Don't forget to pack your lesson plans

"just not sustainable."

People need to realize other reasons why Strongsville Schools doesn’t have sufficient funds to operate properly and keep their employees content.

Why are they always borrowing and haven’t been ahead in so many years? Why do they continue facing a deficit? Has anyone stopped to wonder where all the money has gone?

Could it be that the administration has wasted taxpayer’s money recklessly? They have continuously made hasty, careless decisions. They repeatedly make senseless purchases lacking careful planning and judgment first.

Be open minded. Try to be impartial enough to think why all this is occurring. What happened to the days when everyone was happy? The buildings were clean and we were all so proud of Strongsville City Schools. The administrative practices should be strongly looked at and blamed for this mess. There hasn’t been any true leadership or direction for years. The Board needs to wake up and recognize the adversity that’s been going on. None of them has the courage to make decisions and take a stand in this district.

I hope to spend time this weekend going over past Board agendas. I would like to bring to light and remind everyone of these instances. It appears to me that they were never realized or have been forgotten.

kk

Yea, Big Trace - "A Legend in Her Own Mind," will go down in union history as one of the biggest goofs ever. Doesn't even recall what was in her own proposal.

Interesting, a Sub's car was hit with a rock today and their window shattered. Can't wait to see how the details play out on this one.

There are a few teachers I wouldn't mind you taking with you. Couple of coaches too!

I don't know...after looking at the SEA's amended proposal, it doesn't seem as if they've moved at all. I would suggest we disagree on who is lacking good faith.

There isn't $2M or even $1M available in the budget how hard is that to understand

The teachers have a cadillac contract. Period. In an economy where people are lucky to have jobs, they've made themselves look nothing short of greedy and narrow-minded. I conversed with numerous teachers outside of Strongsville and they're stunned that our teachers are on strike. And to top it all off, they're being led by a union presdient who will lead the inaugural class to the Union Hall of Shame.

The community has not embarrassed itself one bit. They should be proud that they have the stones to stand up to the union thugs that want to bully a district into bankruptcy.. the school board has it 100% right on this one! A median income of 65k plus bennies for 8 months of work is a sweet deal. What do strongsville police make for working 12 months a year they truely deal with the worst of conditions?

Jennifer, that's true but have you heard any negative media attention towards the BOE? All of the public anger under the media's lead is aimed towards the teachers.

So how do you pay back a loan when you have no income? LOL

Yes, lets spend that on the kids first!

The teachers already have a fair salary and great working conditions. Get back to work.

If there is extra money then reduce our property taxes. People are on fixed incomes and can't afford to pay $68,000 salaries.

If you all are so smart and have all the answers....go get your education degree and let me know ow it goes! Teachers aren't charity workers!!!

Hey Teach2, again, as I have said to other posters, think before you make idiotic statements. Believe it or not, I have a triple major and along with running my own business, I teach at a local college!!!!!! ( Oh, and let me stop you before you open your mouth, I don't care if you teach middle school, high school, college, ect, you are considered a teacher and deal with many of the same issues.!!!)

Teach2 please explain the daily stess of a teachers enviroment. please do not say you cant get all your work done in the work day, you have 4 months of off time you could use for that! Or the conditions are horrible and the kids are unruley. Prison guards work 12 months for half your salary they actually do have horrible working conditions with unruley people! Remember your education does not make you smarter or better than anybody else, your smarty pants go on the same way everybody elses do!

Mr. Taxpayer, please rethink: "the monies are not about teachers or the BOE...it is about the kids". If this is true, why are you taxpayers off the hook so easily, but not the teachers? If you taxpayers believe so strongly that the kids are more important than money, shouldn't all schools be fully funded by you without a fight? You are strongly advocating a bigger tax levy with your smug truism that money is not of great import because "it's all about the kids." Or did you mean other people's money (teachers) is not important (to you)?

Saw a student carrying a sign noting, "I love my students...for the right price."

SEA President is very manipulative in a juvenile way by calling a meeting that is in direct violation of the agreement set forth @ the outset of the negotiations. This is a very transparent maneuver so that the SEA can infer that the BOE is unwilling and uncooperative.

To the person above who noted that the media is essentially Pro BOE, perhaps this individual should read or re-read the Plain Dealer and Post submissions. These are very pro SEA.

mc-
That was a good sign- it got our attention too!
I think Tracy and OEA know they are losing more and more public support every day, so she is trying everything she can - including putting her mug in front of the camera and spitting out those half truths. But, the community has educated themselves on this and just won't buy what she is selling. And the more she and picketers are on the news, the more it goes against her.

She has gone beyond the point of oversaturation in the media.
People just can't stand seeing her and her band of thugs. Even the students look like punks you would avoid on the street. None of them are a good representation of our city.

Does she really think people living outside of our city want to hear any more about this? How many times do you say that you have heard enough once the news people keep talking about some event that is irrelevant to your life? Did you ever call them to say what do the rest of the Cleveland area care about what is going on in Parma if they talk about something there constantly? We have.

The Board has saved $1.1 million since the strike started. Another two to three weeks and we'll have saved enough to give the teachers what they want!
www.SEAStrike2013.com

Do your parents buy you things they can't afford? Do you live on a tightrope where one misstep can throw you into a cardboard hut under a bridge near a food kitchen? I will bet not. That's because they budget and you will have to also. Sometimes the answer is no Emmanual.

It's more embarrassing to the SEA. They are still "waiting for superman".

People will send their kids to private schools, where the teachers are better, don't complain that they have to attend one after school event for free and would never abandon their students

By split you mean 85% of the community is siding against the teachers correct! Em let me do your math for you because yours seems a bit skewed.
many people out of work= poor economy
poor economy= less tax money
less tax money= people not caring if teachers who already make great, GREAT!!!! money go back to work or not which = new teachers excited about the great new job they have and are more than happy to work 8 months out of the year for an average of 65k plus benefits

According to the SEA's own proposal (Article 5, section 5) negotiations must take place at a neutral location...OEA offices are hardly that.

There is no reason to meet --- the Union president couldn't even tell Triv how much their proposal would cost the school district tonight on WTAM. How do you propose something that you don't know the cost of?

what part of LAST BEST OFFER do you not understand ?

StrongDad makes an excellent point.... Teacher's Union HEAD is a piss poor spokesperson. She cannot even clearly state what the teachers are striking for. She reminds me of the student that doesn't study for that big test until the last moment. How many tims can she say, "Excellent with Distinction?" Duh. Collectively, the teachers must be embarassed of her performance - I mean, their livlihood is hanging in the balance. Great job Tracy. Just pathetic.

no actually lyn that is the entire problem HOW exactly is a OEA office a neutral location even by the SEA contract that was not allowed

According to the SEA's own proposal (Article 5, section 5) negotiations must take place at a neutral location...OEA offices are hardly that.

yes they have....other school districts already contributed money. I have a friend in another district and she was asked to give money and to walk in circles. She laughed out loud since she already pays hundreds in union dues

People in my school district were asked as well. Some made donations and others are participating in picketing/rallying. Personally, I am staying out of it. Don't get me wrong, I support the teachers to a degree, but I do not want to be associated with anyone acting unprofessionally. Also, we have teachers in my own school district that are being laid off involuntarily, I would rather make a contribution to them.

thought they had no money?

If this is even true, does the admin includes the janitors and maintenance which still make way less than a teacher, without them you have no school they are the real important ones.. i say close it down and make it one big charter school. the oea does'nt want you to know how much better the charter schools are because it would put them out of buisness fast!

Boo on BOE!

Yes, that's why were are trying to take the trash out while they are striking. Hopefully, the teachers who realize what they have will come back to work before they are permanently replaced. IMO, if you think you have it that bad, then please, go teach elsewhere. Because if you are that talented, I'm sure you won't have that much trouble getting the pay you are asking for in another district. But you'll soon realize that no matter what you think of yourself, if the district doesn't have the money to pay you, then you have to take what you can get or keep looking. Everyone thinks they should be paid more for what they do, but having the money to do that is a different story all together.

rocky has it right!!

lol....

Sorry, Article 2, Section D of the SEA proposal.

"fiscally responsible" <---soooooooo the admins are ok with getting $400000 plus in raises over last 3 years while teachers pay stays frozen? "fiscally responsible" -------------lol, this whole contract thing is way over each and every one of your heads....you look at the small picture, the BIG picture is your city will be in so much trouble in the coming years that you will look back at your BOE and say "WTF"....start over...if you looked at both contracts you see 2 bad proposals with plenty to negotiate in the middle...nobody will take the BOE contract...EVER, lets be honest...will teachers get what they want. of course not...you meet somewhere in the middle. its not all about money either...and this whole thing with tenure and seniority? you do know that admins are perfectly able to give bad reviews on teachers not doing their job which TENURE NOR SENIORITY can protect...its either like your BOE president said "we have the best teachers in the world" or you have the worst admins in the world

THEY CHOSE TO FREEZE THEIR PAY FOR THE TRADE OFF OF 100% OF THEIR PENSION PAID...THAT IS THE CONTRACT THEY AGREED TO. NOW THEY WANT WANT THE PENSION AND RETROACTIVE PAY FROM THE LAST CONTRACT? YEA I DONT THINK SO.

Thanks ateacher I figured that was coming up soon, do no be surprised when you watch channel 3 news tomorrow, that you will see a young big "resident"(union plant) yelling at an older "teacher" dead center camera, at which time he will grab her sign or throw a shoulder walking away knocking her over -----pre canned instant public support

Be aware Strongsville Police are ready for this, aka undercover detectives will be there, thought you might want to know for both sides.

And is anyone surprised by the Boss Hogg, Union Thug mentality - bullying, yelling and otherwise unprofessional, barely educated idiots? This Strike lost steam as soon as it started. How pathetic that other teachers are being asked to come in and hold picket signs. These are the people who dont care about our community and are probably the one's causing all the problems. Hey Teachers - they are making you guys look like fools!!! I cannot believe how many educators, and family members of educators - most of whom are pro-union, are appalled by the SEA and their actions. Again - that response speaks volumes.

Poor salaries???????????????????? Have you been to the website that lists salaries for our teachers? I don't have it memorized but if you take away the aides and preschool teachers our teachers are making a killing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Salary is not the issue. You take a job you get paid a salary and if things go well you get a raise. Benefits and work hours are the issue. As private sector tax payers we are getting screwed compared to their deal

Exactly, they need to re-apply along with any of these very good subs too. Trim the fat out of this school system.

I heard the fish are biting on lake erie---I will be there from 3 to 7 trying to catch some Walleye for the strikers.

Real lyn shady you are correct "I know none of you really care what I have to say"

there is no union busting going on here , nobody here is anti-union or anti-teacher just anti-raise in a down economy .....your video is similar to nothing...you have failed AGAIN .... this video is actually more relevant than yours was

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaXjSkd3FH8

I see the value in this video. In this case, the teacher should be asking for the same rate of pay raises as the administrators. I think that would be reasonable.

westlake teachers contract 1/2013

The deal provides no increases on base salary for the first six months of 2013, followed by a 2.5 percent decrease on base for the remainder of the contract.

Healthcare contributions also will increase by 50 percent for teachers, along with a 33 percent increase in drug co-pays.

The minimum experience credit for new hires will drop to five years from 10. Effective with the 2013-2014 school year, teachers will work an additional three days in professional development with no additional compensation.

These are not the same individuals that sub for the teachers when they are sick. The subs are by and large hired from a company (Huffmasters) that specializes in providing a temporary work force during a strike. They are bussed in and staying at the Holiday Inn. The subs normally employed by the district (for much less money than the Huffmaster subs are getting) are local and since they sub regularly, the teachers know them quite well. These regular subs would probably not want to cross the line...they will just work for other local districts until this clears up.