~lohp/.

School Transportation News
School Transportation News is a monthly news and feature magazine about school bus safety issues. You can access it online at www.stnonline.com/stn/index.shtml. The website features breaking news, industry information, and an online library that includes historical documents, legislative developments, and state and federal regulations. Visitors to the site also can sign up to receive weekly e-mail updates.

American Lung Association
Occupational lung disease is the number one work-related illness in the United States, according to the American Lung Association. Learn how to protect yourself by visiting the groups' website at www.lungusa.org/. You'll find information about working safely with chemicals and solvents, proper ventilation, potential workplace breathing hazards, and asthma. Be sure to check out the Lung Association's 2002 report Trends in Air Quality.