Statement from Leadership to the KPS Board of Education

Apparently KSP only cares about money. So we contacted the Board about all the current arbitration due to the violations of the contract. 

Good morning, 

My name is Joanna Miller. I'm the President of Kalamazoo Support Professionals. I represent Paraprofessionals, Office Staff, Library Assistants, School Bus Drivers and Campus Safety Staff for Kalamazoo Public Schools.
We have a bargained contractual agreement with Kalamazoo Public Schools regarding wages, benefits, employee discipline, as well as other policy and procedure for the work place.
Dr. Slade has repeatedly stated plainly that decisions from Human Resources are the final word, regardless of whether they contradict and violate the contract.
Dr. Slade has stated clearly that the District will ignore law regarding returning to work from FMLA.
He has also explicitly stated that it does not matter what the discipline policy for employees is, any termination stands.
Dr. Slade makes these statements without researching the merits of the grievances and apparently with no concern for repercussions for the Education Support Professionals of our school district.
These aren't personal peccadilloes or managerial style conflicts. These statements made by Dr. Slade represent his blatant disregard for our Agreement. They have also led to costly arbitration that KSP hopes will affirm our legal, contractual rights.
KSP has tried and failed to resolve these issues following the protocols laid out in our contract and we still have no resolution.
KSP regularly, collaboratively problem solve with District Administration on topics benign to incredibly serious. The difference in those meetings is that the respect for these contractual rights is clearly communicated and proper procedure, per the contract, is followed. Any resolution reached follows the Agreement KSP and the District have made. Dr. Slade's statements and actions do not. When you see me exhibiting anger or hostility, it is out of the incredible frustration from following proper  procedure just to be condescended to, have my integrity questioned and be dismissed.
Please look into these matters and help correct this course. Affirm the contractual rights you agreed to. The relationship with Kalamazoo Support Professionals and our School District can be repaired but not while we're being actively harmed. 

Sincerely, 

Joanna Miller
President
Kalamazoo Support Professionals

From Joanna Miller, KSP President

Good evening, I'm Joanna Miller, President of Kalamazoo Support Professionals. To begin,  congratulations to Trustees Harrison, Jackson, Moore and Maddock. 


I wanted to come in here and speak in a spirit of conciliation and collaboration but it has not been coming from the admin side.  I emailed my comments after I spoke to this board about the massive strings attached to the employee retention bonus and this is the response I got:


"Thank you for your email and your advocacy for KPS employees. Many changes have taken place within KPS since this letter was written and the Board is confident in the current district leadership."


To me this indicates that the previous leadership was the problem. 


Dr. Raichoudhuri and Mr. English proposed a completely no strings attached bonus, but this appears to have now been overruled by bad actors who do not have the best interests of staff at heart. 


Who are WE to presume authorized this provision? 


To brush this off as if it is a small thing, and it didn't happen anyway, belies the fact that someone in a position of authority was willing to put the entirety of KPS' staff at risk.


We would have had to bargain a contract quickly with absolutely no solid ground beneath us. Our current contract would be voided at the end of this year's term if for any reason bargaining was delayed. The next year's increase in health care expenses would have been shunted to a group of employees who struggle to pay the current expenses. 


This kind of manipulation is being treated like it's just good business sense. Destabilize your opposition, put them in a bad bargaining position and take what you can while offering almost nothing. KPS support staff should not be treated like opposition or an employee subclass nor should this public school district be run like a cut-throat corporation wringing every drop of effort and energy out of the employees, giving as little as possible and crying poverty when questioned. If this culture of antagonism and disregard doesn't give way to cooperation and solidarity I don't know how long we can continue. 


We're ready to collaborate and solve problems, we look forward to you responding in kind.

From Shona Espinoza:
I'd like to start by speaking to the intensity of my communication. I'm sure that much of it could be seen as rude. 
I'm not trying to be offensive, but I am frustrated by the lack of communication, collaboration and support from this board and district. 
Staff are burnt out to the point of exhaustion with no relief on the horizon. The continued number of resignations speak to that. 
Parents are frustrated, irritated and tired of asking for help and support when it comes to our children and not getting it. 
Our students deserve a safe, supportive environment in our schools and they do not get it, and from our side of this table it looks like a game of politics and apathy.
Staff who have letting district administration know about detrimental, sometimes hostile, work environments for years and are ignored or met with threats to silence us. It appears that district administration and this school board are more interested in preserving appearances and promoting a brand or image that does not reflect the lived experiences of staff and students. 
We are here, we have been here, extending our hands to help save our district and are met with silence or conditional assistance with hefty price tags attached. Right now, today, we must work together before its too late.