The Observation Deck

Sorry, but I'm not going to leave the above remark about educators stand unanswered.

I might not change any one's mind as to their levy vote, but a little more knowledge really needs to be out there, regarding the process involved with cutbacks.

Firstly, educators aren't the ones who want children's programs to be cut. You ALL are, in the decision that YOU will make at the ballot box, and in the reactions that your elected representatives, (the School Board) are forced to make in response to your voting decision.

Cutting programs is the school board's difficult job, and there is only so much they are legally able to do. They are bound, as are certified and classified staff members, with labor relations agreements. All sides in those discussions have to follow a negotiated process, or be subject to unfair labor practice actions. As other districts have discovered, those actions, when initiated, can financially cripple a community.

In short, everyone's hands are tied. All parties must follow the law and due process, as they consider whatever options must come to the table.

Educators' entire lives are dedicated to young people. At the same time, certified and classified staff members in the schools learned long ago that they needed to have the legal protections inherent in belonging to professional associations that would help to insure their due process legal rights, and that would also negotiate for better wages and benefits.

It's not the fault of public-sector employees that the much of the private sector has imploded. (but certainly not all of it; as we gaze on those huge bonus packages paid out by certain businesses recently)

During these hard times, with so many Americans out of work, and so many dreams shattered, it might be only natural to ask public-sector labor associations to "give back".

Guess what? THEY DO SO ALREADY, and have been doing EXACTLY that for years now! That kind of thing happens, by law, at the bargaining table. Every bargaining session in my memory in other school districts has involved talk of concessions, and often as not, teachers' associations have settled for less generous salary, medical and benefit packages, as the circumstances in our country have changed.

Just about everyone has sacrificed in the last ten years to help the public schools stay as good as they are across this country. Visit your public schools. Look at the lifestyles of teachers and our classified staff members. See whether you can find any excess fluff. No one's getting rich here. The more you know, the more you'll understand that YOU are the single greatest determinant of the future of Lakewood, and it's schools. Do not be misled by naysayers. It's so much easier to tear things down, than it is to build things up.

Lakewood's labor associations and the School Board have already demonstrated the ability to successfully negotiate and work towards a common purpose, in order to problem-solve many issues affecting our schools. Now the rest is really up to you. Your help is critically needed for the continued success of Lakewood's excellent schools.

Back to the banjo....

Gary Rice wrote:Firstly, educators aren't the ones who want children's programs to be cut. You ALL are, in the decision that YOU will make at the ballot box, and in the reactions that your elected representatives, (the School Board) are forced to make in response to your voting decision.

.

Wrong.

The attitude of the teachers union is "Give us what we want or we will destroy your school system".

Over the next few years Lakewood schools will be spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to give early buy outs for high priced teachers and will have fewer students and fewer employees. And yet they project a nearly 20% increase in the cost of wages and benefits. This will generate an ANNUAL $20 million dollar deficit.

Has anyone given any thought to what a $20 million dollar annual tax increase will do to the budgets of Lakewood residents?

Has anyone given any thought to the economic effect on Lakewood businesses of transfering $20 million dollars PER YEAR to Westlake and Avon Lake?

And that is what will be required to balance the books for one year. Do you think that a 20% wage and benefit increase will be the last demand made by the union?

All across the county we see the devestating affect government unions have on the economic health of cities and states. It CAN happen here.

The board should have taken a stand years ago. The board should take a stand now, before its to late.

We should all start to challenge this assumption that the economic health of Lakewood is determined by the size of the paychecks of the people of Bay Village and Westlake.

The party is over the well is dry
it is time to question the reason why

From a distant city The Unions Cry
Give us what we want or your school will die

This constant repetition of union propaganda is intended to mislead us and is getting, frankly, boring. Unions have almost disappeared from the private sector, having been so greedy that they have destroyed the jobs, which have moved to places where there is less union pressure. How many unemployed automakers and imported cars do we need to see the problem. Union membership is very low in all fields except public employment, where the jobs cannot be relocated, and where the politicians are fearful that if they don't cater to the unions, they will not get the resources and votes that the unions provide them.

The straightjacket that Mr. Rice says controls the process is a straightjacket only because the unions are unwilling to make adjustments. There is no contract that cannot be reopened, given willingness of both parties to reopen it.

Unions value seniority over all, which is one reason they fight against merit pay. The typical contract provides for a specified wage, but does not specify how many teachers will be employed. So, given no adjustment to the contract, if the board has less income, the only thing they can do with respect to payroll expense is to reduce the number of employees, either through voluntary departures (such as buyouts) or through firings, and when they fire, the terms of the contract require that less senior employees be fired before more senior employees.

So if the board has less money, they can go to the union and ask for an adjustment of the contract. In essence, they would ask the union to agree to, say, a 3% wage reduction, or to face termination of 3% of the teachers. It is the union, not the administration and not the taxpayers, that would make the decision whether they would accept the reduction, or sacrifice their less senior members. My belief is that the union would elect to sacrifice their less senior members, and of course, would say they had no choice and the layoffs were forced on them by the board and the taxpayers, which is simply not true. The union would sacrifice its less senior members because the main objective of the union is to protect itself, not to protect all its members, and certainly not to serve the children. They would not renegotiate because they think that renegotiation would weaken the union, and could lead to further requests for renegotiations, here and in other jurisdictions.

I'm not eager to see reductions in programs, and I think people of good will could find a way to make adjustments in what I hope are temporarily dire circumstances. but I think the combination of politics and intransigence (and I'm not saying it is the local union that is primarily at fault; they are largely controlled by their masters at the national level) makes it easier to ask for even more money from people who are already having to cut back, than to find a way to reduce expenses that is consistent with the local economy.

Despite the fact that Lakewood Alive has endorsed the levy I will vote for it to pass.

I tried looking a little online and I don't think I found an answer...what union represents the teachers for Lakewood? I find reference to a Ohio Association of Public Schools Employees, but that's about it. That doesn't sound like a union name to me.

Roy Pitchford wrote:I tried looking a little online and I don't think I found an answer...what union represents the teachers for Lakewood? I find reference to a Ohio Association of Public Schools Employees, but that's about it. That doesn't sound like a union name to me.

Colleen Corrigan, president of the Lakewood Teacher's Association was who was given credit
for working with the board on not taking raises.

Don't do it for the kids, Just Vote For The Levy


FWIW


.

Ah, yes, we've been down this particular pathway before, have we not?

Everyone has the right to express their opinion, but they also have the responsibility to back up their assertions with facts.

I certainly have tried to do so.

Opinions are opinions and facts are facts.

There is a difference.

Remember what your teacher told you to do, when you were in doubt?

Look it up. Do the research.

By the way, as far as my own opinions go? (should anyone ask) They are the personal opinions of a retiree, and therefore, cannot logically represent "union propaganda". I am not paid to be a defender of unions. (or confederates, either) (smile)

My part in the management/labor issues have been over for awhile. (Yay!)

The students are the ones I'm presently defending, here and now...

...and no, I did not teach during the Civil War.

Back to the banjo...got to get that levy passed!

Somewhere I heard, like city like school district or something like that. The last group the school board should want to endorse funding for taxpayer approval is the City of Lakewood officials. Yep, nothing more precious than recommendations from City of Lakewood officials that are noted to having annual recurring budget financial disasters, declining population and not a clue to the cause being overburdened taxpayers.

Let us examine the Lakewood School District ranking of 423 out of 718 Ohio school districts. Since Lakewood funding is fatter then a stuffed thanksgiving turkey, who can they blame? As history has shown us school systems always directed the blame to following reasons and in this order: lack of funding, parents, students, required proficiency tests [school administrations despise that their lack of ability to educate students is tested], teachers, PTA, or an act of God.

School enrollment is down, the high school has a few over 2000 students down from 2400 in 2004. Perhaps in the school district's Land of Oz they may not realize this country is in a recession, unemployment is up, property sales are down, rental property vacancies are up and incomes are down. Not tough to follow unless the district thinks up is good.

The public will never see the responsibility of the district’s poor rating accepted by the school board and administration. This is why their performance is and will always be described as inept and inert, as confirmed by their state racking. Be assured, those who think Lakewood School district is doing a good job with its current ranking either works for it or was educated in it. Throwing good money after bad is good for school districts but bad for taxpayers.

If the Lakewood Schools cannot show results then they do not deserve the increase. The funds will be wasted as before and district’s ranking will remain the same because there is no incentive for them to do better.

Richard Baker wrote: Be assured, those who think Lakewood School district is doing a good job with its current ranking either works for it or was educated in it. .

I don't work for the schools nor was I educated in the schools but I am a parent of five wonderful Lakewood school students and as a parent I have to disagree with your assessment of the educational quality of the Lakewood schools. First off the Lakewood schools received an "excellent rating" as a district, being that that is the highest rating they seem to be doing good. But of course that is just on paper. I know the Lakewood schools are doing a good job educating children because I see how much they have done for my children. I'll repeat my situation for those who don't know me. Two of our children are served through the self-contained gifted program, one of our children is served in regular education classes, one is a special needs student who is mainstreamed and one is a special needs student being served in both special education classes and regular education classes. I think it's fair to say I have a broad knowledge of the various levels of education going on in this district and I am quite pleased. All of my children do well in school, their educational needs are met and above all they have amazing teachers who I adore and admire.

I know many people see excuses coming out of the district but the fact is that the district serves a broad group of students and we cannot compare ourselves to the burbs because our student population is not the same. We serve a large percentage of students that are disabled, speak english as a second language and are economically disadvantaged. Serving a diverse student population means there are going to be a lot of bumps in the road but the awesome thing about Lakewood is that those students are being served and being served well.

So please don't tell me about rankings, ranking often compare apples to oranges and don't tell the whole story. I and many other parents here in Lakewood know what is really going on in our schools day in and day out and I would bet most of us are very pleased with the education our children are receiving.

I and many other parents here in Lakewood know what is really going on in our schools day in and day out and I would bet most of us are very pleased with the education our children are receiving.

I would be pleased too if my family was the recipient of say $75,000 per year in educational (or whatever) services for which I paid virtually nothing. I said this a couple weeks back in a health care thread, the reason public services (e.g. health care, education) are so expensive is that they're “bought” by folks with other people's money. We need a system where folks actually pay themselves for a substantial portion of the services they receive. Perhaps then there will be attention paid to quality and (especially) cost.

The biggest reason public services are so expensive is because the folks who "purchase" those services actually incur not a penny of their direct cost.

So Tim you don't believe all children deserve a good education? That only children who's parents can afford a good education should get one? Am I misunderstanding your statements?

Danielle are you suggesting that only well-off parents can afford a good education for their children? I'm confused. That doesn't square with your assertion that (free) Lakewood public schools provide a good education.

I had this incredibly unusual and possibly radical idea.

Lower taxes.

I know, you're thinking I must be stark raving mad to even suggest such a thing. Well, you'd probably be right, I just know how to fool the doctors.

Go with me on this for a second...

How many houses are for sale in Lakewood? Tons! I see them everywhere I go. If the property tax rate was reduced, it may spur some growth. More people in Lakewood, more people to collect taxes from.

On the other hand, if the tax rate continues to go up, people will leave the city (or choose not to move to the city), regardless of how good our schools might be.

You stated:

Tim Liston wrote:

I would be pleased too if my family was the recipient of say $75,000 per year in educational (or whatever) services for which I paid virtually nothing.

I am merely curious as to the meaning of that.

I am pleased with the public education that my children receive and are entitled to by law. While you might like to link a discussion on the health care debate and public education they are essentially separate issues as right now a free education is something all children are entitled to while health care is not something everyone is entitled to. All children in the US are entitled to a public education, I thankfully don't see that changing any time soon. Education has changed a lot over the decades, which once again I am thankful for especially since not so long ago different races weren't even entitled to the same education as their white peers.

My point about me being pleased with the schools was a response to a post stating that only people who work for the schools or are a product of the Lakewood schools are pleased with them and I disagreed.

My question for is do you think all children should have a good education or just the ones who have parents that can afford it? I don't feel that way and thank good our federal government doesn't see it that way either.

Roy while the tax rates may be higher our property values are lower therefore many home owners pay lower taxes in Lakewood than they would for a house in other cities. This once again is a the grass is always greener somewhere else and that is often just not the case.