Dearest reader,
Lady B is coming back to Kalamazoo. And this time, we're not just following the money.
We're listening to the people.
For the THIRD consecutive school year, Kalamazoo Public Schools teachers have started the year without a new contract.
Meanwhile, employees of the Kalamazoo Public Library are also working under expired contracts.
Two public institutions. Two ongoing labor disputes. And a whole lot of unanswered questions.
Lady B has spent months examining administrative compensation, school district spending, and how taxpayer dollars are being used.
But numbers only tell part of the story.
Behind those numbers are teachers, librarians, library aides, custodians, and support employees who show up every day to serve their communities.
And Lady B wants to hear from them.
If you work for Kalamazoo Public Schools or the Kalamazoo Public Library, I invite you to share your experiences.
What is being offered by KPS?
What are the teachers requesting?
What concerns you about the negotiations?
Are staffing shortages affecting your ability to do your job?
And what do you wish the public understood?
You may contact Lady B privately. Your identity will not be published without your permission.
Lady B will also be examining the financial records, compensation figures, and publicly available bargaining information for both institutions.
This isn't about attacking administrators or interfering with negotiations.
It's about transparency, accountability, and making sure the people doing the work have an opportunity to be heard.
Because a community deserves to understand what's happening inside the institutions its tax dollars support.
And the employees deserve to have their voices heard.
With receipts and respect,
Lady B 🪶
Michigan Education Association
Kalamazoo Public Library
Kalamazoo Public Schools
#LadyBudgetdown #KalamazooPublicSchools #KalamazooPublicLibrary #MichiganEducators #LibraryWorkers #PublicEducation #Transparency #EveryVoiceMatters