Awesome!!

It's nice to see people who actually care about the kids.

Thanks to everyone who helped out on this.

Thank You!!

I was there!!!! They gave me snacks!!

Wish I could have taken the day off. To the teachers who stripped the walls in the first place. Remind me when this became about the kids?

Nice job, parents! You did a great thing! As a parent of a child in the district, I sincerely thank you.

Let's all remember...at the end of the day, the ones who care the MOST about their kids are not the teachers, not the administrators, not the bus drivers, not the BOE, not the SEA, etc. - but the parents. Apparently, voting "yes" or "no" on a levy or a contract, for some, is the only way to show that he or she cares. This is how you do it - through positive actions (yet, some are still going to criticize the parents for this one to bolster their own twisted political agenda, whether it be pro-SEA, pro-BOE, etc., which is just pathetic).

What about, the teachers did do this. They spent most of the summer making things and decorating their room. Caren's didn't donate anything, they used their own money. They do it every year. They go in days early to make sure things look nice.

How could this have been avoided? The board could have negotiated.

The community keeps saying there is no money, the community is broke. But proof, plenty of money for decorations.

I'm thrilled if this makes things better for the kids. But wouldn't it be best for the board to get back to the table, settle this and get the school year and the decorations back to normal?

thank you to all the parents that are making this possible for our children.....sad citizen-not at all and stay out of the way.

Stop with the teachers it's about the kids. It is, but after 3 contracts of concessions, with a board demanding not only financial concessions but seniority concessions the teachers had to our their families first. Eventually, everyone has to put their family ahead of their job. That's what happened. 3 contracts of concessions, shoe me another part of Strongsville government that gave the community 6+ years of concessions.

Boo hop, the kids had to come second so the teachers could put their families first one time.

Message to Sad....we're moving on, and moving towards our new normal. With, or without you. Preferably without a good handful of you.

You're suggesting the money parents spent on crafts equates to those parents having money, and that should go to the teachers...I thought this wasn't about money?

Without me, I'm an IT consultant. I provide sakes tax, property tax and income tax to the schools. If you are moving on without me can I stop paying? You better hope I don't move on.. I can easily move by residence and my business and take my tax dollars with me. I located here because this was a growing, hard working entrepreneurial unity. Right now I see lazy haters. Be careful, insult guys like me enough and you will have more big budget holes to fill.

If you think you are getting rid of teacher you need a better understand labor law better.

I'm saying flat out Strongsville has money for everything but schools. Parents spend a $1,000/month on Premier soccer or baseball, but think $400 a month for property tax is too much. Does that really make sense? I'm saying flat out that a community that builds a $200,000 pile of bricks by the highway but can't fund it's schools has messed up priorities.

Do I think this is a out money? I've got a neighbor on the corner who teaches and several church friends who are SEA members. From talking with them, I think the seniority/RIF rules are the biggest deal, followed by the 1 year step they were promised last negotiations they would get back if they just helped for one year, then non-teaching assignments, medical contributions and the 1% pay decrease for STRS. 4 people is not a relative sample. I'm sure for the older teachers the seniority/RIF rules are the biggest deals. I would imagine that younger teachers who added to their education and dealt last time with the board in good faith the steps increase is the issue. If either side is refusing to sort out the last 1%, shame on them.

But it must be about money to the community since that's what I hear from that side. We are poor, we are broke, we have nothing more to give.

My grandmother who passed away 10 years ago was a teacher. My aunt was a teacher and lost her career when her husband relocated and no one would hire a teacher with 8 years experience.

sad I do not where you live but I already pay 400.00 per month in property taxes

I don't care of I spend $400 a night at dinner, what makes you think that just because I have money it has to go to you? Maybe I find that I get more out of my steak than your services provides (which is starting to look like it's probably the case). Citizens have the right to spend their private property as they see fit. I could have a stack of $1000 on the counter, but do I need to give the guy who puts my fence in more money because he saw it and knows I have it? No. Your argument is silly. Maybe you have to come to terms that a community would rather "spend 200K on a pile of bricks" than give you another dime bc they already feel you're overpaid as it is.

Both of those live in southern Ohio.

In the mid-70's as a student I watched a strike like this one ruin my small town. From a poor kids perspective rich people with plenty of money unwilling to pay for a great school system. By the time it all ended the school system was horrible, good people live away, good teachers left, family friends at church stopped being family friends. But the rich people were still rich. It's sad. I've been in Strongsville over 1/3 of my life, didn't think I'd ever leave. I really don't want to be here now, at all.

Maybe the teachers are wrong to think that after 6 years of give backs they have given enough, but that's not the only greed I'm this community.

Senior, that's what I said people pay $400 in property taxes, but $1,000 for soccer. Not all of the $400 goes toward education. A community of people that values soccer instruction at $1,000 a month and a real education at less than $400 has messed up priorities.

Dean, I'm not getting any thing from anyone. My business collects sales taxes and pays it into the county. I pay income tax and propert tax to Strongsville. I'm not asking anyone for anything. I'm a business own judging the communities priorities and deciding the more I listen to people like you all the less I want my business to be here. You value bricks more than teachers, fine by me, I don't have kids in the system. I just want a good community to build my business in. Increasingly this isn't it.

Actually Sad,

I'm sure you are aware that you can "gift" money to a federal, state, and local govt. They don't turn away money. If your business is doing so well, how about you offer up additional funds, no strings attached, to "close the loop". Its easy to tell others what they should do with their money or what they should want to do. You don't understand why a community/person feels tapped out respect to taxes...and you are a small business owner? Either you belong in Sweden or your a plant on this board.

Your one of those "Well, I'll start doing more if others do too!". A la Joe Biden...check his returns. The man who says "Those with more should give more" takes every deduction and gives less that 1 percent to charity.

Sorry, I don't need others telling me what to do with my money. With gifting and taxes over 50 percent of it doesn't stay with me.

I'll help you pack if you decide this community isn't for you.

Amen, Tad... Lets go blow some cash on something important.... Some wings and a beer?

If parents/citizens get together to do this again, please let me know. I have some time I could donate.

Sad has summed up this whole issue... We are wasting our money ifit isnt going in their pockets. Its them deciding they want more and us saying NO! Hell NO is closer!

I would donate time and money for the schools but not 1 more dollar well I give these blackmailing goons!

Jim,

Given that its ours, we can use it on whatever we choose! Exactly the reason some folks decided to donate funds to decorate the rooms.

A cold beer sounds good...a Delerium Noel sounds reallyyyyy good. Sorry Sad...that's a 10 dollar beer...I should probably buy a miller lite and give the balance to you so you can distribute how you see fit.

I'm not asking to distribute anything. I'm saying a community as rich as Strongsville that values everything, including beer more than education is a lousy community.

No, Tad, I'm one of those we could fix this if we all worked together types.

You seem to like the community that's being built. Kids get 4 subjects, no extras. Enjoy it. If you don't want my sales and income tax, fine. I'm sure that will make the community you are building better to.

Why not... The teachers have been
Drowning their sorrows at local bars... Looking pretty happy I might add...

It seems what your suggesting is just to have the community keep throwing money at the issue, and not really give it much thought. And that people who are already taxed quite a bit, should just suck it up a little bit more, so 348 other people don't have to cut back.

Sounds like a great idea.

Get back to picketing, Sad.. I saw a fresh box of donuts arriving. We might actually be on our way to a better tomorrow where merit will count and teachers will be young and vibrant again. The current system is broken... Just like healthcare. It is time to ask WHY it costs so much to have healthcare and decent schools instead of continuing to ask HOW do we pay for it! When a TEACHER thinks her /his $75000 salary and fantastic benefits package is an insult, it is time to get back to reality. Thousands of new teachers graduate every year!

Sad Citizen -

IT consultant??
Yeah, right.

This you wrote at 3:53:
..." but seniority concessions the teachers had to our their families first."

So, you caught yourself writing "our" and changed it to "their" but you failed to get rid of what you first wrote!

(sorry Candid - wrong person)

And Sad- you are one unintelligent or think headed teacher-

What's with your obsession with the brick wall paid for from city funds? We keep telling you its not paid from the same place as the teachers - just as the police and fire are paid from the city. If you want to be paid by the city -go work there.

I’m not sure where some people get the idea that Strongsville is full of rich people with Coach purses, Lexus cars and $1,000 soccer memberships. I don’t know anyone like that. I’m sure there a few exist, but it’s not the norm. Certainly no one I know. Could it be these people posting don’t live here? There’s no hard facts that support their argument that we can afford more. It’s just: dig a little deeper, dig a little deeper like a crazy televangelist.

Sad - you have no. clue what you're talking about. The residents don't spend $1,000 a month for sports. My son played baseball for Strongsville and now plays baseball in college. I never paid that Kind of money. Quit throwing out false statements!!!!

Strongsville rich?
Let's see some facts-
Using the most recent I could find off hand that compares the same years -

Per http://www.city-data.com/city/Strongsville-Ohio.html
$73,189 - 2009 Median household income
That is HOUSEHOLD - not per person - so, that could include 2 parents and a teenager in 1 household

Per Ohio Dept. of Ed - http://ilrc.ode.state.oh.us/PublicDW/asp/Main.aspx
$68,758 Median Teacher salary 2009-10
Add about 10% ($6876) that the district pays FOR the teachers into THEIR retirement
$75,634 Actual effective median salary

So, a teacher makes more than 1 entire household.
Yet, they still want more.
More from people who have to pay more than the teachers do for their healthcare.
And, they only work 8.5 months each year.

So, if you think Strongsville citizens are rich, then the teachers are super rich.

Rich residents ?? Uh oh .. I can feel a shot coming at the residents of Waterford right about .......

I think Sad has moved away.
Or just left like he always does when asked questions he will not answer.
Why?
Because he knows he is wrong!!

Sad Citizen, My advice to you is to not "cast they pearls before swine".

Anyone seen the figures for the Administrative raises and bonuses since 2008? >$400,000

Thank you to all of the parents that helped make the classrooms brighter and friendlier for their kids but please don't trash all of the teachers. My wife and I removed only the items that she had provided over the years. We were careful to only remove those items. We did not take any supplies that the kids brought in or any that have carried over from previous years for they weren't ours. We only took three items off the walls as these had sentimental value to her and were purchased by use. Plus they were advised by the administration to remove any personal items as they maybe discarded.

I don't agree with the strike but I will support her in her decision. She is a good teacher and a good women and she is not alone.

I would also like to thank the parents for this act of kindness, what you did today was the most thoughtful act I might have seen ever,
And what Q said was true, our school administrators suggested that we take all personal property home with us, since the school could not be responsible for items lost or stolen in our absence

Quite interesting regarding the administrative increases. I wonder what concessions they have taken...also, I know in my district, administrators do not put a dime in STRS..the district pays 100%

a teacher, I can personally tell you that the items taken out of my daughters classroom were items the parents donated at the beginning of the year. (dry erase markers, paper towels, klennex, etc.) They were not personal items. Our substitute had nothing to work with. How is taking the artwork the children did off the walls protecting your personal belongings? There was not even a calendar. I understand wanting to protect your personal belongings but it went way past that. This was not an isolated case either.

Linda, We here in Strongsville do not care what happens in other districts. Pretty sure we made that clear.

Candid:::Sorry, but your enthusiasm is a slap in the face to every teacher who does this sort of thing as part of their job.

It was not their JOB they did it on their own time with their own money and were not paid. ... Thats why people Thank Them...

Really they lost money since they had to pay so they sound a lot like the teachers

StrongsvilleMother...then why is Medina the topic of discussion. Did you let Kim L. Know you did not care when she posted the contracts negotiated in other school districts. My point regarding administrator concessions is that it is relevant to where the money is being spent...administrators do not have to pay into retirement...many administrators do not have to pay into retirement plan..Strongsville included possibly..would be interesting to find ouy

Sad Citizen, you are really ridiculous. You're saying because parents buy decorations or pay for their kids to play soccer, that is proof the community has plenty of money? So people should be taxed to the point they can't afford any activities so that teachers can make $90,000? What kind of logic is that? I saw someone buying name brand cereal when they could buy generic! That money should go to the teachers!

Linda, AS a matter of fact, if you look back at some of my previous posts, I made it clear that it does not matter to me what Brunswick teachers make or Medina. This is Strongsville...our teachers are treated more than fairly and that is really all that matters. I don't go out and buy my child something he wants just because the neighbor kids has it. That argument about other districts is a losing argument. It is your way of trying to justifiy the demands the teachers are making.

Here is the home that Tracy Linscott (a 9th grade reading teacher and head of the teachers union lives in)... It is valued at over $400,000... She wants to give out the home phones and address of the School Board to organize a "candle light vigil" at their house.... I wonder how much she would like it if people did this at her house in front of her family... I am not trying to organize anything like that but i think that the information should be out there for both sides... Suuuuuuuure looks like a nice house for an "underpaid" teacher that’s for sure

http://www.trulia.com/homes/Ohio/Independence/sold/1519231-6303-Acres-Dr-Independence-OH-44131

I know none of you really care what I have to say, all I am asking is for you to PLEASE give this a look. This school district was in a VERY similar situation as to what Strongsville is in right now. It may actually make you think a little bit...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcAAG66YR_M