Monday, April 29, 2013
Superintendent says district will 'start a new chapter'
The substitutes who have spent the last two months in Strongsville classrooms while a teachers' strike raged had all left the buildings by Monday afternoon. "I'm really going to miss the kids," said Mrs. R., who taught home ec at Center Middle School. "I'm going to apply to be on the substitute list here. I'd like to come back." She and other subs had from 7-10 a.m. Monday to gather their personal belongings from classrooms. The regular teachers, who agreed over the weekend to end their eight-week strike, were allowed back into the buildings Monday afternoon. "I had some parents and kids come in this morning to say good-bye," Mrs. R. said. "I loved being here." She will leave notes for the regular teacher about what the kids were …
Several groups for both sides are using social media to share their message on the nine-week-old strike.
The Strongsville teachers strike is over, but Facebook was an important tool to support both sides. Several pages were created supporting the striking teachers, wanting them fired and just wanting what's best for Strongsville students. The Strongsville Education Association's page was created before the strike began on March 4, but has been a sounding board for rally information and sharing the latest news on the strike and negotiations. The page has nearly 1,800 likes. The Community Action Committee has created its own page, hoping to "set precedent on how much control the teachers unions will have over America's communities and children," according to its description. The group, with more than 3,000 likes, is promoting its website www.…
Sunday, April 28, 2013
New deal gives teachers step raises, but won't cost district extra money
The Strongsville School Board unanimously ratified a new contract for teachers, ending the eight-week-old strike. The vote Sunday morning follows approval of the contract Saturday evening by the 383-member Strongsville Education Association. "This is a great day for the school district, the city of Strongsville and, most importantly, the students who suffered and endured over these last eight weeks," School Board President David Frazee said. SEA President Tracy Linscott also said the deal is good for those involved. "I'm happy it's over," she said. The new contract, which is posted on the district's website, contains the step and column increases the SEA was looking for. But the money for those increases comes directly from deep cuts to …
Substitute teachers will have access to buildings in the morning; regular teachers will be allowed in later in the day
Strongsville students will not have classes on Monday to make for a smoother transition as teachers return to work after the eight-week strike. School Board President David Frazee said substitute teachers will be allowed in the buildings from 7-10 a.m. to retrieve their belongings. There are administrative team meetings set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Teachers will be permitted to check into the buildings and go to their classrooms between 2-6 p.m. Classes will resume as usual on Tuesday. Senior recognition will be held as planned at 7 p.m. Monday at Strongsville High School. It appears students may have to make up the day off at the end of the year because the day off does not qualify as a calamity day. Over the weekend, both the Strongsville…
Here's what's been happening in Strongsville
A wrap-up of Strongsville news this week: Teachers strike ending -- The two sides reach an agreement Friday night, and teachers ratify it Saturday. The School Board is meeting at 9 a.m. Sunday. Teachers strike, part 2 -- The agreement followed a difficult week, starting with a negotiating session April 21 that yielded no progress. The Strongville Education Association makes a one-time offer with no significant economic concessions, but a proposal to extend the school day by a half hour. The School Board accuses the SEA of trying to sabotage the district's rating by encouraging parents to exempt students from taking state tests. Only a few students opt out, but the week ends with more students withdrawing from the public schools. New …
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Union members ratify contract, agree to end strike
The Strongsville Education Association ratified a contract offer from the Strongsville Board of Education Saturday, a huge step toward ending the eight-week-old teachers strike. "It passed overwhelmingly," said Tracy Linscott, SEA president. "I'm excited to be back." Linscott said she believes healing from the strike, which divided the community, "has already started." We reached an agreement we both said OK to," she said. "It started by actually getting a mutual agreement." About 100 parents and students greeted teachers as they arrived at Strongsville High School for the vote at 5 p.m. Saturday. "It was an amazing welcome," Linscott said. The School Board is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Sunday to also vote on ratification. Still not …
Union will meet at 5 p.m. to decide whether to ratify contract
Members of the Strongsville Education Association will meet at 5 p.m. Saturday at Strongsville High School to vote on whether to ratify a new contract. A deal was reached Friday evening between negotiating teams from the SEA and Strongsville School Board that could end the eight-week-old strike. The Strongsville Board of Education is expected to schedule a meeting this weekend to also take a ratification vote. Details of the contract are not being released until then.
Friday, April 26, 2013
The 'healing process begins,' School Board president says
The Strongsville Board of Education and teachers' union have reached a tentative settlement in the eight-week-old strike. The deal, announced just after 8 p.m. Friday following a negotiating session, means teachers could be back in their classrooms early next week. "The past eight weeks have been difficult, but healing process begins today," School Board President David Frazee said. Details of the tentative contract agreement won't be disclosed until both sides ratify the agreement. But that could come quickly. The Strongsville Education Association is expected to meet Saturday to ratify, and the School Board would then call an emergency meeting to do the same. Schools may be closed on Monday so that substitutes can retrieve their …
People who didn't get chance to speak at last School Board meeting will deliver their speeches
The Strongsville Education Association will have a "Get Our Teachers Back" rally at 5 p.m. Friday, April 26 in the gazebo at the City Commons. Striking teachers are expected to attend, along with parents and students who wanted to speak in their favor at the last School Board meeting, but did not get a chance. "Some of these community members are expected to attend the rally alongside their teachers and deliver the speeches that they prepared in futility for the April 18 Board meeting," an SEA news release said. The supporters complained after the meeting that the public comment section was "rigged" to give mostly pro-board speakers a turn at the microphone. A negotiating session is scheduled for 1 p.m. today in the stalled contract …
Complaint says SEA demanded 3 officials agree to arbitration in ongoing strike
UPDATED APRIL 26, 2:45 P.M. The Strongsville Board of Education has filed another Unfair Labor Practice Charge against the Strongsville Education Association, this time over demands made by the teachers' union to three School Board members. Meanwhile, a federal mediator has called a negotiating session for Friday. A news release says the SEA confronted three board members -- none of them on the district's negotiating team -- and demanded they vote in favor of resolving contract negotiations with binding interest arbitration. The confrontation was not physical. The SEA sent out press releases calling on three board members to agree to arbitration. It also asks the State Employment Relations Board find that the SEA violated Ohio law, and to…
Jena
7:21 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2013
Sorry, Johannes. People are forgiven for when they ask for forgiveness. more ›