After flirting briefly with the idea of privatizing its adjunct workforce, which we reported on here, at its January 21 meeting the board of trustees at Kirtland Community College decided not to take such action.

The trustees considered the plan last August because, if privatized, the adjuncts would not be part of the state's defined benefit pension plan.  This would save the college the 17 percent contribution the state requires for each employee and save the adjuncts, many of whom don't put in enough time to vest, a required 3 percent contribution.

The plan was to farm out payroll administration of their adjunct's compensation but retain recruiting and hiring rights. So the adjuncts-some 80 who are hired each semester-would be employed by a private company that specializes in placing substitute teachers.

The 39 full-time faculty at KCC are represented by the AFT Michigan, but adjuncts have no union. KCC Federation of Teachers vice president Kevin Baughn and AFT Michigan president/AFT vice president  David Hecker participated in discussion of the idea at KCC's January board meeting.

Hecker pointed out the flaws in plan: that an optional privatization plan would undermine the retirement system, that adjuncts would have no guarantee they could keep the 3 percent or more contribution--the college could just decide to lower the pay of adjuncts. The money the college would "save" would actually go to the private company. Finally, the plan wouldn't contribute to the state's "greater good," said Hecker. KCC is supported by taxpayer dollars. "The overwhelming number of taxpayers do not attend KCC.  What if they had the option of not paying the portion of their taxes KCC receives?"

Says Hecker: "It was a good conversation."