Public Media from Michigan State University

Lawmaker Calling On Schools To Explain Contract Extensions

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A Republican state lawmaker wants school officials to justify employee contracts that could be used to skirt Michigan’s new right-to-work law.

We have more from The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Rick Pluta.

The right-to-work law takes effect March 28th but cannot supersede existing contracts.

In some cases, those contracts will allow teachers’ unions to continue collecting mandatory dues and fees for as long as 10 years. Schools have used the negotiations to get concessions on salaries and work rules.

State Representative Tom McMillin is calling school officials before his oversight committee. He says he wants them to prove taxpayers are getting their money’s worth out of the contracts. Most recently, he called on Warren Consolidated Schools to appear.

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Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.