The Grand Rapids Press, WZZM-TV13, WWMT-TV3, Michigan Public Radio, FOX-17, and WOOD-TV are reporting that the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation will file a lawsuit against the Kent County Intermediate School District, nine other school districts and several Michigan Education Association union affiliates over “no-privatization” language included in collective bargaining agreements. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of five Kent County taxpayers.

“Michigan law could not be more clear in prohibiting school districts from bargaining away their right to privatize non-instructional services,” MCLF Director Patrick J. Wright told WOOD-TV.

Wright told The Press that “Districts recognized this was improper and did it anyway.”

As Michigan Capitol Confidential reported in March, Conni Sullivan, assistant superintendent for human resources and legal services for Kent ISD, admitted, “We can put that provision in there, but it is not enforceable. The districts knew it was unenforceable. The MEA knew it was unenforceable.”

Wright also appeared on "The Frank Beckmann Show," on WJR-AM760 to discuss the suit.

Update: The Grand Rapids Legal News also covered the story.

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