kind of like the "breach of promise" the School Board did with all of it's teacher when they gave up over 3 million in concession on their last contract... with promises of "taking care of teachers" the next time around?

See... even the genral public will get screwed by the BOE

Good Morning Shady, You mean the step increases? The very one that the union is demanded retro? That argument fails. The Board has taken care of you. That is the problem. You should have never been awarded what you were awarded previously. It is the previous Board fault. Now you are all acting like a bunch of spoiled children.

To all you teachers that are reading this. TRY TO PAY ATTENTION!!!! Get your ass back to class!!!!! $64k to work 7 hours a day? Are you kidding me? And you want more to work less?

Lyn... WE promised the teachers nothing. The board knows we are fed up and will not pass anymore levys for their salary increases and pensions. We are taking our district back. Plain and simple.

The stiking teachers at the high school are nothing but a bunch of thugs. They are real big intimidating children. I keep hearing about how we as parents should worry about the subs teaching our children. I am more worried about the teachers that have been teaching our children all these years.

You or your kids need to get out the phone and videotape this. Or a video camera.
These teachers need to be disciplined!!!

Agreed!!

I disagree. If you want good educators, you have to pay them. Contracts are necessary to insure the teachers are protected from bad administrators, which, it seems, Strongsville has its fair share.

As for teachers' pay, if anything, they are underpaid for the services they render our community. Where else do college-educated, advanced-degree employees get the disrespect that our teachers do? If you thought it was such a cushy job, maybe you should have pursued that career path yourself rather than be jealous of those who have dedicated their lives to educating our children?

No it is not, People get a grip of reality. The amount of time after and before school preparing lessons grading papers, and answering the calls from lazy parents takes a lot of time! Far more than just the classroom time when they TEACH! I see a lot of comments from parents who have no idea what it takes to plan lessons, they think it is easy. These are stay home moms that have nothing better to do then gripe about teachers being lazy when it is them!

Ron appearently you are the clueless one. I am not a stay at home mom. I am just not lucky enough to have a job with set daytime hours like the teachers. I have to work when my employer tells me to. And as for answering calls from parents, the parents wouldn't have to call them (and not reach after several attempts) if the teachers did their jobs and followed the directives (ieps) they are given.

Ron, I can only speak to my experience. I have 3 kids in the Strongsville schools, 10 years apart. My youngest is completing the exact worksheets in most subjects. Excluding math. The art projects are exactly the same. I keep hearing about all this "planning" time during the summer. I just do not believe it because I do not see it in the classroom.

By the way Ron, I am a working mom. Try that sometime! See what real work is.

Just to clarify. We did not pass a LEVY in the fall. We passed a BOND. By law the BOE cannot spend the money gained by the bond towards operating expenses. The primary goals of the bond were to provide our kids with a great learning facility and SAVE MONEY! By consolidating 2 buildings (one of which is 104 years old, not very efficient) we will save operating money through economies of scale.

I understood this initially when we voted, that there would be an operating levy to go with the bond. But my concern is with the teachers asking for more $, that could be taken from any new operating funds (new levy) if the BOE agrees to their demands.....correct? So the poll above reflects support for the BOE at this time I feel.

There was no new LEVY (operating income) attached with the BOND passage last fall. The BOND is strictly for capital improvements. There is no way for the BOE to transfer any of those funds.

Right George. I just meant I recall hearing, back then, that a Levy would ALSO be needed later as the Bond was separate. So my question is, are operational levies SPECIFIC like bonds as to exactly what they can be used for?

To answer your question regarding restrictions on levies, I do not know. I can tell you that the passage of the Bond will save operating money NOT cost the district more money. Just think…. We are going to remove 3 buildings (Allen, Center & Albion) and finish with a new Middle School. Think of the repair cost each year for a 104 year old building. Think of the money we spend each month for an empty Allen.

haha I heard there were a couple of demonstrators out there yesterday, for ten minutes, then drooped away. Was that you?

Hey go to www.4taxpayers.com. The taxpayers are organizing a strike to counter the teachers demands. Everyone should be there.

I am glad that I am not alone in all of this. Completely ridiculous demands and behavior. Thanks everyone.

Wait.... so you are going to carry signs, walk up and down the street, in a group, for something you believe in???

THUGS!!!!!

Shady, I know you will not understand this - but it is possible to protest and not act like thugs. New concept for you? We will try not to jump out in front of cars, run people down or use children to advance our cause. But thanks for your concern.

We await the public display of your misguided outrage.

Great! So only if the rest of your flock will be there = "I will protest... as long as it is convenient for me!"

Let me say this slowly so you can understand Tracy, we have been protesting all along....levies barely passing, less and less teacher salary/benefit support, more kids heading to private schools.....all while we struggle with $150/kid avg. school fees and $440/sport play to participate fees, new bond and tax assessments , let alone the recession. We just do it without making the headline news with our backsides hanging out.

Money is the least of my concerns! And I don;t care much for pizza, but thanks! I wish, for your sake, you can one day feel what it is like to be able to rely on more than just monetary comments and embrace the fact that wealth goes way beyond a paycheck!

you sound angry.... you should have a drink.

and which is it... one of you says the teachers need to stop picketing, another says they need to picket 24/7... make up your mind