'Work to Rule' Continues in Schools This Week

Teachers in the Strongsville schools continue to do the minimum their contracts require in an apparent show of solidarity as contract talks drag on.

The Strongsville Education Association implemented "work to rule" Feb. 1, instructing teachers to do the minimum work required by their contracts, but no more -- no staying after class to help students, volunteering to oversee clubs, filing, straightening up classrooms.

"It's going to be ugly, I think, for another couple of weeks," School Board member Dave Gusman said Monday night.

Tracy Linscott, president of the SEA, did not return a phone call or an e-mail seeking comment.

Gusman said he has not spoken directly with any teachers about the issue.

"I don't want to reach out as a board member . . . about a union tactic," he said. "It wouldn't be appropriate."

But he, like others in the community, are speculating on the negative effect the teachers' action might have on the school district's 9.9-mill levy on the May 3 ballot.

"It does not endear them to the parents ... who will ultimately vote on the levy," Gusman said. 

A Strongsville High School student who identified himself at Jacob commented on Strongsville Patch that "work to rule" has affected him in that he is no longer allowed to paint in the hallway during study hall.

"Truly we need to support our teachers who are the best we could ask for, though it maybe tough to do so with opportunities many students enjoy taken away," he wrote.

Other students haven't been impacted. One Strongsville mom, who asked that her name not be used, questioned her kids -- one in elementary school and one in middle school -- on whether they'd noticed any changes in their classrooms this week.

"They said nothing was different," she said.

Teachers have been working without a contract since the end of July.

Superintendent Jeff Lampert has said he believes there was some "good dialogue" at a negotiating session last week.