The Strongsville school district has started taking steps to react if teachers go on strike.
"It would be irresponsible if we didn't prepare for that," Superintendent John Krupinski said.
Krupinski declined to discuss what those steps are and stopped short of saying the district is lining up substitute teachers to fill in, but said the threat of a strike is being addressed.
"Preparation is the key word," he said. "But we still want to continue to bargain, to seek an agreement."
The Strongsville Education Association, unhappy with ongoing contract negotiations, voted Friday to authorize a strike.
The vote gives the union the power to call a strike if its 350 members decide to.
On Thursday, the union will hold a press conference to talk about strike plans.
Teachers have made no secret of their displeasure with the contract talks, showing up by the hundreds to the last two school board meetings.
At the first, they stood silently; at the second, they held signs and chanted.
The teachers' union has also launched a website. After a Jan. 30 negotiating session, the SEA declared an impasse and brought in a mediator to attend future sessions.
Krupinski said the fact that the district is getting ready to meet a strike doesn't mean he expects one.
"Hopefully, we'll move forward and continue with negotiations," he said.
It got ugly there - the teachers behaved worse than what those in Strongsville have done so far.
And remember, the issue is not as much about the starting salary as it is about how fast they climb to the high end of the pay scale and what the high end is, in addition to highly subsidized benefits.
And, they can't collect a paycheck or unemployment when they choose to strike. Refuse to work, you don't get paid, by anybody. So, who has more to lose here? This is why the Board should let them strike if the teachers continue making outrageous demands that the district and taxpayers can NOT afford. And, yes. Jean is correct. Per the NLRB- "They retain their status as employees and cannot be discharged, but they can be replaced by their employer. If the employer has hired bona fide permanent replacements who are filling the jobs of the economic strikers when the strikers apply unconditionally to go back to work, the strikers are not entitled to reinstatement at that time."
StrongsvilleJoe 9:11 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 Public employee contracts are public record. A simple google search can yield every public contract in the state of Ohio. Here are a few districts (all with lower OGT scores) for comparison. Salaries are for 1st year teachers. N. Olmsted - $37,661 O. Falls - $36,667 Brecksville - $39,786 N. Royalton - $38,564 STRONGSVILLE - $34,778 here are the actual numbers N. Olmsted - $37,661 actual $ 29593 O. Falls - $36,667 actual $ 24968 Brecksville - $39,786 actual $ 36103 N. Royalton - $38,564 actual $ 34779 STRONGSVILLE - $34,778 not to mention a ($4800.00 pickup pickup) just because you post it does not make it true (first post ever)
Strikers who engage in serious misconduct in the course of a strike may be refused reinstatement to their former jobs. ... Serious misconduct has been held to include, among other things, violence and threats of violence. ... Examples of serious misconduct that could cause the employees involved to lose their right to reinstatement are: - Strikers physically blocking persons from entering or leaving a struck plant. - Strikers threatening violence against nonstriking employees. - Strikers attacking management representatives.
My numbers came directly from. Serb.ohio.gov. Where are your numbers coming from? Also, as to my occupation, I have absolutely no stake in these negotiations other than children in the district. I come from a family of math and science teachers and am well aware of the work and abilities required to be a teacher. As a recent move in to the community, a large part of my choosing Strongsville had to do with the schools. Knowing that they offer classes like Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, and numerous AP classes at the high school was a huge draw. These thpes of classes require an immense amount of knowledge. Personally I'd like high quality people teaching these classes. To attract quality candidates, one must pay them well. Simple as that. I've always viewed education as a "get what you pay for" deal in life. I am willing to pay the taxes if my kid is going to come out of HS with a great education and a year of college credit under their belt. Sadly, when I moved in 3 years ago, a few long time residents told me that we're becoming the next Parma. After reading these boards and seeing how you value the people that educate your children, I have to say I agree with them.
I wish I could go tonight to support the school board, the administration, and all those taking part on the negotiation team. Teachers must realize that we do need to pay them well to keep the best of the best, but that there is also only so much money to go around. They are compensated more than enough....What ultimately needs to happen is a complete overhaul of the funding of schools in Ohio. Not only is it illegal, but it is also clearly a broken system.
I sure hope chanting at the last meeting is enough to be considered an attack on management! Cant wait to see what these hoodlums that are supposed to be educating our children bring tonight....
What will be interesting is that March 7th is conference day at the High School, it's also PSEOP's Mandatory meeting day for those students wanted to attend Post Secondary courses through colleges. It's also one week before 10th grade Ohio Graduation Tests are to be started; currently scheduled to start on March 11, 2013. I also heard that it's against the law to strike during state mandated required tests and that teacher's were already told they would be fired for doing so. Anyone????
I want the same chance at a good future that my student predecessors had. If the teachers go on strike, the only thing we will lose is precious class time which will never be able to be recovered, no matter how hard one tries. There are more things valuable than money in this world. I think it is time we had a Strongsville Enlightenment.
private unions give you the universal work and safety rules in place at all union and non union companies today
this was posted earlier A strongsville teacher who admitted being at school during their "sceduled planning time" managed to find the time to post 14 different comments during the next 1 1/2 hours when confronted about it this teacher replied "the little extra time I find to do as I please is my right to do so" so this teacher think 1 1/2 hours is just a little free time which if I am not mistaken they are asking for "MORE PLANNING TIME DURING THE DAY" this was the first and last post times with 12 post in between all being paid for by us SVille Teacher 12:12 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013 Hi Jean: SVille Teacher 1:27 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013 Hi Steve,