[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6587254,"mediaKeyId","5664099-6411c067b06c8f0c1bfae3285e90c369","parentId",5664099,"title","Teachers, secretaries and union representatives urge board to authorize bargaining and oppose outsourcing amid stalled contract talks","audioSeconds",542,"startMs",854000,"endMs",1396000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5664099-6411c067b06c8f0c1bfae3285e90c369&start=854&end=1396","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5664099-6411c067b06c8f0c1bfae3285e90c369/thumbnail_854000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6587254/Michigan/Teachers-secretaries-and-union-representatives-urge-board-to-authorize-bargaining-and-oppose-outsourcing-amid-stalled-contract-talks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587254-f97568b652a23ebd9e9768c674efe6a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1772748408&Signature=HNkr5T06wTXVRAQGzhcac1DufNsaSJlYIyS0NAI6bz9XEUMhG6qCMa6UgKagSyNQl77rgeuVX2PzGPCveY4YkgWoGAMyJHBdL98WU6PAV1O1t-h3C9apWQulNk~5g0xQR78HOn4sKRtXczhvAzFNiHYhbtwKzxL27w4EIZXUd6hpPDSaHXzGy8MoI-ui4G2SdzGQBdpUdpBO6n7kmcEFRMKjiDvqJUsY0PNsF4qO8lMesfs8f-6F0Ld0tPjg4AftWa6dAjc9EIO83HAsUC0uMXmSGwfFE2pvg6gp77g380AXVN2K-gx9kmQSb42iiftDJ9BlayxhpFDp~P57xQyczQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waterford School District","date","2025-08-22T14:12:23.607Z","article","Multiple members of district staff and union representatives used the public-comment period to tell the Waterford School District Board of Education that contract negotiations with district employees have stalled and to urge the board to empower negotiators to discuss financial terms.

Cheryl Campbell, identifying herself as president of the MES 1 secretary's unit, said August 21 marked the 52nd day her unit had worked without a contract and described secretaries as essential to district operations. Joe Humphrey, a member of the WA bargaining team and a 20-year district employee, described extended bargaining since April and said the parties received a counterproposal only after two months; he said many bargaining proposals were rejected and that the district has had nine bargaining sessions to date. Both speakers said prolonged delay is harming morale and making retention more difficult.

Teacher Mary Crate, a long-time district educator, criticized outsourcing of positions and said previous outsourcing had resulted in contractors being paid $90–$100 an hour for work she previously performed. Laurie Tunick said the union's proposals were intended to improve working and learning conditions and accused the district team of lacking the authority to bargain financial terms; she said delay erodes trust and that failure to authorize bargaining authority is, in her view, a failure to bargain in good faith under Michigan law.

Board members did not respond with new direction during public comment in the portion of the transcript provided. The board later moved into a closed session by roll call vote under sections 8(h) and 8(k) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act; the transcript records that roll call.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Waterford Board of Education 8-21-25","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple public commenters, including union representatives and long-serving teachers, told the board negotiations have stalled, warned that delay erodes trust and contributes to staff departures, and objected to outsourcing of positions at high hourly rates.","taxTitle","Waterford School District, School Boards, Michigan","taxId",38223,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6587259,"Board approves $580,250 roofing award for New Gateways Lutz to J D Candler Roofing",240,576000,816000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5664099-6411c067b06c8f0c1bfae3285e90c369&start=576&end=816","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5664099-6411c067b06c8f0c1bfae3285e90c369/thumbnail_576000.jpg","/articles/6587259/Michigan/Board-approves-580250-roofing-award-for-New-Gateways-Lutz-to-J-D-Candler-Roofing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587259-f4c1d95aca933e5f045f515826ac444c/orig.mp4?Expires=1772748408&Signature=jKJd2FFbHwj9UbZKr-qP-RaXBBudhwwNSzFyTkLqYGzgfshLhkT~Xb9kvdRsv6UWULAzs3ZpX3qZna95nWznQEf6bB9-8UDxUptHxiH6kfGAoo3EijaLtk-8hrxIehOwcAuhi~hQ6ZbESMUPgJi9lyB33NMMLYD8tiEF24HDhq1oWrTkcE-0Y4n7BizVzio~nvchqEGqi~uGMtAP6fOCMLbzcgiC3ZqkD~tpzammseY1ZLv6zSx0Q2a5AGsDQIzp~8vgtufhcSmNsxkJ~ykIc5iLAxVuQuiNHF-3f827oYWVj1TtDoO4Q0-Wnu9KOZyyC7IiT~RFiOI3V-4RajQayA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waterford School District Board of Education voted to award a contract for roof replacement at New Gateways Lutz to J D Candler Roofing for $527,500 plus a 10% contingency of $52,750, for a total award of $580,250.

Treasurer Donahue presented the superintendent's recommendation, which specified funding of $335,000 from New Gateways and $245,250 from the district's 2020 bond fund. The motion was moved and supported; the board approved the contract by a voice/hand tally of 7-0.

Board members asked about the contractor's asbestos-related training and certification. Staff explained a settlement agreement governs asbestos abatement procedures for roof work when asbestos is detected; the low bidder did not have the required training or equipment at the time of bidding but indicated willingness to obtain training and appropriate equipment. NOVA, the district's environmental consultant, will be asked to make periodic site visits early in the work to ensure compliance with the agreement and with Michigan rules.

A board member asked whether the district had used the contractor before; staff said the district had not, but that other local districts and roofing consultants provided positive references for J D Candler Roofing. The board approved the motion with a 7-0 vote.","Board approved lowest bid from J D Candler Roofing for Lutz roof replacement, awarding $527,500 plus a 10% contingency for a total of $580,250; funding split between New Gateways ($335,000) and 2020 bond fund ($245,250). Contractor must complete asbestos-related training per settlement agreement with NOVA oversight.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6587264,"Waterford Board reviews plan to issue RFP for contracted special-education substitute services",250,113000,363000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5664099-6411c067b06c8f0c1bfae3285e90c369&start=113&end=363","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5664099-6411c067b06c8f0c1bfae3285e90c369/thumbnail_113000.jpg","/articles/6587264/Michigan/Waterford-Board-reviews-plan-to-issue-RFP-for-contracted-special-education-substitute-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587264-0d11345421ae81292773205f568ac407/orig.mp4?Expires=1772748408&Signature=mLijaymMrIXNeZMwDrwW2A5l2ABgxA1ZN1WLLaWk0ImeZmpj3gKrGx0jG7t1WFmU1gjOF6hp6toTlxpi7O1Ls3irNzRSWtX~MGZI7A-zdIzreRWrqlRuWNV4k4aMy1ijz5STmeeMh191JDLthghbfAdUh962GxaqtDdHf81QZEi9sf820LqWQAg7sSAw6qDMk5xKdD1mHgONN~qN0Mtsdlkd9gkEFG49dTnOnHz8cig8PYdUSszy18hquDrCmTLeq61FSbcBr2qSg9pm1bf~CruJYxGjxTPUv~UNpk843ypdfXbuKysz~Rjyrrbp448OktA1KB9JziIX4-8Z-eIHLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waterford School District Board of Education considered an information item to release a request for proposals for contracted special-education substitute services intended to secure hourly pricing for the next three years.

District staff said the RFP would seek competitive bids with per-hour pricing for a rotation of firms that could fill short-term vacancies or cover leaves of absence for specialized roles required by students' individualized education programs, or IEPs. Staff described the measure as intended to manage budget exposure and ensure the district can meet legally required services when certified WEA (Waterford Education Association) members are unavailable.

The presenter said the RFP targets a set of recurring, hard-to-fill specialties and that the district expects hourly bids for each of the five positions it most frequently needs. The district emphasized that contracted staff would be used on a substitute basis during leaves or vacancies and not as a replacement for WEA members.

Board members asked how continuity for students would be preserved when substitutes are used. Staff said, when possible, the district would secure the same contracted staff member for a leave to maintain continuity. For short-term gaps of a day or two, staff said internal substitutes or caseload reassignments might be used. Staff also said the district uses Oakland Schools' cooperative agreements (including AnthroMed) but that the RFP is intended to cast a wider net to fill specialties not covered by existing cooperatives.

The item was presented as an information item; no formal board vote to adopt a contract was recorded in the transcript.","Board discussed issuing a three-year request for proposals to secure hourly contracted substitutes for hard-to-fill special-education positions to ensure IEP compliance; staff emphasized the contracting is to cover vacancies or leaves, not replace Waterford Education Association members.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Teachers, secretaries and union representatives urge board to authorize bargaining and oppose outsourcing amid stalled contract talks

Board approves $580,250 roofing award for New Gateways Lutz to J D Candler Roofing

Waterford Board reviews plan to issue RFP for contracted special-education substitute services