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TECUMSEH —Despite some bumps along the way, the bus privatization bandwagon in Michigan continues to roll along and even pick up speed. In the southeastern Michigan community of Tecumseh, a decision by the school board to contract with Ryder Student Transportation Services is firmly in place and scheduled to save the district at least $800,000 over the next five years, in spite of union opposition and an unsuccessful recall election attempt. In September, Ryder announced plans to implement further improvements in the new service.
In the Montabella school district, headquartered in the Montcalm County community of Edmore, the school board reaffirmed its earlier plans to contract with Laidlaw Transit. The local union vigorously disputes the claim that the district will save money, but the district seems likely to stick with its decision.
Clinton County’s Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) joined the growing list of bus privatizations in August when it voted to hire Dean Transportation of Lansing. Superintendent Larry Schwartzkopf argued that the main reasons for the move were safety and efficiency. Dean agreed to hire all thirteen of RESA’s drivers, but at an average pay cut of $3.96 per hour.
"We have to move forward and make these tough decisions," said Schwartzkopf. "We’re not exempt from the need to downsize and reorganize, which many private industries are doing right now."
The Manistee Area Board of Education began exploring bus privatization this summer as a result of a $62,000 increase its transportation costs in its 1996-97 budget.
