What, no background checks on the employees? What do you expect - an outsourced company. What a shame! This is another point against RCS.

This is great ,,, Good job John Stoner & Mr Clark . Im glad all this is coming back to bite you . Oh wait Mr Clark is gone with a big pocket & laughing all the way to the bank . So was the money saved to get rid of hard working & honest people . Maybe the board needs to be FIRED with Stoner . All they are is a bunch of PUPPETS that never lose any of their pay.

Yet again another excellent example of the outsourcing debaucle. How are those DM Burr security guards doing? How do the schools and grounds look with the outsourced janitorial staff? When are we as taxpayers going to get enough of this and demand the recall of this RCS Board? Between the ridiculous Clark situation and now this, and "big cost savings" associated with outsourcing that have yet to really be substantiated, what was once a top district in MI is fast becoming an embarrassing joke.

That is what happens when the state encourages privatization. Low paying jobs and no benefits is not the answer to unemployment. People who continue in these jobs for a private company even after working faithfully for many years, have greatly reduced incomes. I know some in this position who have lost their home. That being said, it does not excuse such poor behavior.

So individuals with prior arrests are driving my children to school!?!? Are you serious? Nice one RCS, good choice!

Thank you Rochester Community Schools for outsourcing! I'm glad my children all graduated prior to this decision. I would be very worried exposing my children to employees who have no stake in the community and apparently don't have to pass a background check.

What about the cleaning staff? Since they can't handle the bus drivers what about the people that r with r children all day. Great job school board. Let's outsource there jobs. Oh wait they probably have great exit pkgs as well. Aren't they a tricky bunch. Shame on them!

That is just great, I am paying a ridiculous amount in taxes so they can outsource jobs to people with past felonies. I was lucky enough to have the same wonderful bus driver for my kids as last year who was not from Durham. He had to take a pay cut so they can hire people like this. Good going Ex superintendant Clark, you screw up the school system and then leave with $180,000 in severance. 1 year and then quits and gets severance. His severance pay should be used to pay the difference in pay workers who stayed lost.

Joshua,

· If the employee does not report the charge or conviction, he or she is guilty of an additional crime. If the non-reported charge or conviction is a felony or listed offense, the person is guilty of a felony. If the non-reported charge is a non-listed offense misdemeanor, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor.

· If the employee does not report the charge or conviction, the district may discharge the person from employment or termination of his or her contract, following notice and the opportunity of a hearing.
School employees fall under Michigan PA129 - 131 and 138 Of 2005
School employees are governed by law. Contractors fall under another set only requiring the employer to do a back ground check before hiring. Nothing on reporting a crime after that.

No matter what a school employee is arrested for they MUST report it to the superintendent within 3 days or be charged with additional crimes and lose their job.
Private contractors nothing.

Mike,
Refused to take concessions? Really? AFSCME cane up with 8 million over 3 years and the contract was refused and Durham and GCA were brought in. The 2009-2012 contract AFSCME gave up 6 million in concessions How can you say that?? 25% pay cuts you were on the board and actually thanked AFSCME for their concessions. And as other units you know well that the board could have imposed a contract on any labor group. That Blue Group gave the district everything to keep there jobs but in the end the district made a deal with the devil.

Mike before giving out false information to Joshua please read the law. Very simple Google

Michigan PA129 - 131 and 138 Of 2005

Mike Reno, There have been many concessions made by the people who directly work with Rochester Schools' children, but they still are doing a great job with added work due to our wonderful legislature implying to the public that it is teachers who need to step up their game. They have lost pay, but are being required to do many more jobs to change the public's perception of the school system. How about we not pay $30,000 to find a superintendent who comes in and slashes the very people who care and work directly with Rochester parents' children and then decides he wants to leave after one year. There is something really fishy going on that the general public is not privy to know. Why don't we take some of those high paying administration jobs and cut their pay. Are they paying for health care and towards retirement now? I sure hope so. The unions have worked with the board. Stop blaming the unions. Not the blue group you are talking about? Well, we know who is left. How about going after the legislature in this state who are sitting there making all of these laws about our schools when they don't have a clue of what happens in a public school child's life. They need to start taking some pay cuts as well. They are making all of these laws and none affect them. They are stomping on the hard working people of our societies. No more union bashing please. Remember what is was like before unions. Employees were taken advantage of before unions were formed.

Gee, here is a novel thought: what if the District actually tried to raise revenue by proposing a ....GASP......millage? Simple economics say that when you have a revenue shortfall you either cut expenditures or raise revenue. Yeah, it is easy to say "cut teachers wages and salaries" but lets face it - these are professionals, highly trained, constantly taking further classes (mandated by the state). At what point does it become an undesirable career? My opinion is that it is the responsibility of the Board to present many alternatives tot he public to address funding shortfalls and a millage is a viable alternative that never gets presented because they presume there will be a backlash against them. Parents need to wake up too - we live in a world where you get what you PAY for, not what you CUT to. It is obvious that we are getting to the point where we are cutting past the meat and into the bone. All options need to be on the table, not just further cuts to our professional staff. This is not a business - it is an educational system.

I bet RCS received money from the Governor for the best practices followed. Bust the Unions with our tax dollars held out as ransom for school districts. LOCS DID receive their Cut! Who gets the short end ~ Our Students!

First, i would like to say is that i am a past School bus driver, have been since 1986 til 2004 I also know ALOT of drivers ! And i do know Roseanne Stacho ! Also Durham School Services is a good company, Children ALWAYS come first! I have read comments as ...... safety of children, well as with Durham they hired most drivers back that have already either worked for or another district and its NOT like they just take whoever off the street looking for a job and throw them in a bus to drive children around! Their is ALOT of training to go through to be or become a school bus driver, even after you been driving for years you still have training, classes, dot physical, random drug and alcohol tests! Durham also, does a record check, but to this if a driver does NOT tell their employer, and they run a record check once a year! So, to that its not right to throw blame on Durham School services! They are doing a great job, the ones to be angry at are the school boards from the districts that decide too sell out us bus drivers, custodians, kitchen staff and grounds! that cant seem to manage the money (except in their own pockets) Bottom line is, the best company out there that you would want in your school district is Durham School Services! As, to the School Bus driver....... Roseanne Stacho she is a very caring person and she is a good bus driver, but what she is being accused of was wrong on her part, and even MORE wrong and unfair to others she did this while on the job!!!!

Robin - WHAT?

If you are concerned about your childrens safety, don't just worry about who is driving them. you might want think about the vehicles they will be riding in. Check the State Police Inspection history in Royal Oak. Ten consecutive years when busing was operated by the School District 100% of the buses passed full inspection. One year after Durham took over only 40% passed, 60% were RED TAGGED!! They were taken off the road until they were repaired. How do you think they ( Durham ) can save these districts millions of dollars and still have everything up to par? Lets look at the whole picture, not just the drivers.

Those numbers may have been reversed 60% may have passed and only 40% may have failed. Either way check on the fate of your fleet Rochester.

I also know Roseanne Stacho. We have worked together for over 20 years. She has always had an excellent repoire with the students, their parents and fellow co workers.I think that she is by far one of the most friendly compassionate and sensitive drivers that i have encountered over the years. I am in all actuality concerned about her, This is not remotely close to her character!

You don't really know her, obviously, christina