Contracting Out

 

Contracting out student transportation leaves school districts open to a wide range of unexpected costs and problems, University of Oregon’s Dr. Gordon Lafer told the Winston-Dillard School Board on Wednesday, March 13.

With a group of OSEA members and interested community citizens in attendance, Lafer told the board that potential double-billing, public subsidization of a private commercial fleet, wage and benefit cuts, and overcharging for buses are some of the risks that come with contracting out.

The findings are from “All Costs Considered III,” the latest study by the University of Oregon’s Labor Education and Research Center (LERC), which raises troubling issues following the Central Point School District’s decision to contract out its student transportation.

Finally—it’s President-elect Biden

Patience—counseled by former Vice President Joe Biden all election week as Americans waited for votes to be counted—finally paid off Nov. 7, four days after Election Day, when Biden won in Pennsylvania and gained enough Electoral College votes to acquire a new title: president-elect. AFT President Randi Weingarten says the union’s leaders and members “can’t wait to get started” on the work ahead “with an administration that will embrace and fight for the values we hold dear.”

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Your vote is your voice

AFT President Randi Weingarten’s latest column outlines the urgency of using our voices—our votes—in this life-changing election, when we will make a choice “between President Donald Trump, who has trafficked in chaos, fear, lies and division, and former Vice President Joe Biden, who seeks to reverse Trump’s failures on COVID-19 and the economy, and to unite and uplift the American people.” Besides the four crises we face—a pandemic, an economic crisis, racism and a climate emergency—democracy itself is on the ballot, as Trump continues to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election.

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‘Back to school’ like never before

In her September New York Times column, AFT President Randi Weingarten says that going back to school has never looked like it does now. Weingarten explains that because of President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus, which has been chaotic, contradictory and inept, and the lack of federal guidance and funding, we’re seeing a patchwork of school reopening plans across the country.

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