Lakewood School Board Approves Teacher's 2 Year Contract

[Sean Wheeler]

Dee, my pay scale is publicly available. This can't be why the $80,000 dollar range is being used in this argument. I am also not getting a 9% pay hike next year.

This whole "Mt. Olympus" thing is a bit off base. It seems that there is complete agreement on this point. If it helps, as a union member I am satisfied that the LTA and the Board came to an agreement. As the relationship between the board and LTA has never seemed to me to be contentious or hostile, I don't understand the need for any statement other than one of satisfaction that the agreement is in place. We are fortunate to have a good relationship.

Mr. Gill offered a perfectly viable explanation concerning why the Sun-Post didn't receive a statement. What kind of statement will help?

Also, why are we commenting on a 9 MIL levy? Should we also debate the 50% tax rebate that the city is giving us? Or the free houses that the city is giving away? Should we be making up our minds based on hypothetical situations which have never been proposed or discussed in any real fashion?

If you really want to start asking important questions about school funding, start looking into the unconstitutional way in which our school system is funded. Look into the REAL problem. We should NEVER have to seek levies on property taxes in the first place.

[Bill Call]

but to move past the LTA issue..Mr George and Mr Call say that the story put out by the schools is inaccurate, that teacher compesation is going up 9 percent, not 3 percent a year. Is that correct? If it isnt whose job is it to set the record straight? If offficial Lakewood doesnt challenge it, I will assume its true.

When the district says 3% raise they are talking about the cost of living raise. Most teachers also get the step raise of 4% for having one more year of seniority. In theory the board can say "No raises", but what they will mean is "only a 4% raise."

The federal government operates the same way. When you read that "federal employees will be getting a 4% raise" what they leave out is that they are also getting a step raise of 3 or 4 % so the 4% raise is really an increase in salary of 7-8%. In a three contract that means raises of 24% or so over a three year period.

Mr. George is really on top of this.

If you want a copy of the contract you can email me and I will email it to you.

On the issue of health care I think it is important to point out the the district is paying 90% of the premium on a policy with almost no deductibles or co pays. Just about everything is covered 100%. What do you pay for health insurance?

I want to also point out that the district has agreed to a 7.5 hour workday.

And.... Buyout? What buyout? What's that going to cost?

[Dee Martinez]

Mr. Gill offered a perfectly viable explanation concerning why the Sun-Post didn't receive a statement. What kind of statement will help?

Also, why are we commenting on a 9 MIL levy? Should we also debate the 50% tax rebate that the city is giving us? Or the free houses that the city is giving away? Should we be making up our minds based on hypothetical situations which have never been proposed or discussed in any real fashion?

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Both Mr Gill the reporter and Mr Endress the lawyer have tossed out "perfectly viable explanations" (but no facts, of course, no editors or judges here) concerning the LTA's silence on this issue. Although you, Mr Schwegler, Mr Gill, and Mr Endress may be in "complete agreement" that if the disitrict and the LTA say its OK, its OK, thats not exactly"everbody"

But although I myself raised the point, it seems totally trivial in light of Mr Calls and Mr Georges posts.

It seems as though the school distirict (and the teachers by association) have totally misrepresented the terms of the new contract.

Is it 3 percent, 7 percnet, or 9 percent? Did the schools LIE to everyone? And if the coming levy isnt going to be Mr Georges 8 percent, what will it be?

[Sean Wheeler]

What is to explain?

The document is a PUBLIC document.

What is there to comment on? The document exists, has been agreed upon, and is now in effect.

This always happens. I'm sorry that I ever posted. Mea culpa.

[Dee Martinez]

What is to explain?

The document is a PUBLIC document.

What is there to comment on? The document exists, has been agreed upon, and is now in effect.

This always happens. I'm sorry that I ever posted. Mea culpa.

That makes two of us. Obviously, some things are not to be questioned.

Any levy that dies is just more $$$ for Coronas in Cabo.

[Bryan Schwegler]

Although you, Mr Schwegler, Mr Gill, and Mr Endress may be in "complete agreement" that if the disitrict and the LTA say its OK, its OK, thats not exactly"everbody"

Where did I say that Dee? I suggest you go back and re-read my posts.

[Sean Wheeler]

AAAGGHHHH!

What IS THE QUESTION?

Please, for my own sanity, where is the issue?

I get that Mr. Call feels that teachers are overpayed, overinsured, and underworked.

But please, please, please, what is it that is being questioned?

There is no cover-up. There is not even a mystery to be covered up. Everything that is being debated is a matter of public record, is in print, and is available free-of-charge.

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

Dee,

Maybe you don't know what Mr.Gill does for a living?

I'd suggest you figure it out before you throw him under the bus as a reporter.

Maybe if you became involved in this project you would learn a bit about where everyone is coming from as far as their posts are concerned.

What is the question here?

Dee, let me remind you what your question was.

No wonder the teachers arent talking.

Is it just me or is this what the post is about? Your displeasure about a lack of a comment in the papers from the LTA.

Are you still unhappy that the sun post didn't include a comment from the LTA or have you moved on from that? If you have moved on, I don't understand why this thread is still alive. All we're doing is asking each other what the question is.

If it helps you get sleep at night, I will email one of the editors of the Sun Post personally. He's an editor for all the West side papers and I'm sure he can give me an answer. But don't be surprised if it's the same answer that I, Michael and Jeff gave you. When a paper is on deadline, they don't have all the time in the world wait for a comment and to pay a late fee for print submission just because of one sentence.

[Charyn Compeau]

I dont know what the question is...

..but it ought to be "What are teachers worth to a community?"

And the answer should be that they are invaluable.

The quality of Lakewood's schools rests largely on the shoulders on the teachers, and the perception of any community is rests largely on the quality of the schools.

I would suggest that my grandmother had a point when she told me that it was stupid to step on dollars to pick up the pennies.

But thats just this girl's opinion,
Charyn

[William George]

Dee, my pay scale is publicly available. This can't be why the $80,000 dollar range is being used in this argument. I am also not getting a 9% pay hike next year.

Sean, I think you will be plesantly suprised at your raise next year. Why don't you call the board and find out. Then post and let us know what you found out. Ask them "does my base salary go up 3 % and then another 4% based on the matrix?". I'd be interested in how they explain it to you. You have the right to know.

In all of my posts, I never said teachers were overpaid. I merely suggested some steps to take to curb the rate of expense increases.

Based on the info from the Board, average salary for teachers was around $63,000.

A teacher is very valuble to a community, just as Doctors, Nurses, Policemen, Fireman, etc.

As Mr. Call mentioned, it is ALL PUBLIC RECORD. I did the research and obtained the previous contract and the changes in the new contract. I try to be factual unless I clarify "My opinion".

FYI - no opinion in this post. The voters will decide next year.

[Stan Austin]

As I lurch over to the side of our community that is so very important to all of us, I am observing with respect and admiration for all of the posters in this thread.

A more complete and full explanation from all parities seems to be in order.

Stan Austin

[Dee Martinez]

Dee,

Maybe you don't know what Mr.Gill does for a living?

I'd suggest you figure it out before you throw him under the bus as a reporter.

Maybe if you became involved in this project you would learn a bit about where everyone is coming from as far as their posts are concerned.

What is the question here?

Dee, let me remind you what your question was.

No wonder the teachers arent talking.

Is it just me or is this what the post is about? Your displeasure about a lack of a comment in the papers from the LTA.

Are you still unhappy that the sun post didn't include a comment from the LTA or have you moved on from that? If you have moved on, I don't understand why this thread is still alive. All we're doing is asking each other what the question is.

If it helps you get sleep at night, I will email one of the editors of the Sun Post personally. He's an editor for all the West side papers and I'm sure he can give me an answer. But don't be surprised if it's the same answer that I, Michael and Jeff gave you. When a paper is on deadline, they don't have all the time in the world wait for a comment and to pay a late fee for print submission just because of one sentence.

Ivor, my young friend. Thank you, thank you for explaining journalism to me. 50 years on this earth, and I never before heard the word "deadline" I suppose you boyz are never too young to teach us gals a thing or two about the real world.

As for "the project," amazingly, I lived in Lakewood for more than 20 years before "the project" came about. And now that I reflect, those were pretty damn good years. So I am seriously wondering what benefit "the project": has wrought.

Charyn, I happen to agreee with you wholeheartedly. But ultimately, Mr George is most on point. The voters will decide. And whatever they decide affects me not at all. Those with livelihoods or children connected to the schools will need to make the case.

Mr George and Mr Call, again, currently have the most recent unchallenged facts on the record. Enough said.

But to those who wonder whats the question? I would put this. Have Lakewood schools (teachers included) established enough confidence and trust with the comunity to pass the next levy? And if not, what should they do?

[Sean Wheeler]

The Lakewood City Schools promised to operate on the last levy for at least three years before returning to the public to ask for more money. They have gone THREE YEARS beyond that promise.

That should inspire some trust and confidence. They gave a promise, they doubled the time that they could operate without asking for a levy, and they have maintained an excellent school district that operates in the open and on the level.

Again, our state funding has been deemed unconstitutional four times by the Ohio Supreme court. Our current governor ran on the promise to fix this issue. He hasn't. Rather than sow seeds of distrust and hunt down phantom hypothetical arguments, it would be great if any of this energy could be directed at THE REAL PROBLEM. Fix state funding. If you don't want your property taxes raised, ask the state government's executive branch to enforce the four rulings that the judicial branch has handed down.

I respect Mr. George's statements. His posts show a thorough diligence and an informed perspective. But I want to make clear that there have been no charges of mishandling, impropriety, or shady dealings involved with any of these contract negotiations. Nobody has tried to pull a fast one on anybody.

As for the bond issues mentioned in a previous post. Bond issues are not levies. Our bond issues were used for infrastructure purposes and had nothing to do with operating costs. My layman's understanding of the bond issue is that the state government put out a program to rebuild schools with money from the tobacco settlement. They offered to pay a significant portion of new school buildings throughout the state. The state offer, combined with our aging schools and declining enrollment, made the time right for passing a bond issue. This paragraph is simply my, admittedly less-than-expert, understanding of the bond issue. Please don't take issue with it as if I actually knew what I was talking about concerning the details of the bond issue. My general aim was to distinguish between bonds and levies.

[Dee Martinez]

Mr.. Wheeler.

If you look to the other threads, you will see I have tried to explain the school financing situation. I mentioned in at least 4 posts the point you brought up about the years between levies. I tend to fall on the side of the teachers. But honestly, I am a little concerned that you seem not to know if you are getting a 3,7, or 9 percent raise next year. If YOU dont know, how should WE the taxpayers be expected to make a decision?
We are not going to change Ohio school funding. That topic has been beaten to death, we need to play the hand weve been dealt.
Will the LTA answer YOUR calls so you can get back to us on this?

[Bryan Schwegler]

That topic has been beaten to death, we need to play the hand weve been dealt.

Speaking of things that have been beaten to death...

Will the LTA answer YOUR calls so you can get back to us on this?

Did you call them? Have you obtained a copy of the contract? The answers should be there, it should help clarify your concern.