FeedsSchools terminate contract
After a months-long debate and a meeting that covered two days, the Inkster School Board voted unanimously to terminate a contract with the district provider of vocational education services.
Education Management Group (EMG), which entered into an agreement with the schools about three years ago to provide skills-based classes at the old Blanchette School facility, lost the contract because of a provision in state law that specifies districts cannot collect per-pupil funding for students not taught by district employees.
Board members decided to concur with the wishes of Superintendent of Schools Thomas Maridada, although some members wanted to maintain the services of EMG.
Maridada said after the meeting concluded Jan. 9, that the decision to terminate the contract was in the best interest of students and the district.
“We’re interested in complying with every law and provision of the state,” he said. “It’s in our interest to operate in a transparent fashion.”
The contract will end later this month, and the district will have to have instructors in place for vocational courses that are already under way.
“It’s important to say there will be no interruption for students who take part in the vocational program,” he said.
The debate about the contract began in September, after the Michigan Department of Education asked Inkster Schools officials to provide the number of students who attend vocational classes taught by the employees of a subcontracted education provider.
The information was needed in an effort to determine if the state overpaid the district according to current state school aid laws.
It’s unclear when or if the district will asked to pay back any funds to the department. Martin Ackley, a spokesman for the department, did not return calls seeking comment by publication deadline.
Detroit Schools, which also worked with a subcontractor for some vocational classes, lost about $6 million in per-pupil funding based on the number of students who attend vocational classes taught by subcontractors, according to state figures.
Inkster Schools hired a lobbyist to convince the state to allow it to teach vocational classes after it lost certification to do so several years ago.
That training is still considered an important component of the overall educational plan at the high school, Maridada said.
Because of the termination date of the contract, district officials are placing an emphasis on hiring instructors. EMG teachers are invited to apply for permanent jobs at the district, but will have to meet state teaching requirements.
“Everyone we hire will have the highest certifications and credentials required by the state,” Maridada said.
It’s unclear if the contract termination will cause legal problems for the schools. Phil Phillips, the district legal counsel, declined to comment about the matter.
Messages left for EMG representatives were unreturned Tuesday.
Some of the courses taught at the Blanchette facility are culinary arts, building trades, phlebotomy, aviation repair, firefighting and computer repair.
