Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Strongsville officials warn district to come up with a plan for vacant property first
The Strongsville school district wants to rezone a vacant 17-acre parcel off Pearl Road, adjacent to Strongsville High School property, for potential future development. "We own it," said Mark Donnelly, business manager for the schools. "We can't use it without having it properly zoned." The district is asking to have the parcel, located behind Jardine Funeral Home, rezoned from R-1 residential to Public Facilities. Donnelly said there currently no plans to develop the land, but said it makes sense get the rezoning out of the way now. "Right now, there are no plans. It's just, we own it, so we might as well zone it right," he said. But Strongsville officials said this week they're not sure voters will approve the change without knowing …
Friday, May 10, 2013
Ball is rolling on several improvements in Strongsville district
School officials have wasted no time in tackling improvement projects they promised with an $81 million bond issue. Six months after voters approved the issue, several of the projects are already under way and officials are knee-deep in planning the others. An overview, according to Business Manager Mark Donnelly: • Wireless network at elementary schools -- The district has decided to wire the elementary buildings for the Internet with in-house staff, and could have the job done by the end of summer. "I know that's aggressive, but I think we can do it," Donnelly said. • Preschool expansion -- Bids will be opened in June, and construction of a new activity area and offices, plus new windows and other items, will be done this summer. "We'…
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Two sides talk till 11:30 p.m. Wednesday
A negotiating session that lasted more than 14 hours on Wednesday ended with no deal reached in the ongoing Strongsville teachers strike, but talks are expected to continue on Thursday. Negotiating teams from the Strongsville Schools and the Strongsville Education Association, which represents the 383 striking employees, met from 9:30 a.m. to after 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Talks are expected to pick up again Thursday. It was the third negotiating session with a federal mediator since a teachers' strike began in Strongsville March 4. The first was on March 17; the second was an 11-hour session March 26 that ended with no movement toward a settlement. The teachers' union on Tuesday, April 2 submitted a new proposal to the Board of …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Some parents are pulling their kids out of Strongsville schools
There hasn't been a major exodus, but some parents are taking their children out of the Strongsville schools as a teacher strike drags on. Since March 4, 19 students whose families are not moving have been withdrawn from the Strongsville Schools, according to Assistant Superintendent Cameron Ryba. "Since the strike started, 19 students have withdrawn but aren't moving out of the district," Ryba said. Those students will presumably attend a private school or be home schooled. With no new negotiating sessions set since an 11-hour meeting Tuesday produced no results, it appears the teachers' strike will enter its fifth week on Monday. Students, who are now on spring break, return to the classroom on Tuesday. The Strongsville Education …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
No further talks have been scheduled in Strongsville teachers' strike
Negotiating teams from the Strongsville teachers' union and the Strongsville School Board met for 11 hours Tuesday, but report no progress toward a settlement in the ongoing strike. A statement released by School Board President David Frazee said the two sides met face-to-face in a federal mediator's office in Independence, "and no progress has been made." SEA President Tracy Linscott echoed that statement, saying the talks ended abruptly when the board refused to budge on its last offer, which it presented March 2. "We met for 11 hours, and after 10 hours and 50 minutes, the board's attorney said they're not moving off their last best offer," Linscott said. "So that's it. We're right back where we were." It was the second time since …
Monday, March 18, 2013
Superintendent says sports and extracurriculars are expected to resume during teachers' strike
Superintendent John Krupinski says the Strongsville schools are trying to return to a near-normal operation despite a teachers' strike. In a statement issued this weekend, Krupinski said there are now more than 250 substitute teachers in classrooms. "I have visited all of our schools and see that learning is happening," Krupinski said. Starting today, the high school returns to a full day of classes, with a curriculum that will again include electives like art and music, although language classes remain on hold. And the district is moving closer to opening the spring sports programs, including baseball, softball, tenns and track. "We will report when each sport will be activated. Extra-curricular activities will also be added over time…
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Teams will meet to hash out contract
The federal mediator assigned to the contract negotiations between the striking Strongsville teachers' union and Board of Education has called a session for 1 p.m. Sunday, March 17 to resume talks. It will be the first meeting between the two negotiating teams since the teachers' union went on strike March 4. “The federal mediator has asked that our negotiation team be present,” School Board President David Frazee said in a news release. “As I have indicated in the past, the board’s team will be present whenever the federal mediator calls for a meeting.” The negotiations will take place at 1 p.m. at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service regional office in Independence. The Strongsville Education Association, which represents the…
Friday, March 15, 2013
Parents expected to gather at City Commons from 3-7 p.m.
Attendance in Strongsville schools has been steadily increasing as the teachers' strike ends its second week. Assistant Superintendent Cameron Ryba said student attendance was at 83 percent on Monday, 85 percent Tuesday and 87 percent on Wednesday. As of Wednesday, there were 240 substitute teachers in the classrooms, with about 20 more expected to start work on Thursday. "We're averging 20-some new substitutes per day," Ryba said. Counter-Strike Rally Set A group of parents is expected to meet on the City Commons from 3-7 p.m. Friday for what they are calling a peaceful rally against the strike. According to the group's Facebook page, people will gather with signs to support getting teachers back in classrooms. A post on the site says …
Thursday, March 14, 2013
With school walls left bare by striking Strongsville teachers, volunteers craft decorations to brighten the buildings
With most classroom walls stripped bare by striking Strongsville teachers, a group of parents got together Thursday morning to redecorate the school buildings. "The classrooms are bare; there's nothing on the walls," said Laura Parish, whose daughter is a fifth-grader at Drake Elementary. "This is just a way to make a happier learning environment." Parish organized about 30 parents to meet at the Strongsville Library today to help create new decor for bulletin boards, hallways and classrooms. A number of people dropped off supplies and posters -- Pat Catan's gave the group a discount on the items -- or donated cash, while others sat down with scissors and construction paper to design their own wall art. Parish said she has heard …
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Regional union leader asks members from nearby schools to assist in demonstrations
Teachers are again staging protests in front of Strongsville School Board members' homes -- but this time, the protestors may not teach in Strongsville. On Wednesday evening, a group of demonstrators gathered in front of board member Carl Naso's house. On Tuesday, there was reportedly a group in front of Board President David Frazee's home. But unlike the first time union members gathered at board members' homes, this time the teachers may not be Strongsville employees. The North Eastern Ohio Education Association put out a memo to teachers in nearby districts, seeking volunteers to hold candlelight vigils at the Strongsville school board's homes. The memo said the vigils would help pressure the board back to the negotiating table. It …
Jabba Da LinsLob
8:02 pm on Friday, May 24, 2013
Hey John, when you say civil war do you mean the 1861-1865 War of Northern Aggression or the 2013 Tracy Linscott war waged on the citizens of Strongsville? more ›