DPS to Lay Off School Bus Attendants Who Help Special Needs Kids (MI)

January 4, 2011

For the second time in two years, Detroit Public Schools plans to lay off school bus attendants who help special education and disabled students.

Keith January, president of the AFSCME Local 345, which represents the bus attendants, said layoff notices were mailed out Monday to 88 of 175 bus attendants. The layoffs will be effective Jan. 14 because of the district’s deficit.

DPS has about 15,000 special education students, about half of whom are transported by school bus, January said.

He said the district plans to provide attendants only for students whose individualized education plans require a bus attendant. However, the district has 114 bus routes that require bus attendants, but the layoffs will leave only 87 bus attendants, he said.

"We have 450 parents asking for bus attendants … If we can’t get a $10-an-hour person to service these special-needs students, something’s wrong with this picture. We’re calling on the community to step in on behalf of these nonverbal special-needs students."

About 72% of the bus attendants’ salary is paid by federal grant funds , January said.

DPS spokesman Steve Wasko said that the district is confident there are student education plans that warrant the number of workers who will remain. The layoffs will save the district $2 million, he said.

"We are in the process of reviewing savings in a number of areas due to reductions in revenue."

In 2009, DPS emergency financial manager Robert Bobb rescinded a plan to lay off 159 bus attendants after a massive outcry from parents.

The current layoffs come as DPS must pay a fine of up to $5 million after having violated federal regulations regarding management of federal grants in past years, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

The attendants help students with disabilities on and off buses and prevent problems such as students opening the emergency door of the bus or fighting.

While bus attendants face layoffs, DPS principals are getting more pay to work more hours.

Principals now have a new performance-based contract requiring them to work for 12 months instead of 10, DPS spokesman Wasko said Monday.

Although the principals agreed to benefits concessions, the salary adjustments will cost the district about $1.7 million through June.