RC School Board rejects district bargainer renewal contract

In a lengthy meeting Monday night the Rogers City School Board rejected approval for another three-year service agreement for Bruce Bigham, the district?s bargainer, whose contract expires August 31, 2004. It is customary to renew the contract approximately six months prior to expiration to allow for a transition period in case of change. During the opportunity for guests to speak, former board president Scott McLennan spoke briefly to remind the board that at a meeting one year ago, ?We had discussed the pros and cons on bargaining services, and how we should be thinking about a different way of bargaining,? McLennan said.

?THE DISCUSSION was about if it was a good time or not for more collaborative bargaining,? McLennan continued. ?I would ask for alternatives if the board is not able to connect with the teachers in a collaborative effort ? aggression will create a schism or divide ? I ask you to think carefully about this,? he added. The meeting proceeded when president Patricia Pike asked for comments from the board regarding the renewal agreement for Bigham.

Norm Karbon made a motion to renew the agreement as per Bigham?s request, but board member Richard Hanson said he just was not comfortable voting on the issue, and wanted more information. Jo Bush-Glenn spoke up, saying, ?I am not in favor of renewing with Mr. (Bruce) Bigham. I remember the meeting Mr. McLennan mentioned ? and this would tie us to his style of bargaining until 2007. His style of bargaining is archaic!? Karbon took issue with calling Bigham?s ?style? a problem, wondering how they could determine that from the few times he had been seen by the board. Karbon said, in the real world, the board was dealing with the union and not with the teachers, and that it required a different kind of bargaining.

?I?D GO TO BAT in a minute for our teachers,? Karbon assured, ?but we are like ?babes in the woods? when dealing with the union.? Karbon further said he was against changing the bargaining agent in mid-stream. Glenn said she thought the ideal can happen, and has happened at other schools that are using other methods. Glenn recommended contacting the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) to find out what services it might offer in the way of bargaining. Board member Dana LaBar told the board this was his third time working through negotiations and he had some real concerns about changing in the middle of bargaining. ?We?ve had an increase in everything except income ? he?s trying to find something that will work with the changing times,? LaBar said. ?There?s got to be some changes.? ?But there?s more than one way to get there,? insisted Glenn.

Board Member Michael Marx was perplexed about the situation, saying, ?I have more questions than answers. Is there a chance we can ?tweak? his style if we go with Bigham?? ?Ed (Schultz) was supposed to be our ?tweaker,?? Glenn spoke up. ?I agree ? I think he (Bigham) can be tweaked ? but I don?t have enough information to have Bruce here for another three years,? Hanson added.

?MY OPINION is based on a meeting we had with him when he ?blew me out of the water? and let me know that there?s only one way to do things ? and that is his opinion ? I?ve wanted to get rid of him ever since ? this has been my first chance!? Glenn said. Board member Robert (Greg) Frost said, ?It

?s clear about the money ? it?s not there and it?s getting worse ? but if we keep Bruce I don?t see it getting settled. Somehow, it?s not getting through to our dedicated staff that the money is not there.? Pike added, ?I feel we need a negotiator ? nobody here can take it on ? change is hard with declining enrollment and dealing with state funds is making us look long and hard at change. I feel Bruce is a good negotiator and we should keep him.? The vote on the motion to renew the service agreement with Bigham was defeated 4-3 with Glenn, Frost, Marx, and Hanson voting ?no? and Karbon, LaBar and Pike voting ?yes.?

I

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.