Just look what's happening in Southfield, and ask yourself why anyone would want to serve on a local board of education and deal with this sort of abuse.

The situation in Southfield is much the same as in public school districts throughout Michigan. The economy is bad, residents are moving, and personnel costs continue to rapidly rise. Southfield officials sought ways to eliminate an estimated $7 million deficit while still investing as much money as possible in classroom activities.

They finally came upon the logical solution that so many other districts in Michigan have discovered -- contracting with private companies to provide custodial, food and transportation services, and reaping the savings of that action.

Nobody is happy about having to make the privatization decision. Nobody wants to say good-bye to in-house employees, many of whom may have given years of productive service to the school district. But what choice did the school board have? The bottom line is that the cash-strapped district can save an estimated $21 million over the next three years through privatization.

That's $21 million, or $805 per pupil per year, that can be spent on teacher raises, books, computers, paper and pencils. It sounds like the school board made a reasonable decision, given the district's difficult financial circumstances.

So what do the board members get for their common-sense, fiscally responsible act? A recall campaign to remove four of them from office, organized by the Michigan Education Association, the union representing the employees. MEA employee Pat Haynie filed the recall petitions with the Oakland County clerk, not even attempting to shield its involvement.

The targets of the recall are board President Karen Miller and trustees Margaret Hall, Fern Katz and Darryle Buchanan. Board Vice President Connie Williams, who voted with the majority, was not targeted because he is on the ballot this fall.

Ironically, in 2005, who did the teachers union endorse in that board election, calling them "dynamic, highly qualified, articulate candidates?" Katz and Buchanan.

God help us if the union eventually gets its way and any of those school board members are removed through recall. It will just give the MEA more ammunition in their ongoing effort to control public education through a combination of bullying school board members and taking advantage of public apathy.

The way we see it, the citizens of Southfield have a unique opportunity, indeed a responsibility, to shoot this recall effort down before it gains any momentum. When the petitioners come to their doors or approach them in parking lots, they shouldn't even stop and listen. They should tell them they support the difficult decision their school board made to make sure that very possible dollar is spent in the classroom, where it belongs.

Even better, the citizens of Southfield should attend their next school board meeting, take a few chairs that are usually reserved for union members, and thank their school board for making hard choices and taking the heat.

If the people of Southfield stand up to the union and back up their board, the news is sure to spread.

Maybe then citizens can start to take back the control of education in Michigan. Their lack of interest in their local districts has been noticeable and damaging. It has allowed the teachers unions to run amok, with few checks and balances to stop them.