There are many great teachers in our district and for a time, I can understand why you are remaining part of the collective. Several of the really stellar ones have taken the time to talk to kids and keep that personal connection when we see you at the Rec and around town. I get it, you're stuck between a rock and a hard place. There will come a time where you may have to decide to cross if this contract doesn't pass. Some of you may not be very popular with your peers if you call for a vote on the BAFO, or make that huge step across the line. But the parents know which of the "collective" are worth keeping and which are not. Tonight is about supporting the kids, unlike last night were a very small crowd assembled to show support for the collective.

It's time the great teachers in Strongsville have an opportunity to be recognized without the burden of protecting the minortiy who simply need to find jobs elsewhere. Teachers and prisoners are the last to be rewarded for time served.

BOD, it's time to hire the 2013-2014 staff. Open up the interview process and ask the parents which of the existing should be considered. We know which educators matter, and which ones we work to steer our kids away from.

Parents, tonight should be about makign sure both side of this issue know that parents are in fact, in charge. Take away that tired old blame claim that teachers jobs would be easier if parents were involved. Guess what. We are.

Tonight should be about the kids and only the kids. I have heard that there will be outside union people posing as pro BOE supporters that will try to make us look bad by acting bad. Be aware of these union tactics people. There will be police here in force along with some undercover detectives. If anyone feels threaten let them know.

Dear Union : What part of "last best offer" do you not understand ?

Get OUT of our neighborhoods, you are not wanted here.

Support the BOE !!!!!!

Anyone care that the BOE has received >$400,000 in raises and bonuses since 2008? Anyone care who these Substitutes are and whether they have actually had a thorough background check. Only solution? Support the children. Demand both sides get back to the table. No one leaves until its done.

Here is the home that Tracy Linscott (a 9th grade reading teacher 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 wanted to let the residents who will be at the rally today know that there will be at least 6 or more pro-board supporters that are actually out of town union members.They will attempt to get face time in front of the news crews, just to make the citizens look foolish and out of control, one will even have an anti-teamster sign in hopes to get a area teamster leader to pledge strike support, I do not support these actions and am not even leaving my house to do strike duty today,

Thanks a teacher. I have read a couple of your posts. You sound like a reasonable person who is stuck in a bad situation. Please do not allow a few people to make decisions that will affect you and your family. This Community stands behind good teachers but you have to stand up for yourself.

I spoke with Strongsville police regarding the missing textbooks, and they informed me that no school property was reported as missing. The Principals monitored the teachers removal of personal property, and audited each classroom. Some confusion on this issue, but again ,at this time, no substanstiated reports of missing school material.

Striking teachers, JustPlain is not blowing smoke. In groups, in private, these are the conversations going on. As time passes, we begin to feel "normal" crossing your picket lines and discussing school work and projects with our kids and their new teachers. Spring sports are starting up, spring break will revitalize us....the board is not budging and WE (and some of you) voted them in to speak for us and they are doing that. The problem isnt YOU (as a huge collective group) it is the way your profession is structured and the fact that you have the union weighing you down. The great teachers could easlly make arguments for extra planning time, more pay etc whatever it is and be rewarded. It is carrying the deadwood along that incites EVERYONE. Tell me why my elementary art or gym teacher needs another planning period? They are not deadwood necessarily, but the burden of across the board union contracts based on a seniority system, make it impossible to look at this in an unbiased way. We need to hire new go getters to take some of your burden in core curriculum and shed hours or even positions in areas needing less staff hours or again, removing underperformers. Please see this through parents' eyes. Not one of us wants to see our core areas hit and we need to work together to shake this system up and make it an example for the future of education systems because the future for teachering is unknown in these high tech times. Think for yourself.

hello

Stand Strong Strongsville. I wish I could be there. Dont give in... Not one inch. Last, best offer, or none at all!!

I would really like to support the teachers, but when the president of the SEA said on the radio yesterday that 94% of the teachers voted FOR the strike, I have a hard time supporting a strike for the contract, salaries, and working conditions they had when they decided to walk. If 94% were that unhappy with what we were providing in Strongsville, then I believe they should look for better elsewhere. We simply can't give them the happiness they desire.

Stay strong for Strongsville Board! Let them strike all the way through spring break. By the way as of today, two weeks pay up in smoke. Ouch.

COME ONE COME ALL TO THE VOTERS RALLY 3 TILL 7PM SPREAD THE NEWS GET INVOLVED DONT BE ALONE BE SURROUNDED WITH LIKE MINDED PEOPLE TAKE OWER SCHOOL SYSTEM BACK FROM THESE THIEVES THAT USE THE TAX DOLLARS WE GAVE THEM ,PAST TENSE .BE PART OF HISTORY LET YOUR VOICE BE HERD LOUD AND CLEAR ,WE WILL NOT DIG INTO OUR POCKETS ANY MORE WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT ,WE WILL FIGHT FOR WHATS RIGHT ,BRING YOUR VOICES AND SIGNS AND BE PART OF STRONGSVILLE HISTORY ,AMERICIAN HISTORY ,LET THIS REVOLT AGINST THE TAX PAYERS STOP SHOW UP OR SHUT UP LETS MAKE A STAND NOW 3 TO 7 PM TONIGHT B E THERE OR BE SQUARE.........

my child came home yesterday and asked me why
that lady who used to be my teacher is still standing in front of her school
I just said that lady wanted mommy and daddy to sell our house just so she could have more money
enjoy your day today strike walkers

WITH A MEDIAN SALARY OF 65K PLUS BENEFITS AND RETIREMENT FOR WORKING 8 MONTHS A YEAR THESE TEACHERS ARE OUT OF THEIR MIND WANTING BETTER PAY. AND AS FAR AS WORK CONDITIONS GET SERIOUS. WHAT DOES THE AVERAGE PRISON GUARD MAKE FOR WORKING 12 MONTHS A YEAR? ABOUT 35K AND THEIR WORK CONDITIONS ARE TRUELY POOR. SO TEACHERS ITS TIME YOU REALISED HOW GOOD YOU ACTUALLY HAVE IT AND GO BACK TO WORK AND THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS YOU EVEN HAVE A JOB!!!

sorry about the caps locks ;-)

Wonder why the Administrators who haven't had a pay raise in 3 years didn't go on strike? Perhaps because they would have been fired.

Teacher Unions are worthless and outdated. They only protect the bad teachers and defend them when they have "special" contract with students.

Ok this is Tracy linscotts big chance to shine, she has no choice but to do everything she can to disrupt this rally, expect early violence from outside sources, that should prevent parents from attending with their children later, also be prepared for pretend supporters mixed into the crowd just to scream nonsense to the news media, she needs this rally to shore up sympathy union support, the police,fire and city workers along with UAW, teamsters and other teacher associations have left her high and dry with no community support and dwindling SEA support, her media stunts have accomplished nothing. so fellow taxpayers be careful do not get sucked into this last gasp from MRS CLUELESS

what will interest me is how far the police will let this go today until they step in

Why did the teacher cross the road?...........To get free food! It's lunch time teachers, go get your free food cause we all know you do not want to pay for anything with your own money.

$400,000 amount can be viewed by requesting public information. Unfortunately pictures will not post in comments. I have requested info same way on the Substitutes. No info given up yet

Anyone who wants a copy, I would be happy to send it to you.

one of the demands the teachers are asking for is 2 paid planning periods at the high school just to help students who need help which is on top of their paid lunch.
What this actually is a band-aid on a bigger issue

a teacher has a class
the teacher fails to teach the students properly
the student asks the teacher for help
the taxpayers pay the teacher to re-teach the student they failed to teach the first time
then the teacher can go to their paid lunch

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

Kim L,
I just uploaded the administrators 2008-2011 raises, bonuses and incentives. There is no one single link to all of this information as it pertains to more than one individual. Yes, the people who have held these positions has changed during this time, however, as a whole it shows the continued increases the individuals in these positions have been receiving. While they are not union employees...all of this money comes out of the same pot that the teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, etc are paid from. (ie.. your tax dollars) I do not feel the strike was the right thing to do...I also feel that leaders should lead by example. It's hard to convince one to take a pay cut when you are not willing to...or for that matter while you are getting a raise? The whole premis of negotiation is give and take. When one side fails to give anymore it becomes a stalemate and no one achieves anything?

No, I'm saying there is no one single link...This information was compiled through a series of internet searches, public records requests, etc. It's all out there, it's all public record, it's just not all in one place.

Just drove by the rally. Maybe 100 people including reporters, cops, etc.

I really understand the pottery teacher/science teacher thing. Education and public pay scales as well as public education funding are a complete screwed up mess in our country.

My question, do we really want to be the national battle ground for solving all that? Because the board certainly seems to. As a community, don't we really just want to solve this. The board says the two sides are 2million apart. Big number Actually, about 2% of the budget and they have now saved that much by not paying the teachers. So a 2 year deal, the SEA gives 1 million a year in concessions from what they want. That's a fair meet in the middle deal and we are done with this. People of good will could solve this in an afternoon. The BOE needs to get to the table.

I'm hearing a hell of a lot more horns honking for these people and their signs than I've heard so far for the saps that block the driveways every morning and afternoon. So make fun of their numbers, signs, etc all you want, but if they get this much support by passing vehicles with a quarter of your SEA and OEA manpower, doesn't that tell you something? It's so nice to hear all those horns! http://fox8.com/live-stream-b/

Call child services, Jean has admitted lying to her child.

Richard, the board wants to eliminate seniority rights in the RIF process. There is your 94%

Which, FYI has nothing to do with $.

Just drove by....yes, that was my Maserati...horns are deafening. Sorry SEA...its clear who has the public. Check mate.

Debbie Palmer -
Can you please provide the source for the documents that are provided in your article? They appear to be material put together by someone other you and there is no way to verity the info being presented as facts in these 2 PDFs. They actually look like flyers that someone wants advertised.
Thanks.

Sad yesterday you said you were moving. Don't leave comments pack!!! Hurry your home values dropping by the second. Your business will be worth nothing if you don't leave now. Hurry

Debbie-
IMO,
Those 2 flyers that lack the sources of the info provided would be better posted on the website of those distributing this material, not in a Patch article.

We keep hearing about dropping home values. nonsense. We can have low taxes and good schools. How does funding 100% of the retirement of the thugs we have seen the last few weeks make for high property values?
When this is all over, property values will increase by virtue of good schools and low taxes. We are going after that renewal levy.If somethinjhg resembling a fair market approach is applied to teacher compensation it will have an enorous positive impact on Strongsville, and very wide ramifications.

During the sb-5 debate tracy Linscott was quoted as saying "they are trying to destroy the middleclass". Which middle class were you referring to, Mrs. Linscott, the social security recipient who receives $1230 per month, or the Strongsville grade school teacher who retires with a $1.2 million dollar retirement account?

tom-
Thank you.
Usually Debbie provides the source when giving this kind of info out. It looks more like stuff the union and teachers have been passing out.
I remember a poster questioning the other day why Debbie wasn't showing the flyers they were distributing.
IMO, it is up to them to get the info to the public on THEIR website. The Patch is not here to distribute and advertise a groups cause or literature. That group already has received plenty of coverage and she has already listed and given their website and FB page enough times that should satisfy any group.

Terry, are you that ignorant.? Who puts a house up for sale, gets an offer, closes on the house. Leases new office space and relocates a home and business in 24 hours. Do you really think that is how the world works?

I'm working through the process, probably take 3 to 6 months. You should work on finding two more jobs ro make up the tax dollars I'm moving out of this ignorant backwater town.

I'd offer you a job carrying my stuff to the moving van, but if you don't understand how real estate sales works, I'd be worried you were not bright enough to find the van at the end of the drive

William, do you not understand the retirement payment was instead of a raise in the late 90's, it was done to help the board save money at the time.

Sad,

Given the frequency of your posts, as an IT Consultant / Small Biz owner, business cannot be that good. You are on all day long. Hope these aren't billable hours.

What amount of taxes will we lose for you moving your pretend/fake business. I think X% of 0 is always 0.

Its clear you don't have your own business.

pathetic demonstration today... 100 people MAX.
where were the sville patch regulars? Maybe this shows that the teachers have more support than the people in the patch circle jerk like to admit.

That was some turnout. 44,000 people live in this town. Frazee says he has 100% support of the community for the BOE. You had the entire week to get the word out about this massive, 60s-style protest. Yet only 100 or so people showed up? That's 0.2% of the population. You didn't even get 100% of the Waterford moms. Great job!

Amazed,

You are the reincarnation of the violinist they made stay on the top deck of the Titanic as it sunk.

I drive by Center every AM, windows down...not a honk.

I drove by today, and every car was honking.

It hurts to lose. We understand.

Quick!

Someone needs to come up with a fake company, to replace the fake revenue we will lose, when Sad's fake company and his/her fake employees move out of their fake offices to another fake town.

Hurry!!! We must close this imaginary revenue hole!!!

Kim L-
If It is not factual or can't be backed up, it shouldn't be above as part of the article - IMO!

Cleveland.com reporting federal mediator calling a meeting for Sunday at 1:00. What changed?

Since you're all home from the "rally", does someone want to deal with facts? Facts like: The adminstrators also have their full retirement picked up by YOU, the taxpayers.

Hahahahahahahahahaha! I'm still laughing about that "rally" on the square. Anyone who gives the teachers a hard time because they're not picketing 24/7 needs to take a look in the mirror. You all couldn't even last four hours. That was sad. At the end there were more pro-teacher people there. Maybe those nasty bully teachers kidnapped the rest of the protesters in their low-rider rusty sedans and drove them all back to Waterford.

Candid...do us a favor and leave. You are a very rude and troubled person. You are so defensive and like to attack everyone who puts up a post. Do like the Real Lyn Shady, and take a hike!

Candid,

Good idea. With my track record, we'd be turning a profit pretty quickly. Who knows, maybe we'd hire you. After all, every office needs a clerk to fetch our coffee. It would be an unpaid position of course, because once we sat down to negotiate salary, I'd puppeteer you like I've done every time we've debated on this site, and you'd take the job for free. You are a small timer. A light weight

oh, and by the way Candid....most of us DO work for a living and don't have time to go to a rally and show our support for being against this strike. FACT: Strongsville teachers have it good compared to many, many other districts. I have to laugh when these teachers hold their signs up "We want to teach" ...well then, perhaps they should cross the line and/or go find another job.

Channel 5 reported hundreds at the square.
I wouldn't blame those parents who feared retaliation from their students teachers. Look at how these teachers behavior has escalated. They have shown themselves to be dangerous and threatening.

About that teacher rally if only 350 were at that one, and teachers from other districts and family members of this districts were there, where were the Strongsville 383 teachers?

Will someone please buy this "Candid" loser a house in Waterford already? My God. Talk about class envy. Look, we're all sorry that your life has been unsuccessful and you have failed at anything you've tried to do, but enough with the Waterford references. I'm laughing because if Candid thinks waterford is that "exclusive" of a place, I can't even imagine the s-hole from which he/she types these envious posts. Do you think that the "Polo Club" was an elite access facility as well bc it says "polo" and there's a gate in front of it? Candid, close the door, I can hear the "dial up" noises from here...eeeerrrrrrr......errrrr....errrrr....shhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

I attended the rally today as well. We weren't a huge group, but decent sized. People came and went as they got off work or in some cases, went to work. It was pretty much what it was supposed to be. We were enthusiastic, but not rowdy or obnoxious. No screaming at cars or anything like that. Two of our board members came to thank us for our support. I had a very nice conversation with the wife of one member. I would like to thank the organizers of the event as well as the others that were there supporting our students, community, and schools. Perhaps some more of you can join us next Saturday, unless we are fortunate enough to have our former teachers come to their senses.

Well said Q. I was so amazed that the crowd was upbeat and the response of the cars driving by (probably coming home from work) was amazing. You do not ever see a Community like ours stand up for our rights as taxpayers. I have yet to talk with a neighbor, friend or coworker who supports what our teachers are doing. Even some of the teachers do not support what is going on. I am proud of Strongsville and the BOE. It is time reality hits these teachers. I hope they decide to do the right thing.

Lori-
There are variables that can effect everyones job performance. For teachers, it might be the students.
To think that there couldn't be a method to fairly judge a teachers performance is just being stubborn and afraid of the consequences. A good teacher should have no fears. A good teacher should know that they are not alone in having a possible difficult student.

I don't know why there couldn't be some committee put together of admin, teachers and parents. And then they could all offer input on what they all think should be considered in the evaluation process. There could be even several parts, including some for -
-the type of class - as the "makeup" or "disposition" might need to be considered
-material being taught
-number of students in the class
-and even seniority, because I think it is important to not get rid of someone just because they are the older, higher paid - they do need protected as well
-and these are just a few ideas off the top of my head

If you have maybe a 5 section evaluation, it could be weighed by different variables to protect the things that even the good teachers would fear might work against them. This is how it is done in so many businesses. To say it can't be applied to the teaching profession is totally ridiculous.

lyn
"Might be students", lyn?
I think you are looking for an arguement where there is none. Teachers cannot be fairly judgled by student's performance. And yes there should be a fair formula, and the guidelines should come from the educational community, not from the representatives in Columbus who have no teaching experience and come to the table with their political agenda. And that would be the undermining of the public school districts in this state.

lyn
Try as I might I still always have a typo. Sorry.

lyn
I don't know the factoring that goes into the grading system for the school districts from the ODE. I know there have been discussions regarding a new set of guidelines.

lyn
I do know one thing for sure. There will be no winner when all of this ends. Not the BOE, and not the teachers. The children are the victims. I have to believe that their is room to give and take from both sides. Both sides are saying take it or leave it. The teachers are on strike and the BOE refuses to negotiate. Should some of the teachers have acted out the way described on these boards? NO, absolutely not. Should the board be at the table ready to negotiate to end this strike? YES. And they can't accomplish this if they refuse to compromise. And the compromise does not have to include giving into monetary demands from the teachers.
I'll tell you what really worries me and should worry every parent with children in public schools. And that is Gov. Kasich plans for funding education in this state. You might think that is another topic, for another day, but believe me it has everything to do with the situation in Strongsville.

Lori-
So, if the union's hang up is this part, then maybe you and I have just settled this dispute.

Lori-
???
Not sure where that comment of yours went that I responded to - must be another Patch "bloop"-
I was responding to this comment of yours -
"lyn
To phase in the process would be a reasonable, I agree.
But the powers that be, lack reason and common sense."

lyn,
I think that would be a reasonable solution. But I don't know if our representatives, who are making up the rules are reasonable.
I will give you an example.
There is a HB 555 or SB 555, (I never know for sure) that requires public school teachers to earn extra reading credentials to teach in the Kdg. to 3rd grade classrooms. This same requirement does not apply to teachers teaching in Charter and nonpublic schools. Yet these schools receive tax dollars. How can that be? I have called the two representatives who sponsored this bill, and no one was able to tell me why these new guidelines exist for public schools and not the charter and nonpublic schools. This is just one example of what public school teachers have to deal with. Legislaters (sp?) telling educators what to do. Neither men had any background in education.

William Hendershot
And when these "younger, more motivated, better trained teachers" ask for a raise, than you will hire "younger, more motivated, better trained teachers" a second, third and fourth time? These "new" teachers will be treated on an individual basis and meet with the BOE each year to negotiate a new contract for themselves? All 300 of them? Boy, Pebbles law firm would love that. More tax dollars in their pockets.