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Here's a question I have
I can accept the fact that we need teachers to teach. I can accept the fact the PEA is a good negotiator. I can accept the fact that the school Admin shouldn?’t be a part of the bargaining process.
What I cannot accept is that we have an incredible amount of highly paid non-teaching positions in each and every building. We have principals, assistant principles, deputy assistant principals, counselors, counselor?’s aides, student counselors, deputy assistant junior principal?’s aides and on and on.
Ok, I exaggerate some, but I challenge anyone who can access the information to place an organizational chart in the PDF section of this website for each and every school in this district along with the salaries and benefits.
When it comes to attacking or defending the largest line item in the PLSD budget, let?’s get all the facts in front of us. No offense Bruce, but rather than quibble over a 9 month salary prorated to 12, let?’s take a critical look at who we pay, how much we pay them and for what. I think that would certainly enlighten the levy voter?’s minds some. When voters say NO, they are not just saying no to building new buildings, they are saying no to propagating the history of more reckless spending - or at least I am.
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School reform now
I think we need to look at the history of one of the biggest Blue Chip companies in our country and that being General Motors.
In the 50s & 60s the unions representing the GM employees won contract after contract to the point of running out of new ideas to fleece their employer and ultimately their customers. That arrogant and cocky attitude continued until Toyota came to America in the 70s.
Much of what the GM employees won was in the form of deferred compensation and in their retirement accounts. Today that GM retirement system in near bankrupt and the company's borrowing power is now rated as ''JUNK'' bonds.
Despite warnings all through the 80s our government turned a deaf ear to GM (and other company funds) not being fully funded. Today we can fully expect the GM system to be taken over by the Government and those 50s and 60s workers and now retirees will lose a big chunk of that promised gravy train in their golden years.
Despite being represented by one of the largest unions in the country (UAW) they will lose their promised deferred pay because of over optimistic predictions of future growth and little or no competition figured in.
Despite being employed by the State of Ohio and local government boards our state teachers are heading down the very same path as the UAW did in the 50s.
The apathy and lethargic attitudes among some of our teachers and administrators is showing me the very same attitude that prevailed in the same heyday of our country's Auto Workers.
UAW work got sloppy in their work (See Quality 1980) and they still demanded more money and benefits because their employer didn't want to take on the fight.
I think it is time before it is too late to reform the education system of our state. Part of that will be to be more realistic in future retirement and current pay. We need a system that rewards high achievers in the class room and weeds out those that currently just show up for work waiting on the magic number of years they must put in. A merit system is not compatible with a union system.
I think viewing History and Social Studies as throw a way courses is part of the problem as well. Allowing a teacher to be a coach or a Mayor is very bad policy in my view. Both jobs are demanding and students are neglected in the process.
By History lover
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You Should Run for School Board
I'm no longer on the school board, and thus do not have access to the information you have requested. Indeed, even when I was on the board, I would have had a hard time getting information like that. You would be amazed at the amount of administration and school board stonewalling that I faced, not to mention the personal attacks.
I hope that the situation is different with Dr. Thiede and Vince Utterback. I think very highly of both of them. But we do need people on the school board who are relentless in asking questions, and who are willing to turn over every last stone to find savings. Taxpayers need to know that the school board is looking after their interests, and that no tax levy is placed on the ballot that is not absolutely necessary.
I do not know who you are, but you may be the right person for the job. There are three seats opening up on the school board this fall, and we need to fill them with people who will take the job seriously. Give it some thought.
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Can't Blame it all on the Union
I agree with you about one thing: unions must be realistic in their bargaining, and not weigh down companies with more than they can bear. If they do, everyone loses. There may be an element of that in the PEA's view of medical and retirement benefits, although there was some significant PEA movement on that score in the last round of negotiations in the PLSD.
I also agree with you about another thing: I have had enough of coaches who not only can't teach, but who have neither knowledge of, nor much interest in, the subjects they try to teach. I have friends who were totally unable to find jobs teaching history in public schools because there was no sport that they could coach. Perhaps if we gave due regard to the teaching of history, and kept coaches away from it, we would finally learn to avoid repeating our past mistakes.
As to the US auto industry, I think there is plenty of blame to go around. The UAW was not solely, or even primarily, responsible for the low quality of American automobiles. Remember planned obsolescence? That was a management idea.
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