Custodial workers picket to keep jobs

Shame on you, Delton school!!!! I am a 38 year graduate and I'm still proud to say that I went to school there. The custodial staff all the years I went there,(1963-1971) was the best there ever was. I have 2 sons that graduated from Delton. There were some times that they needed a ride home, and guess what? It was one of the custodians that helped out. These people, as was stated, come from the community. They know the students and their families. Delton is a fairly small community and everyone knows everyone. Why not keep it that way?
With the high rate of people on public assistance as it is, why put more out there? Barry County isn't the richest county around. I know what it is trying to find a job at my age, it isn't any easier for the younger ones.
Please, those of you in charge, rethink this whole thing.
Delton custodians, I'm behind you all the way. I live in G.R. but I keep up on the home front.Stick by your guns and give 'em what for. Praise to you all.

Bob wrote:

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5 years? It's a 4 year degree - Unless you party too much. Having gone through college with many education majors I can say it is not a rigorous course of study. And then you only work 9 months out of the year with plenty of vacations over the 9 months. Know anyone other than a teacher that gets two weeks off for Christmas? Know anyone other than a teacher that gets the kind of medical insurance they get?

Bob,
You obviously have no idea what it takes to be a teacher. MSU is a four year full time program with another internship to obtain your teaching degree. This is 5 years. I know a lot of teachers, all who get paid for 9 months of work, not 12. The have the option to stretch the pay out over 12 months. They are also forced to continue college and pay themselves in most cases. This is a major expense. By the way, this are the only profession that gets laid off every year and can't draw unemployment. When you get home from work, I'll bet you don't spend hours a night preparing for your job the next day. Try going by the schools during breaks. They are filled with teachers trying to prepare there classrooms for our children on there own time. I'll bet you do that for your job too!
As far as outsourcing. There are many schools and municipalities doing it now. It is devistating on the local economies. It is sending the local money out of town. School boards are in the pockets of the administrations. This is why the cuts always hit the teachers and other professionals in the districts. If you think that the schools boards are highly trained and educated, think again. Try going to one of the meetings. These are typically locals who know a lot of people that got elected into their positions. In Delton, they are in flannels and jeans. Not the typical business type with training to run a multi million dollar business, which is what they are all doing.
Anyway, some of the above comments are frustrating. It is obvious that many people have know idea what is going on here. It is a shame that people are suffering out there, but it doesn't mean that we should not support others in there efforts to maintain there jobs. By the way, shouldn't this be about the students and what's best for them?

Wood TV. Why have been deleting posts here? I have noticed a couple of posts that were not offensive in any way that have been deleted. What is going on?

Good job Donny! Thank you so much for helping poor Bob understand a few things. I cannot understand why Bob didn't persue teaching, since according to him, it is such an easy course of study. I am also wondering how Bob managed to know about all of the courses of study in education. There are a lot of different areas to be certified to teach in, such as chemistry, math, English, history, biology, or foreign languages to name a few.

we think you are all worng from doing this to all
workers and i have 4 children in the school district
and i really like the janitors they where good to my children and i think you all should just be a shame of yourselfs for trying to take away thier jobs.

Donny wrote:

The Delton school board wouldn't dare outsource the custodial jobs. Most of these positions are held by long time local people. these folks are backed by the community and the school board would be handing themselves a pink slip if they went through with it. As Grace said in the interview, why would Delton want to send the jobs out of town? To many of the local towns are outsourcing to larger compainies. Pennock Hospital is now outsourcing there grounds maintenance to a large Grand Rapids company. This only puts local funds into other areas. With the economy on thin ice, communities need to do everything possible to keep local people and business alive.

They don't need to lose there jobs just get rid of the UNIONS,Includeing P Helder and the teacher's union in G rapids. Before they do to the school's what they have done to the auto Industery. Not all the union's fault but a very large share.

I think the (wrong) decision has already been made by the school board by privatizing the custodians.Cuts should be made by getting rid of three vice principals and one assistant superintendent. Look how much that would save the district.

The Administrators should give up their extra "pay for performance", which isn't part of their contracts and should give up the "annuity" pay that is over and above the retirement contributions that are credited to them. That would be the first place to start. Then they should take a pay cut. Then if everyone else took a pay freeze, that should help save jobs!! Since it's the right thing to do, the Administrators won't do it. You can't expect everyone else to take a pay freeze when the Administrators think everyone else should take the hit, but not them.

Tomorrow there will be another picketing to show our support to the custodians. It will be from 10:30am-1:00pm in Delton. Let's get everyone together to show the school board the HUGE mistake they will be making if they do deceide to privatetize the custodians! I am going to be there to show my support and to make my voice heard. I look forward to seeing you all there!

There will be picketing again on Monday at 6:00, too. Then the school board meeting will be at 7:00. Speak up, be heard. There will be a school board election soon for two seats. Inform yourself and vote for people who have the best interests of the school district and the community at heart. People who want to eliminate the jobs of the lowest paid employees and the smallest part of the budget are clueless. Hope to see you there.

Are you kidding me? do any of you parents out there realize what a janitor makes on average-$36,000 to $45,000 plus they get the same benefits package as teachers, they don't have high deductibles and in many cases they don't even contribute toward healthcare. Keep in mind that most of the cleaning is done in the evening when our kids are not around, I would hope that before anyone cuts my childrens teachers, art and music classes, transportation and sports that they would ALWAYS look at non-instructional options first. We recently outsourced custodial services at our school and they hired some of our current staff but also hired from within our district. Our school has never been cleaner and service has been awesome. Watch out for Grand Rapids Building services though cuz I agree they are just big business and only care about numbers, not our kids.