OEA Ohio Schools magazine, April 2013

Transcription

OhioSchools
APRIL 2013
A PUBLICATION of The OHIO EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
Broken promises
Governor Kasich’s budget proposal
shortchanges students and schools p13
Lima teacher Rochelle Penn met with Ohio
legislators before Governor John Kasich’s
February 19 State of the State speech in Lima.
Schools can’t send students to the Neil
Armstrong Air & Space Museum 20 minutes
away, they said. So how can the Governor
cut the basic aid formula from $5,732 to
$5,000 per pupil while offering $4.3 billion
in income tax cuts—mostly to the wealthiest
Ohioans? they asked. (see story page 13)
OhioSchools
COVER STORY
13 Broken promises
VOL. 92 Governor Kasich’s budget proposal
shortchanges students and schools
The OEA Mission Statement:
The OEA will lead the way for continuous improvement
of public education while advocating for members
and the learners they serve.
8 Collective Bargaining:
OEA Board of Directors
photo © 2013 Brent Turner,
BLT Productions, Inc.
10 Thousands throughout
Ohio pick up books in
celebration of Read Across America
DEPARTMENTS
2 President’s Message
Priorities matter
OEA field staff begin new assignments following realignment
Strongville teachers’ strike continues into third week with no
new negotiations scheduled
Right To Work is not what it seems
NEA files amicus briefs in historic marriage equality cases
3 Notebook
12 Making the Grade
Be a hero, save a life
Celebrate National Teacher Day on May 7
16 Legislative Update
Senate passes bill to add flexibility to Third Grade Reading Guarante
Attend OEA Member Lobby Days
17 OEA on the web
18 Subject Matter
The OEA Summer Academy 2013—Hallmarks of Excellence:
Unity, Power and Influence
22 Association
April 2013
The professional publication of more than
121,000 members of the Ohio Education Association
FEATURES
Getting Our
Bargain Back
NO. 2
OEA Spring 2013 Representative Assembly statewide candidates
Proposed Amendments to the OEA Constitution and Bylaws
OEA Board of Directors actions
Attend the 19th Annual Awards Banquet
OEA District RA and Delegate Briefing Schedule—Spring 2013
Attend the OEA Women’s Caucus/Leadership Training Program
OEA Educator Appreciation Night at Crew Stadium
OEA seeks applicants for Retirement Systems Training Program
Attend the OEA 2013 Minority Leadership Training Program
President
Patricia Frost-Brooks
East Cleveland
Vice President
William Leibensperger
South-Western
Secretary-Treasurer
Tim Myers
Elida
Barry Alcock, South-Western; Barb Armour, Brunswick; Diana Ball, AmandaClearcreek; Anne Bowles, Wooster; Kevin Cain, Northwest (Hamilton); Barbara
Catalano, Mayfield; Patricia Cohen, PATMR; James Cutlip, Wilmington; Michael
Dossie, Bellaire; Sandra Duckworth, Westerville; Matthew Durham, Washington;
Joel Gleason, Clearview; Kevin Griffin, Dublin; Katie Hendrickson, Athens;
Ella Jordan Isaac, Trotwood Madison; Gary Kapostasy, Findlay; Tammy Koontz,
S.C.O.P.E; Theresa Lemus Santos, Fairless; Sandra Lewis, Dayton; Ivan Maldonado,
Youngstown State University-ACE; Martha Miller, Ashtabula ESP; Rebecca Miller,
Tallmadge; Jerry Oberhaus, Liberty Center; Emilly Osterling, Lakota (Butler); Jeff
Pegg, Warren (Trumbull); Patrick Poor, Beavercreek; Haven Reardon, Reading;
Jeff Rhodes, North Royalton; Kim Richards, Cardinal; Sophia Rodriguez,
Coldwater Exempted Village; Molly Rogers, Youngstown State University;
Kecia Sanders-Stewart, East Cleveland; Bill Sears, OEA Retired; Tim Skamfer,
Gahanna-Jefferson; Pamela Smith, Jackson; Patrick Snee, Mentor; Angela
Stewart, Newcomerstown; Kriston Crombie Stotik, Columbus; Bradley Strong,
Mansfield; Lillian M. Tolbert, East Cleveland; Janice Vaughan, Springfield (Clark);
Wil Vickery, Chillicothe; Diana Welsh, Columbus; Jeffrey Wensing, Parma.
NEA Directors
Mary Binegar, Urbana; Robin Jeffries, Columbus; Dale Kain, Mayfield; André
Taylor, Twinsburg; Janifer Trowles, Dayton; Gretchen Washington, Sycamore.
Staff Executives
Larry E. Wicks, Executive Director; Susan Babcock, Assistant Executive
Director—Strategic and Workforce Planning; Ric Castorano, Executive
Assistant—Business Services; Joe Cohagen, Director of Business and Building
Operations; Dawn Elias, Human Resources and Labor Relations Administrator;
Linda Fiely, General Counsel; Randy Flora, Director of Education Policy
Research and Member Advocacy; Rachelle Johnson, Assistant Executive
Director-Program and Director of Legal Services; Rose Keller, Manager
of Legal Services; Mike Mahoney, Director of Communications and Marketing;
Dana Mayfield, Executive Assistant—Strategic and Workforce Planning;
Tina O’Donnell, Manager of Administrative Services—Operations; Carol Price,
Administrative Services/Conference Coordinator; Lisa Ramos, Executive
Assistant, General Counsel; Ron Rapp, Director of Government Relations;
Bev Sekella, Executive Assistant—Member Services; Mary Suchy, Director
of Membership; Jerrilyn Volz-Costell, Manager of Administrative Services—
Governance.
Kevin Flanagan, Assistant Executive Director—OEA Field; Patricia Collins
Murdock, Regional Director, Region 1; Parry Norris, Regional Director, Region 2;
Jeanette Cooper, Regional Director, Region 3; Cristina Munoz-Nedrow, Regional
Director, Region 4.
Ohio Schools Editorial Staff
Julie A. Newhall, Editor
Gail Botz, Graphic Designer
Susie Lehman, Production Coordinator
Crystalle Phillips, Advertising Coordinator
Subscription price for public and university libraries is $18 per year.
Editorial Offices—Ohio Schools (ISSN: 0030-1086) is published seven times
a year: February, April, June, August, September, October, November by the
Ohio Education Association, 225 E. Broad St., Box 2550, Columbus, OH 43216.
E-mail: [email protected]. Website: www.ohea.org.
Address all advertising or editorial correspondence to Editor, Ohio Schools.
Postmaster: Send address changes to Ohio Schools, Ohio Education
Association, 225 E. Broad St., Box 2550, Columbus, OH 43216. Postage:
Periodicals paid at Columbus, OH.
www.ohea.org
PRESIDENT’S Message
Priorities matter
Now is the time to accept the responsibility
of providing the necessary funding for
our students and our schools
In East Cleveland, where I
have spent the majority of
my teaching career, money
is tight and getting tighter.
A
ccording to Innovation Ohio’s
district-by-district data on the
four-year impact of state funding,
the funding for East Cleveland’s
schools has decreased $5.4 million—
a drop of 7.5 percent—from fiscal
year 2010-11 to 2014-15.
These funding cuts only make
things worse for a district that hasn’t
had a school levy on the ballot for
decades. And yet a lack of funding
doesn’t stop the teachers and support professionals from doing their
best to educate or the students from
trying to learn as much as they can.
In this respect, East Clevelanders
are a lot like many other Ohioans.
We make ends meet by budgeting
for the essentials—food, clothing and
shelter. Then we set aside money
for college, retirement, savings for
emergencies and contributions to the
less fortunate.
Governor Kasich’s priorities are
different. His budget begins with a
gift for every wealthy Ohioan—an
average $10,369 for the top one
percent, and $1,524 each for the next
four percent. For small business
owners, he’s planned a surprise
50 percent tax cut.
Ohio’s students, meanwhile, are
being shortchanged. His budget cuts
per pupil spending from $5,732 to
$5,000—a 13 percent reduction. Most
school experts say we need at least
$6,000 per pupil to make the Kasich
2
Ohio Schools april 2013
funding model bearable. Without
it, Ohio schools will continue to cut
everything but reading, math and
standardized tests.
And there are no increases for
60 percent of school districts,
including 80 percent of our poorest districts. School districts will
have $416 million less than they did
prior to the governor’s two budgets.
Eliminating the guarantee money in
the FY14-15 budget effectively makes
permanent the massive cuts ($1.8
billion) in the governor’s previous
budget, and requires many poor
districts to pass double-digit property
tax levies to make up the difference.
After high school, students will
attend public colleges that Kasich cut
by $440 million two years ago. The
governor’s new budget restores only
$68 million, so at that rate colleges
and universities can’t return to 2009
funding levels until 2020.
Short of winning the lottery,
education is the best route to success.
Yet, the governor and other elected
leaders have expressed little interest
in supporting quality public
education. In fact, they’re likely to
block every initiative to do so, just
because they can.
As educators, we know—and
believe—that our children are our
greatest resource and greatest legacy.
What we invest in them speaks
volumes about our priorities.
That’s why we take action—as
individuals and as an Association.
It is our charge to speak up for our
children by responding to an
inadequate, unfair budget for public
schools, and ensuring fairness and
equal opportunity for all students.
We will not be silent as Governor
Kasich pushes his scheme for $4.3
billion in income tax cuts while
per pupil spending decreases from
$5,732 to $5,000 and while the
majority of Ohio’s schools receive
no increase in state funding.
This isn’t just about money.
This is about our children and
grandchildren and whether or not
they will enjoy the same educational
opportunities that we have had.
If we truly want to provide the
best future for our children, this is
not the time to shirk the responsibility
of providing the necessary
funding for our schools. This is the
time to accept that responsibility
and prove that Ohio values its
public schools, its children, and the
teachers and education professionals
who support them.
All students deserve great public
schools and a strong educational
foundation.
OEA members—from Strongsville
to Southwestern, and from Ashtabula
to Xenia—make children a priority
every day. It’s time that the governor
and other politicians make them a
priority too.
Together, we’ll keep listening,
keep learning and keep leading.
OEA President
Notebook
OEA field staff begin new assignments
following realignment
OEA’s first staff realignment in 10 years, resulting from substantial shifts in OEA membership
due to state budget cuts, unfilled positions at
some schools and growth at other school
districts, was conducted on January 31.
The realignment changes include:
n Reducing the number of OEA professional staff mem-
bers by 10—eight in the field and two at headquarters
in Columbus—by attrition.
n Reducing the number of OEA service regions from
five to four.
n Reducing the number of OEA service councils—
groups of local associations that each work with a
specific field professional—to 76.
n Closing the Mayfield Heights and Cincinnati-Blue
Ash field offices. These offices closed at the end of
February. OEA will maintain 21 field offices.
The changes do not affect the governance side of
OEA’s organization, which includes 10 districts and their
elected officers, as well as more than 752 local associations.
In advance of the realignment, OEA regional directors
met with service councils, district leaders and regional
staff to regarding realignment to listen to recommendations and concerns.
On January 31, the realignment was conducted among
the Association’s labor relations consultants. Professional
staff selected Service Council locations by seniority in
accordance with the collective bargaining agreement
between PSU and OEA.
In February, OEA announced the new locations for
staff and held meetings with local leaders and staff on
transitioning to the realigned field organization. On
March 4, OEA field professionals officially began their
new assignments.
A detailed list of the new Service Councils and staff
assigned to the councils is published on the following
pages.
As service councils meet, members will select new
council names. In the meantime, unit numbers will be
used for each council. Once new names are established,
these will be included in future office listings along
with the unit number.
Following the field realignment, assignments for
OEA Regional Directors are as follows:
Kevin Flanagan
Assistant Executive Director—OEA Field
OEA Headquarters, 225 East Broad Street
POB 2550, Columbus OH 43216
614 227 3077 or 800 282 1500; Fax: 614 227 3181
Patricia Collins Murdock
Region 1 Director
OEA Headquarters, 225 East Broad Street
POB 2550, Columbus OH 43216
614 227 3116 or 800 282 1500; Fax: 614 224 5645
Parry Norris
Region 2 Director
11351 East Pike, Cambridge OH 43725
740 439 7751 or 800 225 5748; Fax: 740 432 6813
Jeanette Cooper
Region 3 Director
591 Boston Mills Road, Suite 100
Hudson OH 44236
330 650 9200 or 800 654 4034; Fax: 330 650 9373
Cris Mun᷈oz-Nedrow
Region 4 Director
180 South Stanfield Road, Troy OH 45373
937 335 4544 or 800 766 1165; Fax: 937 335 3766
3
OEA field office information*
REGION 1
ANNEX
Brett Anderson
Unit 3
Clark County Voc. ASE
Clark County Voc. EA
Clark-Shawnee Local EA
Northeastern Local ASE
Northeastern Local EA
Northwestern TA
Northwestern A of Sch
Emp
Southeastern EA
Southeastern Local ASE
Springfield EA
Springfield ESP (SEUSS)
Tecumseh EA
Kerri Hoover
Unit 12
Circleville EA
Logan Elm CTA
Miami Trace EA
Miami Trace Non-Cert.
EA
SCOPE
Teays Valley CTA
Washington EA
Westfall EA
Dolores Tufaro
Unit 6
Bloom Carroll EA
Eastland EA
Liberty Union Thurston
EA
Northern Local EA
Pickerington EA
Reynoldsburg EA
Reynoldsburg SSA
Southwest Licking
Walnut Twp. EA
COLUMBUS
Ezetta Murray
Columbus Education
Assoc.
LEXINGTON
Mick Bates
Unit 60
Cardington-Lincoln Fac
Centerburg TA
East Knox EA
Fredericktown EA
Highland EA
Knox County CC Staff A
Loudonville Perrysville
EA
Mt. Gilead TA
Mt. Vernon EA
North Fork EA
Northridge EA
Diedri Kennedy
Unit 52
Ashland Voc TA
Colonel Crawford EA
Crestline EA
Ed Assoc of Pioneer
Galion EA
Lexington SSA
Lexington TA
Lucas TA
Mansfield Schl Emp An
Linda Repko
Unit 53
ASHCO DD EA
Ashland City TA
Crestview TA
Hillsdale EA
Knox New Hope Ctr EA
Madison Local EA
Mapleton TA
Plymouth EA
Shelby A of SS
Shelby EA
Venita Shoulders
Unit 54
Buckeye Central EA
Bucyrus EA
Bucyrus Org of SS
Monroeville TA
New London EA
Norwalk TA
South Central Ed A
Western Reserve EA
Willard EA
Wynford EA
WAVERLY
Debi Maynard
Unit 27
Clay EA
Green Local TA
Minford EA
Northwest Local EA
Portsmouth City TA
Scioto Co Career Tech
Ctr TA
Shawnee EA
Southern State EA
Valley TA
Washington Local CTA
Wheelersburg EA
Patty Ray
Unit 11
Adena EA
Chillicothe EA
Greenfield Ex. Village EA
Huntington Local EA
Paint Valley Local EA
Pickaway Ross JVS TA
Southeastern Local TA
Union Scioto EA
Unioto SA
Zane Trace EA
Zane Trace SSP
Vacancy
Unit 13
Chesapeake Local TA
Dawson-Bryant EA
Fairland ACT
Gallia Co. Local EA
Gallia Co. Local SSA
Gallipolis EA
Ironton EA
Ironton SSA
Lawrence Co. Voc. TA
Rock Hill EA
South Point ACT
Symmes Valley EA
WESTERVILLE
Sara Baker
Unit 4
Big Walnut EA
Big Walnut Prof. of SP
Buckeye Valley EA
Elgin EA
Marion EA
Pleasant A of T
Ridgedale TA
River Valley Emp. Assn.
River Valley TA
Tri Rivers EA
Lynn Davis
Unit 8
Gahanna-Jefferson EA
Hamilton Local EA
Plain Local EA
Upper Arlington EA
Westerville EA
Westerville ED SSA
Jeff Kestner
Unit 5
C-TEC TEA
Granville EA
Heath EA
Heath Ed'l SSA
Johnstown EA
Lakewood TA
Lakewood Classified
Licking Heights EA
Licking Heights SSA
Licking Valley EA
Newark TA
Amber Kirkwood
Unit 10
Forest Rose EA
Hilliard EA
South-Western EA
Whitehall EA
Mark Linder
Unit 7
Bexley EA
Canal Winchester EA
Franklin County Bd of
DD EA
Grandview Hts EA
Grandview Hts ED SSA
Groveport-Madison EA
Madison Plains EA
Worthington CA
Worthington EA
Melodie Terman
Unit 9
Delaware Career Cntr EA
Delaware City TA
Dublin EA
Dublin Support Assoc.
Olentangy TA
Theresa Whitney
Unit 2
Amanda-Clearcreek EA
Berne Union EA
Columbus State
Fairfield Union EA
Lancaster EA
Lancaster SSA
Hocking Technical College EA
Hocking Technical SSP
Vacancy
Unit 1
Graham EA
Fairbanks EA
Jonathan Alder EA
London EA
Marysville EA
Mechanicsburg EA
North Union EA
Tolles JVS EA
Urbana ACT
West Jefferson EA
West Liberty Salem EA
REGION 2
ATHENS
Matt Conrad
Unit 14
Alexander Local EA
Atco-Beacon EA
Athens EA
Eastern Local EA
Federal Hocking TA
Logan EA
Meigs Local TA
Nelsonville York EA
Southern Local EA
Tri County TA
Trimble Local TA
Don Dalton
Unit 16
Buckeye Hills SS
Buckeye Hills TA
Eastern Local CTA
Eastern Local SSPA
Jackson City EA
Oak Hill Union Local EA
Piketon-Scioto EA
Vinton Local TA
Waverly CTA
Wellston TA
Western Local EA
Vacancy
Unit 15
Belpre EA
Carleton Sch/Meigs Ind
Fort Frye TA
Frontier Local EA
Marietta EA
Morgan Local EA
Southern Local EA
Warren Local EA
Washington Co. CC TA
Wolf Creek Local EA
BOARDMAN
Gary Carlile
Unit 30
Canfield Bus Drivers Assn
Canfield EA
Lowellville EA
Mahoning Co Career &
Tech Ctr
Mahoning Co CTC Clsfd
Poland EA
South Range EA
Springfield Local CTA
Teachers Orgn West Resv
West Branch Class Emp
Assn
West Branch EA
Helen Matusick
Unit 42
Boardman EA
Columbiana MRDDEA
MEADD
Robert Bycroft EA
Warren EA
Warren Secretarial Assn.
Youngstown EA
Herman Pipe
Unit 36
Champion EA
Champion Local SSP
Girard EA
LaBrae TA
Liberty Asso of Sch Emp
Mathews EA
McDonald EA
Newton Falls ACE
Niles EA
Southington EA
Trumbull Career & Tech EA
Sheila Saad
Unit 29
Badger EA
Bloomfield-Mespo EA
Bristol A of Sch Emp
Brookfield Assn of Schl
Emp
Howland CTA
Hubbard EA
Lakeview School Supt
Assn
Lakeview TA
Maplewood EA
Trumbull Co Board Clsfd
SA
Trumbull Co Board Prof SA
Vacancy
Unit 43
Austintown EA
Campbell EA
Sebring Local EA
Struthers EA
YSU A of Prof. Adm. Staff
YSU-ACE
YSU Chapter of OEA
BRILLIANT
Vacancy
Unit 17
Belmont-Harrison Voc. EA
Buckeye Local CTA
Columbiana Associated
Empl.
Connotton Valley TA
Edison Local EA
Harrison Hills TA
Indian Creek EA
Jefferson Co. JVS TA
Steubenville EA
Toronto EA
Vacancy
Unit 18
Barnesville ACE
Barnesville EA
Bellaire EA
Bridgeport A of Class
Bridgeport EA
Eastern Gateway CC EA
Martins Ferry EA
St. Clairsville EA
Shadyside EA
Switzerland of Ohio EA
Union Local EA
CAMBRIDGE
Hank Musilli
Unit 20
Franklin Local TA
Guernsey-Noble EA
Hopewell EA
Maysville EA
Monroe Co. EA OEA/NEA
Tri-Valley EA
West Muskingum EA
West Muskingum SA
Zanesville EA
Amy Yevincy
Unit 19
Caldwell TA
Cambridge TA
Coshocton City EA
Coshocton CO CC EEA
East Guernsey Local TA
East Guernsey SSA
Mid East EA
Noble Local CTA
Noble Local SA
River View EA
Rolling Hills EA
CANTON
Kim Borzyn
Unit 23
Canton Local EA
Canton Local CLSFD Assn
Chippewa EA
Dalton Local EA
East Holmes TA
Fairless EA
Garaway TA
Perry CTA
Plain Local TA
Southeast Local EA
Stark Area Vo. Educators
Dan Day
Unit 21
Beaver Local EA
Columbiana EA
Columbiana Local Assn. SS
Crestview EA
East Liverpool EA
East Palestine EA
Leetonia EA
Lisbon EA
Salem EA
Southern Local TA
United EA
Wellsville TA
Sarah Drinkard
Unit 25
Canton Prof EA
Jackson Classified PA
Jackson Memorial EA
Lake Local EA
North Canton Class Emp
North Canton EA
Northwest TA
Tuslaw CTA
LaVonne Lobert-Edmo
Unit 26
ED Assn of Orville
Green Local EA
Northwestern Local EA
Norwayne ESPA
Norwayne Local EA
Rittman EA
Triway EA
Wayne Co JVS EA
Wooster EA
Bob Matkowski
Unit 24
Alliance EA
East Canton EA
Louisville EA
Marlington EA
Massillon EA
Minerva Local EA
Sandy Valley EA
Stark Co EDU & Pro
Trainers Assn
Stark Co MRDD SSA
Alison Roberts
Unit 22
Buckeye EA JVS
Carrollton EA
Claymont EA
Dover EA
Indian Valley TA
Malvern EA
New Philadelphia EA
Newcomerstown Class
Newcomerstown TA
Ridgewood EA
Tuscarawas Vly TA
REGION 3
HOLLAND
Denise Carmack
Unit 51
Anthony Wayne EA
Maumee EA
Otsego EA
Perrysburg EA
Pike Delta York EA
Springfield EA
Swanton EA
Swanton SS Assn
Wauseon EA
Wood Lane EA
Dee Groman
Unit 49
Bowling Green EA
Eastwood EA
Elmwood EA
Findlay EA
Lake EA
McComb TEA
North Baltimore EA
Penta Career Center EA
Rossford ACT
Van Buren EA
Mike McEachern
Unit 50
Archbold EA
Evergreen EA
Gorham Fayette TA
Northwood Loc EA
Northwood Loc Schools SA
Ottawa Hills EA
Ottawa Hills SA
Sylvania EA
TA of Lucas Co Schools
TA of Washington Loc
HUDSON
John Avouris
Unit 31
Aurora EA
Crestwood EA
Garfield EA
Portage Co MRDD
Ravenna EA
Rootstown EA
Southeast Local Dist. TA
Southeast SSP Assn.
Streetsboro EA
Streetsboro SSPA
Windham TA
Lee Blanden
Unit 45
Hudson EA
Mogadore EA
Mogadore ESA
Revere EA
Stow Munroe Falls Class
EA
Stow TA
Weaver EA
Weaver Workshop Supt
Assn
Beth Chandler-Marks
Unit 46
Akron Classified
Coventry EA
Cuyahoga Falls EA
Geauga School Empl Assn
Nordonia Hills EA
Springfield Local ACT
Tallmadge Teachers Assn
Twinsburg EA
Twinsburg SS OEA/NEA
Woodridge EA
Lynne Rumsey
Unit 44
Field Local TA
Barberton EA
Copley TA
Green EA
Green Local Assn of SS
Manchester EA
Maplewood Career Ctr EA
Norton CTA
Portage Lakes EA
Waterloo EA
LOCAL OPTION UNIT
Dave Oldham
Amherst TA
Avon Lake EA
Clearview EA
Elyria SS Staff
Erie Co MRDD Emp A
Lorain EA
Midview EA
North Ridgeville EA
Oberlin Ohio EA
Sandusky Non-Teach EA
MENTOR
Kim Lane
Unit 34
Ashtabula JVSD TA
Ashtabula JVS Scrty Assn
Career & Technical Assn
Fairport Harbor TA
Kirtland EA
Painesville City TA
Perry CTA
Riverside Local EA
Wickliffe EA
Willoughby-Eastlake C
Willoughby-Eastlake TA
Chlo Leidy
Unit 37
Chagrin Falls EA
Euclid Classified Assn
Euclid TA
Mentor Class Emp
Mentor TA
Orange TA
Prof Assn Teaching MR
Anne Thomas
Unit 40
Berkshire EA
Cardinal EA
Chardon ACE
Chardon EA
Kenston EA
Ledgemont An. SS
Ledgemont EA
Metzenbaum EA
Newbury EA
West Geauga EA
Eric Urban
Unit 28
Ashtabula ACSE
Ashtabula Area TA
Ashtabula Co Emp Assn
Buckeye EA Ashtabula
Conneaut Class Emp
Conneaut EA
Geneva Area TA
Grand Valley SSP
Jefferson Area TA
Madison EA
Pymatuning Valley EA
MIDDLEBURG
HEIGHTS
Tad Colbeck
Unit 41
Bedford EA
Brecksville Broadview
Hts EA
Brecksville Broadview
Hts SS
Brooklyn EA
Lakewood TA
North Royalton EA
Strongsville EA
Westlake TA
Mark Costantino
Unit 39
Brunswick EA
Brunswick ESP
Mayfield A of SP
Mayfield EA
Medina Co Achv Ctr EA
Parma EA
Lynne Howell
Unit 38
CHASE
Cuyahoga Hts A of T
East Cleveland EA
Garfield Hts TA
Independence Class EA
Independence EA
Lakeland Faculty Assn
Maple Hts TA
Maple Organiz Sup Team
Richmond Heights EA
Warrensville EA
Gary Kovach
Unit 32
Black River SSP
Black River TA
Cloverleaf EA
Highland EA
Highland Support Staff
Medina City TA
Medina Co Voc Ctr
Polaris EA
Wadsworth EA
Wadsworth Support Staff
Ed. of Montgomery Co
Miamisburg CTA
West Carrollton Clsfd EA
West Carrollton EA
DEFIANCE Betty Elling
Unit 47
Susan Dodge
Bryan EA
Unit 59
Defiance City EA
Bellevue EA
Edgerton EA
Danbury Assn-Non Teach
Edon Northwest TA
Danbury EA
Millcreek W Unity EA
EHOVE TA
Montpelier EA
Gibsonburg TA
North Central EA
Huron Class EA
Northeastern Local TA
Huron EA
Northwest St Com Coll
Margaretta TA
Stryker EA
Oak Harbor EA
John
Grafton
Perkins EA
Unit 56
Woodmore EA
Columbus Grove EA
Ann Field
Continental EA
Unit 55
Fort Jennings EA
Ada Classified Assoc
Kalida EA
Ada EA
Leipsic EA
Apollo EA
Miller City-New Cleve EA
Carey EA
Ottawa Glandorf CTA
Hardin Northern EA
Ottoville Local EA
Kenton EA
Pandora Gilboa EA
Lima EA
Putnam County EA
Ridgemont EA
Pat
Johnson
Riverdale EA
Unit 57
Upper Sandusky EA
Allen East EA
Upper Sandusky SS
Bath EA
Upper Scioto Vly TA
Bluffton EA
Sam Radel
Delphos EA
Unit 58
Elida EA
Clyde Green Springs EA
Lincolnview Local EA
Fremont EA
Marimor EA
Fostoria EA
Perry EA
Hopewell Loudon EA
Shawnee Classified EA
Lakota EA
Shawnee EA
Mohawk EA
Spencerville EA
New Riegel EA
Waynesfield-Goshen EA
Old Fort Loc EA
Annette Kubiske
Seneca East EA
Unit 48
Tiffin EA
Antwerp EA
Ayersville EA
VERMILION
Four County JV EA
Airica Clay
Hicksville EA
Unit 33
Holgate TA
Columbia Loc EA
Liberty Center CTA
Edison TA
Napoleon Faculty A
Elyria EA
Patrick Henry EA
Firelands EA
Paulding EA
Keystone Local EA
TA of Central Loc
Lorain County JVS TA
Wayne Trace EA
Sandusky EA
FAIRBORN
Vermilion TA
Wellington EA
Darlene Messer
Wellington SSP
Unit 69
Arcanum Butler CTA
Todd Jaeck
Eaton CTA
Unit 35
Eaton SSP
Access
Franklin Monroe EA
Avon TA
Greenville EA
Bay Indiv/Sm Group
Mississinawa Val TA
Inst TA
National Trail EA
Bay TA
Preble-Shawnee Loc EA
Fairview Park EA
Tri-County North EA
Lorain Assn Class Emp
Tri-Village EA
North Olmsted EA
Twin Valley ACT
Olmsted Falls EA
Valley View CTA
Rocky River TA
Shef- Sheffield Lake
Becki Villamagna
Clsf EA
Unit 74
Sheffield-Sheff Lake TA
Beavercreek Classified EMP
Beavercreek EA
Centerville CTA
REGION 4
Fairborn Classified EA
DAYTON
Fairborn EA
Sean Thompson
Kettering EA
Unit 75
Mad River EA
Dayton EA
Oakwood TA
Dayton Reserve Teachers
TIFFIN
Jasmine Williams
Unit 73
Cedar Cliff EA
Greene Co CC CLS EA
Greene Co CC EA
Greeneview Classified EA
Greeneview EA
Sugarcreek EA
Sugarcreek Local Assn
of SP
Xenia EA
Xenia Education SP
Yellow Springs EA
MONROE
Marla Bell
Unit 65
Carlisle TA
Franklin EA
Kings EA
Lebanon EA
Mason EA
Springboro Class Em
Springboro EA
Katie Boerger
Unit 64
Finneytown ASP
Finneytown EA
Lockland EA
Mt. Healthy TA
North College Hill EA
NW Assoc of Educators
Oak Hills EA
Reading EA
Southwest Local CTA
Three Rivers A of SSP
Three Rivers EA
Winton Woods TA
Robin Busby
Unit 62
Batavia Prof EA
Bethel-Tate TA
Clermont County Sp EA
Clermont NE EA
Felicity EA
Milford Class Emp A
Milford EA
New Richmond EA
West Clermont EA
West Clermont HOPE
Williamsburg EA
Bonnie McMurray
Unit 67
Butler Ed Assn
Fairfield CTA
Hamilton CTA
Madison EA
New Miami EA
Ross EA
Talawanda Classified SA
Talawanda EA
Dan Mueller
Unit 66
Blanchester EA
Bright TEA
Clinton Massie EA
East Clinton EA
Fairfield EA
Hillsboro EA
Little Miami TA
Waynesville EA
Waynesville Non Cert EA
Wilmington EA
Jeff Nolasco
Unit 68
Edgewood TA
Lakota EA
Lakota SSA
Middletown Class EA
Middletown TA
Monroe Ed Assn
Renee Townley
Unit 61
Eastern Local EA
Fayetteville-Perry Clsfd
EA
Fayetteville-Perry EA
Goshen EA
Goshen EA SSA
Manchester Ohio River
Ohio Valley Local
Ripley-Union Lewis EA
Southern Hills JVS TA
Western Brown EA
Western Brown Sch EMP
EO
Diana Watson
Unit 63
Deer Park EA
Forest Hills EA
Hamilton Co EA
Indian Hill EA
Loveland EA
Norwood TA
Princeton ACE
St. Bernard-Elmwood Pl
Sycamore EA
Wyoming EA
TROY
George Bozovich
Unit 76
Brookville TA
Huber Heights EA
Jefferson Township EA
Milton Union EA
Newton TA
Northmont Classified EA
Northmont Dist EA
Northridge TA
Trotwood Madison EA
Vandalia Butler EA
Donna Christman
Unit 72
Auglaize EA
Bellefontaine EA
Benjamin Logan EA
Fort Loramie EA
Hardin Houston EA
Indian Lake ACE
Indian Lake EA
Russia EA
Sidney EA
United Riverside EA
Reginald Fentress
Unit 71
Ansonia EA
Ansonia Local Sup Pers
Bethel EA
Bradford TA
Covington EA
Edison State EA
Miami East ASP
Miami East EA
Piqua EA
Troy City EA
Troy City SSA
Versailles EA
Shelli Jackson
Unit 70
Anna Local TA
Celina EA
Coldwater TO
Fort Recovery EA
Marion Local EA
Minster TA
New Bremen TA
Parkway EA
St Marys EA
Wapakoneta Classified
Wapakoneta EA
➤ Continued
Strongsville teachers
resume bargaining
as strike enters
fourth week
New contract proposal
from Strongsville EA prompts
meeting with federal mediator
A
new contract proposal from the
Strongsville Education Association
(SEA) prompted the federal mediator
to call a March 26 negotiation session
between bargaining representatives
for the SEA and the Strongsville school
board in an attempt to end the 22-day
teachers’ strike.
On March 22, SEA President Tracy
Linscott presented a new counter
proposal to the school board that was
$300,000 cheaper than the union’s initial
counter proposal to the board’s last, best
offer. According to SEA, the proposal included “additional concessions in health
insurance and the elimination of future
Voluntary Professional Growth.”
The 383 teachers, guidance
counselors, psychologists and media
specialists who are members of the SEA
have been on strike since March 4.
The teachers’ contract expired on
June 30 of last year, but SEA and the
school board agreed to hold off on
beginning negotiations so the district
could have a better financial understanding of its budget.
Contract negotiations began on
July 9. The sides negotiated again on
October 16, and continued to meet
about twice a month.
The SEA officially declared an
impasse on January 30 after consecutive
negotiations ended with no progress.
The impasse triggered the involvement
of a federal mediator.
At its general meeting February 15,
SEA members gave their leadership the
go-ahead to issue the board its intent
to strike. The SEA officially filed its
intent to strike with the State Employee
Relations Board February 21, putting
the district on a 10-day notice that its
members would strike if a contract
wasn’t reached by March 4.
6
After failing to come to an agreement
again in negotiations on February 25, the
two sides agreed to a final negotiation
date. On March 2, after more than eight
hours of negotiating, both sides emerged
without a deal.
The Board presented its last, best
offer to the SEA March 2 refusing to
accept a counter proposal from the SEA.
The SEA counter proposal included
re-instituting step and column raises
that were frozen in the last round of
negotiations in 2010-2011, capping class
sizes and compensating teachers whose
classes break the cap—23 students in
kindergarten and 135 students per day
in high school. The SEA’s proposal also
defined the teachers’ workday as the
“student” day and replace planning
time given up during the last round of
negotiations.
“The Board’s continued inability to
bargain in good faith as well as their
stunning decision to issue a premature
Last Best Offer reinforced what the
Association has known for the last nine
months,” said SEA President Linscott.
“Specifically, that this Board never
intended to reach a deal, and instead
was simply buying time to unilaterally
implement a contract at a time of their
choosing.”
Meeting on March 3, the SEA voted
“overwhelmingly” to go on strike
effective midnight March 4.
The following day, after more than
seven months of contract negotiations
with the school board without a settlement, the 383 SEA members took to
picket lines at every Strongsville school.
“We have always been willing to
negotiate and to make concessions to
reach the fair and equitable contract
that our members deserve; however, the
Board has shown a callous disregard
for its teachers, its students, and its
community by refusing to negotiate
any longer and attempting to impose
a contract that will ultimately hurt our
kids,” SEA Spokesperson Christine
Canning said.
On March 8, hundreds of SEA
members, along with teachers
from other districts like Brunswick,
Brecksville-Broadview Heights and
Cleveland, marched in solidarity from
Center Middle School to Strongsville
Commons to hear former Governor Ted
Strickland speak. Strickland stressed the
importance of working hard to support
public education as Governor Kasich
and the Republican-led state legislature
expands voucher programs for parents
to take their children to charter and
private schools.
Support SEA
Each time an OEA local goes to the
negotiations table, the outcome affects the
contractual rights, contractual gains and
profession of every OEA member. What
happens in one district has a profound impact
on neighboring districts.
Monetary donations and words of support for
SEA members may be sent to:
The Strongsville Education Association
c/o OEA Middleburg Heights Uniserv Office
7530 Lucerne Drive, Suite 100
Middleburg Heights, OH 44130
Additional information is available at:
SEA Facebook
http://on.fb.me/WtlTbE
SEA webpage
http://bit.ly/VjaEBR
SEA Twitter
@SEACommunique
SEA email
[email protected]
Right To Work is not what it seems
So-called Right To Work is controversial, confusing and has
far reaching consequences for the middle class.
O
riginally, ”right to work" was a human rights concept. A leader in the
French revolution coined the phrase in response to a financial crisis, rampant
unemployment and employment discrimination.
Today, Right To Work (RTW) is another attempt by multinational corporations
to tip the balance even more in their favor at the expense of the middle class. It’s a
power grab by the same corporate special interest backers who ship jobs overseas
and offshore their profits to avoid paying taxes, shifting the burden to the rest of us.
The same people who oppose increasing the minimum wage and want to privatize
Social Security.
America is powered by the middle class—auto workers, nurses, construction
workers and teachers who help shape our future, keep us safe and drive our
economy. But too many of us are struggling, worrying about retirement, wondering if our jobs are secure, and wishing we had more time for the things that matter.
Anti-worker "Right To Work" laws force all working families to work harder for
lower pay and less benefits, whether they're in a union or not. The average worker
makes about $5,000 less and pensions are lower and less secure in RTW states.
Right To Work laws don’t create jobs. Six of the 10 states with the highest unemployment have RTW laws in place. So-called Right To Work means fewer Ohio
jobs, not more. The truth is, workers do worse in RTW states on a number of different measures including wages, workplace deaths and pensions.
“If we don’t stop these attacks, the middle class will continue to shrink,” says
OEA President Patricia Frost-Brooks. “Right To Work is wrong for Ohio workers
and the middle class.”
The legislature should work on the real issues like balancing the budget, creating
jobs, and improving schools instead of divisive political issues similar to the ones
the people of Ohio have already rejected.
CEOs and corporate special interests are trying to mislead us when the truth
is Right to Work benefits the people at the top while hurting the rest of us.
The people backing these laws are working to deny workers freedoms every
chance they get. Moving more workers into part-time positions isn’t about
freedom. Offshoring profits and shipping jobs to countries with horrible working
conditions isn’t about freedom. Trying to erode worker health and safety laws so
that our workplaces become more dangerous isn’t freedom, either. Freedom is about being able to balance life with work, to attend a parent-teacher
conference, help a loved one get to a medical appointment or just being able to have
the flexibility to unplug and be with the people you love outside of work without
getting in trouble or feeling like you’re falling behind at work. You already have the freedom and right to work wherever you
want, and no one has to join a union to get a job—that's the
law. Freedom means having a voice in the workplace, being able
to speak out and having your opinions heard and acted upon.
It's up to workers whether they want to come together to hold
those on top accountable and make their voices heard on
important issues like safer workplace laws.
Right To Work, like Issue Two, attempts to limit collective bargaining rights, and
it negatively affects everyday heroes like firefighters, nurses and whistleblowers
and their right to collectively bargain for needed emergency equipment, patient
staffing ratios in hospitals and class sizes and school safety.
It is wrong because it could eliminate protections for whistleblowers that protect
food safety, speak out against toxic chemicals polluting our air and water and
expose waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Unions also enforce construction
safety standards that have reduced workplace injuries and deaths. In fact, the rate
of workplace deaths is 51% higher in RTW states.
Read more about the origins of Right To Work on OEA’s website,
www.ohea.org/right-to-work-background.
NEA files amicus
briefs in historic
marriage equality
cases
T
he NEA has filed amicus briefs in
the United States Supreme Court
relating to two marriage equality
cases before the Court.
The Perry case raises the question
of whether a state may amend its
constitution to define marriage as an
institution reserved solely to different
sex couples. The Windsor case raises
the question of whether the federal
government may define marriage for
purposes of federal law as reserved
solely to different sex couples.
In the Perry case, NEA filed a brief
in partnership with the California
Teachers Association (CTA) detailing
why Proposition 8 will not alter the
public school curriculum in California
in the manner its proponents have
urged. Instead, the brief points out
that the only educational impact
of Proposition 8 is to further isolate
and subject to bullying the children of
same sex couples and Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)
students. In the Windsor case, NEA filed a
brief in partnership with the rest of
organized labor (the AFL and Change
to Win) detailing the economic costs
that the Defense of Marriage Act
(DOMA) inflicts on lesbian and gay
married couples. By virtue of the fact
that DOMA defines marriage as solely
the union of a woman and a man
for all purposes under federal law,
DOMA places off limits to same sex
couples a myriad of economic
benefits provided to different sex
couples ranging from spousal health
coverage, to spousal social security
benefits, to Family & Medical Leave,
to COBRA and HIPAA protections,
to tax incentives to private employers
for family health care coverage, to
the full spectrum of benefits provided
to spouses of federal employees.
Arguments in the cases were
scheduled for March 26, with
decisions not expected until the
end of the Court’s term.
7
feature
2.
3.
4.
photo by Julie Newhall 1. 5. photos by Susie Lehman
1. OEA conference attendees listen to retired teacher Representative John Patterson, HD 99, discuss the need for strong unions in Ohio.
2.-5.Conference attendees participate in a variety of sessions during the 2013 OEA Collective Bargaining Conference.
Collective Bargaining:
Getting Our Bargain Back
In early February, over 470 OEA members and
staff came together and participated in an extremely
successful Collective Bargaining Conference. The
two-day event opened with an inspirational call to
action delivered by President Patricia Frost-Brooks
and culminated with a thoughtful and timely panel
discussion on how we successfully navigate and
bargain in front of education “reform.”
In between, the program was packed with presentations on a host of important topics, ranging from
bargaining Ohio’s new teacher evaluation system to
developing an effective employee wellness program.
Whether first-time bargainers or seasoned veterans,
attendees were able to fashion a course of study
from offerings designed to challenge their minds,
strengthen their resolve and guarantee success in
Getting Our Bargain Back.
C
onference participants were also treated to the
insights and reflections of John Patterson, a
former leader and chief bargainer for the Jefferson
Area Teacher’s Association and newly elected
member of the Ohio House of Representatives. Drawing
from his experiences as a local leader and negotiator,
Representative Patterson reminded those in attendance
of the sanctity of the collective bargaining agreement and
the hard work that is necessary to keep an open line of
communications with those who sit on the other side of
the table. “We must protect the process,” he said.
Of course, a successful conference is more than just
good speeches and high-quality workshops. Those in
attendance took full advantage of the opportunity to
celebrate solidarity, to develop new relationships and to
reconnect with old friends, while enjoying the understated
elegance of Columbus’ newest downtown hotel.
Any local association that will be bargaining a new
contract next year is strongly encouraged to include
participation in the 2014 OEA Collective Bargaining
Conference as part of its preparations for negotiations.
“As we launch these sessions each year, we look back on the organizing efforts of the 1960s, 70s
and 80s, and how we won collective bargaining rights in 1983 legislation,” OEA President Patricia
Frost-Brooks told members attending the conference. “We breathe a collective sigh of relief for the
hard-fought victory we had in voting No on Issue 2/SB 5 in 2011, a vote that was only 16 months ago,
but we have so many challenges still ahead.”
She discussed the challenges inherent in Governor Kasich’s proposed state budget, including the
new funding formula and the Governor’s proposals for new education policies. Frost-Brooks also
discussed the challenges of professional evaluation procedures, the Third Grade Reading Guarantee
and the development of Common Core standards and assessments. And she cautioned members
about the threat of Right To Work legislation, a deceptive attack on working and middle class Ohioans.
“In so many of these fights, our weapon is our vote,” she said. “Our other weapon is our contributions to the
Fund for Children and Public Education (FCPE), our political action fund. We must raise FCPE funds to increase
our effectiveness in political action.”
“At this time of change and multiple challenges, there are no easy answers,” she told attendees. “There are no
textbook formulas for the collective bargaining agreements you will implement this year. Even local associations that
have enjoyed collaborative relationships with administrators will find evaluation, reading guarantees, salaries and
benefits difficult to negotiate in today’s atmosphere.”
“Our biggest challenge is to reflect on our journey and to nurture a strong voice, the professional tone and the right
notes to hit as we use our voices to support what’s truly good for students. For we must BE the change we SEEK.”
“Don’t forget the sacrifices that were made to get to collective bargaining,” urged Representative
John Patterson, a retired teacher who now represents Ohio’s 99th House district.
John Patterson
“America needs a combination of strong unions, strong consumers and a strong economy,” he said.
“As wages stagnated over the last few decades, is it any wonder our economy has flat-lined? When
unions are strong, the economy is strong and America is strong.”
Patterson stressed the need for authentic and unvarnished relationships between labor and
management in the face of ongoing attacks on collective bargaining: “We need them. They need us.
We can’t worry about all the outcomes right now. We must protect the process!”
David Workman
David Workman, president of the Farmington (Michigan) Education Association, is also an activist
in the Teacher Union Reform Network (TURN), founded in 1995, that seeks leading roles for
teachers based on a commitment to help all children learn. Sharing the ideas behind TURN with
OEA members, he said, “TURN is all about teachers taking the profession back — someone took it
away while we were waiting around to figure out what to do.”
He discussed the organization’s mission, saying, “Teacher unions must provide leadership for the
collective voice of their members. Teacher unions have a responsibility to students, their families
and to the broader society, and they are committed to public education as a vital element of our
democracy.”
“What unites these responsibilities is our commitment to help all children learn,” Workman said.
“We affirm the union’s responsibility to collaborate with other stakeholders in public education and to seek
consistently higher levels of student achievement by: Continuously improving the quality of teaching; Promoting
in public education and in the union democratic dynamics, fairness, and due process for all; Seeking to expand the
scope of collective bargaining to include instructional and professional issues, and; Improving, on an ongoing basis,
the terms and conditions under which both adults and children work and learn.”
TURN has become a clearinghouse of success stories and failures in school reform. Workman’s core concept:
A district needs three “pillars” of collaboration: the union, administrators and school board.
More
information on TURN is available at www.turnexchange.net.
9
feature
photo
1. 2.
Thousands throughout Ohio
pick up books in celebration
of Read Across America
Throughout Ohio, students, teachers, parents
and special guests found many exciting ways to
celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday and Read Across
America, the nation’s largest reading celebration
with more than 45 million participating around the
country to highlight the importance of developing
a love for reading at an early age.
A
t the National Museum of the US Air Force
(NMUSAF) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,
over 1,000 students from the greater Dayton area
gathered in late February for the museum’s annual
Read Across America celebration. The NMUSAF and the OEA
have been partners in this effort for 14 years.
At the NMUSAF reading event, students enjoyed books by
Dr. Seuss and books about aviation while sitting next to the
aircraft associated with the stories. The celebration continues
to be one of the largest such events in Ohio. Hundreds of
Air Force Base and base-affiliated volunteers read at stations
scattered throughout the museum and serve as escorts for the
visiting student groups. Joining in the celebration on February
28 as guest readers were OEA President Patricia Frost-Brooks,
Vice President Bill Leibensperger, and Secretary-Treasurer
Tim Myers.
10 Ohio Schools april 2013
Three Cat-a-Vans logged more than 5,100 miles as they
traveled from coast to coast to deliver an important message
about reading and oral health to students in more than 30
schools. Made possible through a unique partnership between
the National Education Association and Renaissance Dental—
the tours began on February 25, and concluded on March 1.
NEA’s Cat-a-Van Reading Tour 2 made its final stops in
northeast Ohio where students and staff at Caledonia
Elementary School in East Cleveland kicked their reading
celebration into high gear with a breakfast of green eggs and
ham and an impromptu performance of One Fish, Two Fish,
Red Fish, Blue Fish. NEA Executive Committee member Christy
Levings and OEA President Frost-Brooks joined the Cat-a-Van
tour for its visit to Caledonia and later Mayfair Elementary
School in East Cleveland. The schools each received checks
for $1,000 from Renaissance Dental to help stock the schools’
libraries with books and other tools for reading inspiration.
In the Columbus area, local readers read with young men
and women at the Scioto Juvenile Correctional Facility in
Delaware, Ohio.
The Scioto JCF students enjoyed listening to readers
including OEA member and Central OEA/NEA President Scott
DiMauro and state legislators. OEA member Chuck Steinbower,
who coordinated the event at Scioto JCF, made sure students
had the opportunity to visit with many special guests throughout the day.
photo © 2013 Brent Turner, BLT Productions, Inc.
compliments of Denise Adkins-Leach
3.
On March 8, students in Barnesville took a turn celebrating
reading with nearly 1,000 elementary, middle and high school
students participating.
Elementary students enjoyed listening to books read by guest
readers. Middle school students also participated in activities
and presentations, the most popular program of which was a
visit from Barnesville alumna Vicki Wehr Groves, who brought
several “special needs” dogs with her from the My Young and
Old Fur Babies Rescue, a non-profit animal rescue.
Event organizer and middle school teacher Denise AdkinsLeach said, “We are fortunate to have such a great community
and wonderful volunteers that come into our school and make
this happen for students.”
There were numerous other local events throughout the
state including community members reading to students,
hosting poetry jams and serving green eggs and ham in school
cafeterias. Which just goes to show you that “you’re never too
old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read with
a child.”
1. A Caledonia Elementary (East Cleveland)
student shows his enthusiasm for the Cat in
the Hat’s visit to his school.
4.
5.
photos compliments of NEA
6.
2. Barnesville students share their March 8
reading celebration with OEA guest reader
Russ Harris.
3. A Barnesville reader models his own stovepipe hat creation for Read Across America.
4. OEA President Patricia Frost-Brooks reads to
Saville Elementary School (Dayton) students
at the annual Read Across America celebration at the National Museum of the US Air
Force.
5. NEA’s Cat-a-Van made a stop on March 1
at East Cleveland’s Caledonia Elementary
School.
6. Mayfair Elementary School (East Cleveland)
students
are an enthusiastic audience for the
11
Cat in the Hat.
making the grade
Be a hero,
save a life
Become an organ and
tissue donor during
National Donate Life
Month
OEA member Lynn Zerkle, left, special
education teacher Shenandoah Junior High
School risked surgery and loss of an organ
to save the life of principal Mike Romick.
L
ast year, approximately 28,000 Americans received a life-saving organ transplant and more than one million Americans received a life-changing tissue
transplant. While more than 95 percent of American adults approve of donation
as a viable, life-giving practice, only 54 percent of Ohioans are registered donors.
Every day 18 men, women, and children die while waiting for an organ
transplant. And every 10 minutes another person is added to the national
waiting list for organ donation. Today, 3,455 Ohioans are waiting for an organ
transplant. Last year, 172 died waiting—about one Ohioan every other day.
In 2012, 297 Ohioans were organ donors at the time of their death, helping
1,200 individuals receive a second chance at life through transplantation. Last
year, 1,885 Ohioans gave improved quality of life to others through tissue
donation.
It’s statistics like these—combined with a deep interest in helping others—
that led OEA-Retired member Donald Traxler to draft a proposal for a New
Business Item at the May 2005 Representative Assembly. Fellow delegates
and members adopted the resolution “... that OEA shall annually provide
information about and promote the designation of April as National Donate
Life month to promote organ and tissue donation throughout Ohio. Such
information and promotion shall be included in regular publications.”
Be a hero
More than 117,000 Americans are waiting for a life-saving transplant today. Registering in the
Ohio Donor Registry means that upon your death, you agree to donate organs and tissues that
could save up to 8 lives and heal 50 more.
n Register online (you will need a valid Ohio driver license or state identification card).
n Fill out and mail in an Ohio Donor Registry
Enrollment Form.
n Say “yes” to organ donation when you visit the Ohio BMV to receive or renew your driver
license or state identification card.
Remember to tell family members that you are an organ donor. The Ohio Donor Registry was
established by the Ohio State Legislature in July 2002 to ensure that an individual’s wish to be a
donor is known and carried out, but talking to your family about your desire to be an organ and
tissue donor will make them more comfortable with your decision.
Students can save lives too
The goal of Lifeline of Ohio’s student-targeted programs is to provide all the facts students
need to make an informed decision about donation when asked the question “Do you want to
be an organ, eye and tissue donor?” at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Additionally, Lifeline
of Ohio wants students to understand the importance of sharing that decision with their family.
A Teacher Program Outline is available at www.lifelineofohio.org/resources/teachers/.
Lifeline of Ohio also offers programs for teachers and students. To schedule a program, call
800 52512
5667Ohio
ext. 334
or 614 384april
7334 or2013
email [email protected]. Teachers can
Schools
also request programs via the organization’s web site, www.lifelineofohio.org.
Great Teachers
Make Great Public
Schools:
Celebrate
National Teacher
Day on May 7
O
n National Teacher Day, May 7
this year, thousands of communities
take time to honor local educators and
acknowledge the crucial role teachers
play in making sure every student
receives a quality education.
The road to National Teacher Day
was long and winding. Around 1944
Arkansasteacher Mattye Whyte
Woodridge began corresponding with
political and education leaders about the
need for a national day to honor teachers.
Woodbridge wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt,
who in 1953 persuaded the 81st Congress
to proclaim a National Teacher Day.
NEA, along with its Kansas and
Indiana state affiliates and the Dodge
City (Kansas) Local, lobbied Congress
to create a national day to celebrate
teachers. Congress declared March 7,
1980, as National Teacher Day for
that year only. NEA and its affiliates
continued to observe National Teacher
Day in March until 1985, when the
NEA Representative Assembly voted
to change the event to Tuesday of the
first full week of May.
To help members and communities
prepare for National Teacher Day, visit
www.nea.org/grants/1359.htm for ideas
and activities, a sample news release and
proclamation, quotes about teaching,
artwork and more.
cover story
Prior to the State of the State, educators
and fellow Ohio workers rallied against the
governor’s budget and education policies.
Broken promises
“The governor promised poor districts
would get more state funding while wealthy
districts would get less,” Sylvania teacher
Dan Greenberg said, “but that was an
empty promise. The Kasich administration
knew rich districts would get a greater
increase in state funding than poor districts.
How does that help our kids?”
Governor Kasich’s budget proposal shortchanges students
and schools
G
Governor John Kasich’s two-year budget doesn’t
restore the $1.8 billion he cut from public schools
two years ago, and 60 percent of Ohio’s school
districts will get no increase at all. The budget
provides only $68 million more for Ohio’s public
universities and colleges, a tiny fraction of
$440 million cut two years ago.
overnor Kasich and Ohio legislators must be held
accountable for providing the resources so that
all students can succeed, not just charter schools
and private schools supported by vouchers,”
said OEA President Patricia Frost-Brooks. “We are all
accountable for student success—teachers, students, parents
and elected officials.”
This budget shortchanges students while handing out $4.3 billion in new income tax cuts—
mostly to wealthy Ohioans. Kasich’s earlier
education cuts have already forced public
schools to seek $1.1 billion in new local
operating levies in the past two years, relying
more than ever on local property taxes.
in new school spending, but that doesn’t cover the
$1.8 billion in funding cuts during his last budget.
District by district, there is no relief for the majority of
school districts. In all, 382 of Ohio’s 612 school districts
get no increase in funding, making permanent the horrific
public school cuts from the last two-year budget cycle.
Basic state aid falls from $5,723 to $5,000 per student.
Fair funding for rich and poor districts and full
funding for all-day Kindergarten are worthy
goals in this budget. But the reality is that
new income tax cuts and a 12.8 percent cut in
basic funding per pupil mean that more than
80 percent of Ohio’s poorest districts will get no
increase, making fair funding impossible and
putting an expansion of all-day Kindergarten out
of reach for most districts.
Education Cuts: Kasich’s plan promised $1.2 billion
➤ Continued
Besides, the Kasich budget sends more taxpayer
dollars to private schools, with new aid for failing
charter schools and a dramatic expansion of
Ohio’s voucher program. Diverting money to
these programs hurts the 90 percent of Ohio
students
attending traditional public schools.
13
photos © 2013 Brent Turner, BLT Productions, Inc.
Tax Shifts: Kasich’s budget priori-
tizes income tax cuts for the wealthy,
but adds sales taxes that hurt the
poor and middle class. His proposal
includes a 20 percent income tax cut
over 3 years and a 50 percent reduction in taxes for most small businesses.
This income tax reduction will equate
to approximately $4.3 billion less in
revenue to the state, resulting in less
revenue to support key programs
like education. Budget cuts to public
schools have forced local districts
to propose about $1.1 billion in new
property and income tax levies for
schools since May 2011. Most of those
levies failed, but the reduction in state
aid leaves school districts over-reliant
on local property taxes.
Student Focus: Kasich’s plan
fails to recognize what students need
for the foundation of their education.
Without this focus, students will
receive different qualities of school
programs, depending on the availability of local resources where they live.
Proposed income-tax cuts,
sales-tax changes would
favor wealthier Ohioans.
Average cut for
top 1 percent
$10,369
Average cut for
next 4 percent
$1,524
Average increase for
lowest 20 percent
$63
Inequity: Across the state, threequarters of a million students attend
school districts that will receive no
additional funds from the state. About
400,000 of these students attend the
poorest school districts in the state.
In previewing the budget, Kasich said
if you’re a low-wealth district you’ll
get more money. In reality, over
80 percent of Ohio’s poorest districts
would get no additional state support
in 2014. High poverty, rural districts
would receive an overall increase
of 1.2 percent over the biennium.
Wealthy, suburban districts—though
they depend less on state aid—would
get 4.6 percent increases. Ultimately,
under Kasich’s plan, the school districts with the least capacity to generate funds locally are hurt.
Vouchers and Charters:
Kasich’s proposal would increase
funding for charter schools and begin
opening the floodgates for universal
statewide vouchers for private school
students. The governor’s new voucher
program, funded through public
lottery profits, would allow private
school students from families with
family income below 200 percent of
the federal poverty level ($46,100 for a
family of four) to receive a voucher. In
FY 2014, the program would start with
students entering Kindergarten. Then
it would expand to cover first graders the following year, with further
expansion every year. Additionally,
there would be an eligibility expansion
of the Ed Choice Voucher program to
students in grades K-3 if their school is
not graded a “C” or above on the early
literacy component of the report card.
Ohio’s highest ranked schools would
lose funding to vouchers and charter
schools, despite little or no evidence
that charters or vouchers improve the
chance for student success.
OEA opposes voucher programs that
use taxpayer money to pay private
school tuition and expanding charter
schools that have failed to live up to
their promises. Scarce resources should
be used to fund public schools, still
reeling from massive cuts in the last
budget, where more than 90 percent of
Ohio’s students are educated.
Kasich Plan—By Type of School District
Number No funding
Large percentages of poor rural and small school districts receive no
of
increase
funding increase, while more than half of urban/suburban districts districts FY 14 & FY 15
with higher median income and low poverty receive increases. Source: OEA Education Policy Research and Member Advocacy
Rural/Agricultural—high poverty, low median income 97 73 (75.3%)
Rural/Agricultural—small student population, low poverty, low to moderate median income 161 133 (82.6%)
Rural/Small Town—moderate to high median income 81 66 (81.5%)
Urban—low median income, high poverty 102 23 (22.5%)
Major Urban—very high poverty 15
3
(20.0%)
Urban/Suburban—high median income 107 48 (44.9%)
Urban/Suburban—very high median income, very low poverty 46 19 (41.3%)
House Bill 59
Governor Kasich announced the
framework for his FY 2014-2015 state
biennial budget on February 4.
The nearly $63 billion budget was
formally introduced February 12 as
House Bill 59 in the Ohio House of
Representatives.
Governor Kasich used his third State
of the State address held in Lima on
February 19 to promote his new
school funding proposal, a plan he
has claimed boosts overall funding
for K-12 education by $1.2 billion over
two years.
Prior to the State of the State, educators and fellow Ohio workers rallied
outside Veterans Memorial Civic
Center against the governor’s proposed budget and education policies.
OEA member Dan Greenberg
(Sylvania) said Kasich’s plans are
full of empty promises.
“Even with his current budget, our
kids’ classrooms in our local public
schools are receiving less money
than before John Kasich became the
governor,” Greenberg said. “The
governor promised more districts to
get more state funding, while wealthy
districts would get less. This is an
empty promise.
“The fact is, the governor’s budget
does not do enough to help working and middle-class Ohioans. The
budget and agenda are filled with
empty promises that will continue to
hurt middle class families. Instead of
short-term, partisan priorities, Governor Kasich should focus on long-term
solutions for Ohio that strengthen our
economy and prioritize schools.”
Throughout March, OEA presented
testimony on House Bill 59 in the full
House Finance and Appropriations
Committee. OEA outlined its positions on various issues for legislators
who are not on subcommittees focusing on education.
At press time for Ohio Schools magazine,
HB 59 was pending in the House
Finance and Appropriations Committee.
OEA anticipates that the House Finance
and Appropriations Committee will
accept a substitute bill during the week
of April 8. The budget is mandated to be balanced
and complete not later than June 30.
Learn more about the
state budget debate
OEA has solid resources on the state
budget debate. You can find out more:
OEA Political Action Center
www.ohea.org/politicalaction
Ohio school funding information
www.ohea.org/school-funding
OEA Talking Points on Kasich’s budget
www.ohea.org/Document/Get/27163
OEA Legislative Watch
www.ohea.org/legislative-watch-archive
Brian Anders had a busy day as Governor John Kasich prepared to deliver
his State of the State speech in Lima. Anders, now in his 11th year of teaching,
works as a music teacher in Lima’s elementary schools. After school, he met in
downtown Lima with state legislators to make the case for adequate school funding. Then it was time to head out to Elida, where he is a member of the Board of
Education. Unfortunately, Anders said, the board’s business that night was trying
to find $500,000 in new cuts to school budgets.
“If our levy doesn’t pass in May, we’re afraid that there will be additional cuts
beyond that,” Anders said. On the horizon are cuts that will mean going back to
half-day kindergarten from all-day, higher fees to participate in school activities,
increased student fees, health insurance cost increases for faculty and staff, lower
discretionary funds for school principals and staff cuts through attrition, Anders
said. “We built a new Elida high school four years ago, and it’s gorgeous,” Anders
said. “Now, the trick is finding money for operating funds—not for the costs of
Brian Anders
operating the new building—but for teachers and staff.”
Music teacher (Lima)
When she learned that Governor Kasich’s proposed budget included the elimination of
staffing ratios, Speech/Language Pathologist Michele Pratt (Athens) had to speak up
for her students by offering testimony on the budget.
Since 1988, when she began her work in Meigs County, the ratio of Speech/Language
Pathologists (SLPs) to students has been the current 1 to 2,000 in the Average Daily
Membership—an insufficient number to serve students in need of assistance for
expressing their wants and needs and understanding oral language.
“Eliminating these staffing ratios will make it even more challenging to provide services to
children with significant needs, an outcome that is not only unfair, but also unacceptable,”
Pratt said.
She explained that SLP services are provided through Individualized Education Plans
(IEPs) and that teachers rely on SLPs to help them meet students’ needs in the classroom
based on disability. “We are legally charged with preparing these students for success
while in school and looking forward to their adult lives,” Pratt said.
The veteran SLP said her personal goal is to connect with each child in her caseload to
Michele Pratt, Speech/Language
gain a rapport with them so that they can work together to address the written goals. “I
want to provide the best lessons I can to help my students know that they can be success- Pathologist (Athens)
ful in the classroom or other school environment, and feel confident in their abilities.”
with student Leo Riley
Legislative Update
Senate passes bill to add needed
flexibility to Third Grade Reading
Guarantee teacher qualifications
O
n February 27, the Ohio Senate voted 30-1 to pass Senate Bill 21 dealing with
qualifications required for teachers of students on a reading improvement plan
under the Third Grade Reading Guarantee. The bill makes needed changes to the
current law that OEA views as inflexible and not set up to help schools and teachers
meet the needs of struggling readers. OEA worked to make improvements to the law and testified before the Senate
Education Committee on the need for improvements to Senate Bill 21. Additionally,
OEA members sent more than 1,000 messages to legislators calling for additional
flexibility in the law. This work was effective in producing a much-improved bill
that passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support.
As introduced, the bill removed the requirement that teachers be “actively
engaged in the reading instruction of students for the previous three years.” A number of amendments were added in Senate Education Committee to
provide additional flexibility. The following changes were made to the bill:
n Removes the qualification that the teacher was rated “above value-added” in
reading. This was replaced with “the teacher is an effective reading instructor
as determined by criteria established by the Department.”
n Clarifies the qualification option that the teacher has completed a program
included on a list of scientifically research-based reading instruction programs.
This option qualifies for the 2013-14 school year and each year thereafter.
Previously, the provision required a credential that may have excluded some
programs and only applied to the next school year.
n An amendment was added that states that if a district cannot furnish the number
of teachers who satisfy one or more of the qualifications to work with third grade
students during the 2013-14 school year, a waiver will be granted upon passage
of a resolution by the local school board and submitted to the Department of
Education. The department may not reject the plan.
n Exempts students with cognitive disabilities from reading assessments and other
provisions of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee.
n Students may not circumvent retention requirements by not taking the
achievement tests. Current waivers for legitimate absences remain in place.
n An emergency clause was added to the bill so that it will become law
when and if passed by the House and signed by the governor.
Top Kasich
aide named
superintendent of
public
instruction
R
ichard Ross, director of
the Governor’s Office of
21st Century Education, was
named Ohio’s 37th superintendent of public instruction on
March 12. He replaced Acting
Superintendent of Public
Instruction Michael Sawyers,
who was one of two finalists
for the post.
Ross served for 20 years
as Reynoldsburg City Schools
superintendent before retiring
in 2008.
He previously served as
superintendent at Bryan City
and Ottawa-Glandorf Local
(Putnam), was an instructor
at Bowling Green State
University and a high school
principal at Jonathan Alder
Local (Madison).
Attend OEA Member Lobby Days
— Make your voice heard!
OEA members and Ohio’s public schools
face critical challenges during this General
Assembly. The Governor recently released
his biennial budget proposal, which includes
a new school funding formula, the statewide
expansion of vouchers and a massive income
tax cut that mostly benefits wealthy Ohioans
and drains $4.3 billion from much-needed
state revenue.
Now more than ever you must make sure your
voice is heard! Member Lobby Days provide
an opportunity to meet with state legislators to
discuss key issues that impact you directly.
Join your colleagues for these OEA Member
Lobby Days:
Tuesday, April 16
Tuesday, April 30
Tuesday, May 14
Tuesday, June 11
Join your colleagues at the OEA Headquarters’
Media Center, located at 225 E. Broad Street in
Columbus, at 9 a.m. for an hour-long briefing.
Keep in mind that you need to contact your legislator to schedule a meeting prior to the lobby
day you plan to attend.
To RSVP for any of the lobby day dates, please
email Julie Parsley at [email protected]. For
more information, contact OEA Government
Relations at 1 800 282 1500.
subject Matter
Summer Academy Schools and Courses
Association Leadership School
Members seeking practical knowledge and leadership skills for strengthening the
local association as the chief advocate for education employees and for school
quality may choose from three courses. Each course consists of 90-minute sessions
of leadership training, including organizing the local for strength and membership
retention. Whether you are a new or experienced association representative or a
current or prospective leader in your local, the courses offer knowledge, skills and
strategies for the leadership roles you have chosen.
Course 1: Officers Leadership Development
Designed for newly-elected and aspiring association leaders for the offices of
Online Registration begins May 1:
http://oeasummeracademy.ohea.org
secretary, treasurer, vice-president and president, this course is imperative for
local leaders to learn the basic skills, fundamentals and strategies to build and
Academy Timeline
maintain an effective local association.
Monday, August 5
■ OEA 101/NEA 101/Laying the Foundation
7:30 a.m.—9:30 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast
■ Organizing and Retaining Members
9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Welcome
■ The Basics of an Effective Meeting
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Keynote Speaker
■ Electives
10:45 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. Break
11:05 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Session 1
■ Practical Tips for Officers and Leadership
12:30 p.m. – 1:25 p.m. Lunch
■ Political Action
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Session 2
■ Communications and Public Relations
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Session 3
■ Best Practices/Wrap-Up
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ESP Reception
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Networking
7:00 p.m. Dinner
8:00 p.m. Networking, DJ, OEA’s Got Talent FCPE Fund-Raiser
Tuesday, August 6
7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. ESP Breakfast
7:30 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Session 4 - Electives
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Session 5
12:20 p.m. - 1:20 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Session 6
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Member Benefits
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. FCPE Reception
Dinner On your Own
Wednesday, August 7
7:00 a.m. – 8:20 a.m. Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. Session 7
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Session 8
11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Break
(Check out – Stow luggage)
11:15 a.m. – 11:50 p.m. Speakers, Academy
Evaluation
12:00 p.m. Academy Ends
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available for:
■First-time Summer Academy (Leadership
Academy) participants
Contact your District Association or LRC.
Emerging Leaders
Thinking about getting involved in your association?
Know anyone else who is? Contact your LRC for
information about our by “invitation only” Emerging
Leaders Sessions.
Course 2: Advanced Member Advocacy for Experienced Association
Representatives
■ Be an Advocate
■ Nuts and Bolts of Grievance Processing
■ Practice and Lead Up for Let’s Play
■ Electives
■ Let’s Play
■ Keeping Employees Out of Trouble
■ FCPE—The Importance of Political Involvement
Course 3: Member Advocacy and Organizing for Beginners
This session is exclusively for individuals in their first three years serving as a
Building or Association Representative.
Through exciting instruction, simulation and hands-on activities, novice Building
or Association Representatives will increase their awareness of the importance
of communications within their buildings and the local, and will develop their
abilities and knowledge as leaders and member advocates!
■ True Colors
■ Association Representative Tool Box
■ Gripe or Grievance?
■ Electives
■ Organizing for Improvement
■ The Power of Politics
■ Roundtable Discussion
Bargaining School
This school offers two courses from which participants may choose, including
content and activities appropriate to the contemporary bargaining climate.
Bargaining Fundamentals is a primer for members who have not participated
in bargaining but wish to be prepared to serve on collective
bargaining teams or committees. Bargaining Teacher
Evaluation and RIF is designed to offer the knowledge,
skills and strategies necessary for bargaining fair and
effective teacher evaluation systems that support the
professional development of teachers and protects them
from arbitrary and capricious evaluations.
Course 1: Fundamentals of Collective Bargaining
■ Introduction to Collective Bargaining
■ Introduction to ORC 4117
■ Collective Bargaining Roles and Communications
■ Electives
■ Alternative Forms of Collective Bargaining
■ Basics of Health Insurance
■ Basic School District Finance
■ Organizing for Power
Course 2: Bargaining Teacher Evaluation and RIF
■ OTES
Review
■ Hands-on Approach to Developing Professional
Growth and Improvement Plans, Self-Assessment
Guides and Professional Portfolios for Members
■ Hands-on Approach to Student Growth Measures
and SLO Fundamentals (2 session block)
■ Electives
■ Basics of Bargaining Teacher Evaluation
■ Bargaining Teacher Evaluation into YOUR Contract
Communication, Organizing and
Political Action School
Change and challenge rule Ohio schools and colleges.
With less funding, larger class sizes and cutbacks in
student opportunities, OEA members would benefit from
understanding the origin of attacks on our profession and
how to use proven tools to fight back. The School of
Communications, Organizing and Political Action provides
strategies, messages and best practices for collective action.
Together, we can turn adversity into power, just as we did
in our fight to repeal Senate Bill 5 in 2011.
Our focus will include recent legislation, the Ohio budget,
teacher evaluation, the Third Grade Reading Guarantee,
value-added testing and other challenges. Teams of local
leaders and activists should attend. You will learn about
messaging, organizing and mobilizing members and the
community to strengthen your bargaining hand and win
school levies and other elections.
Course 1: Messages and Methods to Unify, Organize
and Mobilize Local Associations
■ Understanding the Ohio Budget and Other
New Education Policies—How They Affect You
and What You Can Do About It.
■ Your Profession, Your Union, Your School, Your
Community: Connecting the Dots
■ Growing Activists Begins With Relationships:
Making the Ask One by One
■ Electives
■ Member
Messengers Part I: Powerful Messages
Frame Our Issues
■ Member Messengers Part II: Keys to Effective Media
Interviews
■ Best Research-Based Practices for Fund-Raising: a New
Approach for the OEA/NEA Fund for Children and
Public Education (FCPE)
■ Connecting Education Policy and Ohio’s Politics—
Looking ahead to 2014
Professional Advocacy School
The OEA considers advocacy on professional issues to be
crucial to the success of public education, the preparation
of students for successful careers and citizenship, and the
advancement of the education professions. The School
consists of two courses, each offering seven sessions with an
additional session of electives. Course 1: Strengthening Leadership Capacity to
Implement the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
This course is designed to provide members with the tools
and resources they will need to effectively prepare for the
implementation of the Common Core State Standards.
■ Leading the Profession
■ Ohio’s New Learning Standards: K-12 Mathematics
(2 session block)
■ Ohio’s New Learning Standards: K-12 English
Language Arts (2 session block)
■ Electives
■ Resources for Implementing the CCSS
■ PARCC Assessments
■ Networking for Success
■ Organizing and Mobilizing around Professional
Concerns and Aspirations
Course 2: Critical Issues
The Professional Advocacy School spotlights seven
critical topics for educators in Ohio. While some choices
are tailored for specific teachers, such as the Third Grade
Reading Guarantee, other topics apply to the entire
community of Ohio educators. The ninety-minute sessions
will engage participants in vital discussion and activities
that can potentially change education in Ohio.
■ The Third Grade Reading Guarantee
■ Digital Learning – My Classroom and My Career
■ Seclusion, Restraint and Positive Behavior Intervention
and Supports
■ Electives
■ Violence and School Safety
■ Cultural Perspectives for Classroom Communities
■ Politics and the Professional Teaching Career
■ Organizing and Mobilizing around Professional
Concerns and Aspirations
Ohio Schools april 2013 19
retirement systems update
James McGreevy
and Bob Stein are
seeking re-election
for retired seats on
the STRS Board.
Retired teachers
advocate for pensions
Why the re-election of experienced members
to the STRS Board is important
T
he benefits provided by the State Teachers Retirement
System of Ohio (STRS Ohio) represent economic security
in retirement for Ohio’s teachers. The media, public officials
and the public often attack these public employee pension
benefits. And, in recent years, the security of these benefits has
been threatened by a variety of economic and demographic
concerns.
At a time when ensuring secure and lasting pension benefits and access to quality health care is more critical than ever
before, the need for strong and responsible members to serve
on the STRS Board is clear. This month, STRS will conduct an
election for two retired member seats on the STRS Retirement
Board. Retired STRS members eligible to vote in the election
will receive ballots and voting information in early April. Votes
can be cast by mail, phone or online. The deadline for voting
is May 6.
STRS is governed by a Retirement Board consisting
of five elected contributing teacher members, two
elected retired teacher members, an investment
expert appointed by the governor, an investment
expert appointed jointly by the speaker of the
House and the Senate president, an investment
expert designated by the treasurer of state, and
the superintendent of public instruction or his
designated investment expert. Members of the
retirement system elect teacher members to a fouryear term. Retirees receiving benefits from STRS
Ohio elect retired teacher members to a four-year
term. Board members serve without compensation
other than actual, necessary expenses. The OEA
and the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) have
jointly recommended two qualified candidates for
this important role—OEA-Retired member James
McGreevy and Bob Stein.
McGreevy, a retired teacher from Zanesville and former
member of the OEA Board of Directors, was elected to the
STRS Board in 2009. He served as Chair of the Board in
2011-12.
During his tenure on the Board, McGreevy has provided
thoughtful, prudent leadership. As a member of the STRS
Board, McGreevy’s extensive governance experience helped
him to serve members during the critical period prior to
passage of the pension reform legislation.
“The struggle to preserve the STRS defined benefit pension
came to a successful conclusion with the passage of SB 342, but
the work to provide continued financial security for our retirees
is an ongoing process,” McGreevy says. “Our members need
to be confident in the availability of a quality, affordable health
care benefit that can be sustained over the coming decades.
“To support pension and health care, STRS investments
must be managed efficiently and effectively, and the system
must continue its efforts to expend assets prudently,” says
McGreevy. “I am committed to working with the Board, staff,
and all stakeholder groups to build on our past successes and
secure the future for current and new retirees.”
Stein is a retired teacher from Strongsville. He was elected
to the STRS Board in 2009. In addition to 27 years of teaching,
Stein has a broad investment and business experience that
includes trading currencies, futures and other instruments.
Stein says, “Only investment returns can stabilize, and
then improve, benefits while still maintaining STRS as a costeffective pension plan into the future. Only board members can
vote, make motions or direct conversation at board meetings;
and only board members can ask the investment consultants to
compile research on investment topics. “Consultants don't answer questions that board members
don't know to ask,” he explains. “Board members also need to
be able to understand the answers they get and evaluate what
is best for STRS when advisors disagree.”
McGreevy and Stein have the training and experience
needed to deal with the critical issues confronting STRS members—investments, pensions and health care issues. They have
been strong, effective advocates for fellow educators in the
important role of an STRS Board member.
During their first term on the STRS Board, McGreevy and
Stein supported the adoption of a solvency improvement plan
that protects the defined benefit pension, fought to protect
future COLA payments for retirees, worked to extend the life of
a quality, affordable health care program for retirees,continued
prudent fiscal management and control of expenses, worked
collaboratively with all STRS stakeholders, and supported
continued improvement of internal controls and appropriate
risk management.
The two candidates are committed to continuing to serve
as informed and experienced members of the STRS Board who
focus on a commitment to provide secure and lasting pension
benefits and access to quality health care.
McGreevy and Stein know that STRS cooperation, both
internally and with stakeholder groups, has been key to STRS
successes under the board on which they have served.
More information is available at www.bobstein.us.
OEA endorsed candidate Carol Correthers has been re-elected to the STRS Board.
Carol Correthers wins STRS seat unopposed:
No STRS Board election needed for contributing seat
There will be no election for the contributing (active) seat on the STRS Board this year as only
one candidate qualified for the ballot. Carol Correthers, a special education teacher in Lorain and
a current member of the STRS Board, was the only candidate to submit nomination petitions for
the position. State law allows there to be no formal election for a Board seat when there is not a
contested race. OEA would like to thank members who circulated or signed a petition and congratulate Correthers on winning another term on the STRS Board.
STRS Board approves changes to Defined
Contribution and Combined Plans
The STRS Board has voted to approve
several changes that will affect members enrolled in the Defined Contribution (DC) Plan and the Combined Plan.
These changes include an increase in
what is known as the “mitigating rate.”
This rate is the portion of the employer
contribution that is used to help pay off
the unfunded liability of the Defined
Benefit (DB) Pension Plan. The STRS
Board has discretion to set this rate, as
determined by the Board’s actuary, to
offset the financial impact of DC participation. Beginning July 1, 2013, the
mitigating rate will increase from the
current 3.5 percent of pay to 4.5 percent.
This amount comes from the 14 percent
of pay contributed by the employer.
Due to the passage of Senate Bill 342
last year, beginning July 1, 2013, all
STRS enrollees will see employee
contributions increase from 10 percent
to 11 percent. For members in the DC
plan, the additional one percent goes
into their account. The increase in the
mitigating rate will keep the total contribution to the account the same (20.5
percent). For those enrolled in the combined plan, the one percent contribution
increase will go towards paying for the
defined benefit portion of the benefit,
rather than their DC account.
The Board also voted to make changes
to the investment options available under the DC and Combined Plans. Eight
new investment choices were added, including a number of “target date” funds
where asset allocations change over
time to match an anticipated retirement
date. Investment fees were lowered on
the majority of investment options.
For new enrollees in the DC Plan, the
Board also approved a change to the
vesting period for employer contributions. For those who enroll after July 1,
2013,
employer contributions will vest
20 percent per year—fully vested after
five years. Full vesting of employer
contributions is after one year for those
currently enrolled in the DC Plan.
A final change made by the Board deals
with the employer’s contribution for
re-employed retirees. Those who are
retired through a state retirement system
and return to work in a position covered
by STRS contribute to an annuity rather
than a pension benefit. Beginning July 1,
2013, there will be no employer matching funds to the annuity. The employer’s
contribution will be used to pay down
the unfunded liability of the pension
plan. Any matching funds accrued prior
to this date will remain credited to the
individual’s annuity.
STRS Health Care Program shows improved
funding status
At the February meeting of the STRS
Board, the system’s actuarial consultant
firm presented an actuarial valuation
of the STRS health care plan. The report
showed a tremendous increase in
solvency of the health care fund. The
fund is now projected to be solvent
until 2060 using an investment return
assumption of 6.5 percent. This is an
increase of 21 years of solvency from the
last valuation. When an assumed rate of
return of 7.75 percent is used, the plan
is projected to be solvent indefinitely
and fully funded in less than 30 years.
The improved long-term funding of the
health care plan was a result primarily of positive investment returns (12.9
percent) and decreased plan costs.
A number of assumptions are used in
projecting plan solvency, including
investment returns, payroll growth and
medical inflation. As actual results fluctuate, so too does the projected solvency
of the health care plan. The STRS Board
will continue to monitor and make
changes to the health care plan.
Cost increasing for purchased service credit
Passage of pension legislation has resulted in a number of changes to the price
of purchasing service credit through the
public pension systems. Generally, the
price to members purchasing many types
of credit will increase to more accurately
reflect the true actuarial costs. Otherwise,
other members of the retirement system
are, in essence, subsidizing those who
purchase credit at reduced rates.
For OPERS, there is a narrow window of
time before pricing changes take effect.
OPERS members can make purchases
at the current rates if they initiate the
transaction prior to July 7, 2013. They will
have until July 7, 2018 to complete the
purchase before the cost is recalculated.
After this period, OPERS members would
be required to pay the full actuarial costs
for several types of credit including outof-state service and leaves of absence.
For STRS, members will pay the full
projected actuarial cost of purchased
service credit effective January 1, 2014.
This could result in costs two-to-four
times higher than under the current rates.
For service credit certified with STRS by
December 31, 2013, members will have
until June 30, 2014, to purchase the credit
at current cost. Members currently
purchasing under a payroll deduction
plan can continue to complete their
payoff at their current rate.
For SERS, an employee is required to pay
both the employee and employer contributions plus interest to purchase Leave
of Absence service credit. Service credit
may be purchased for multiple leaves of
absence. Total years purchased cannot
exceed five years, and the maximum
amount of service that may be purchased
for a period of leave is two years.
If you have questions about purchasing
service credit, contact the retirement
system of which you are a member.
Ohio Schools april 2013 21
ASSOCIATION
Becky Higgins
William Leibensperger
Candidate for OEA President
Candidate for OEA President
Becky Higgins is a first-grade teacher
in the Copley-Fairlawn City Schools
working for “Innovative Leadership for
Tomorrow’s OEA.”
I am running for this office because I believe
in One OEA. We are women and men, gay
and straight, bus drivers and teachers. We are
of all races and ethnicities.
We are higher education
faculty. We are teachers
and staff of the developmentally disabled. We
are administrative
assistants, librarians,
cooks, custodians and
more. We are Democrats,
Republicans and Independents. We cannot
identify with only one political party and be
true to the values of inclusiveness of all voices
and respect for divergent views. We support
public education and organized labor; that is
what we expect in candidates we support and
officials who are elected. We need to work
with everyone, and our inherent diversity
is our strength in doing so. Together we will
create a transformed OEA that is different
from what it has been and stronger than ever
before: An OEA that has built on its strengths
in the areas of collective bargaining, contract
enforcement,and lobbying to one that protects
its members in an environment of perpetual
change. We must be an OEA that leads the
way in the cause of public education and is
recognized as the experts in areas of professional development, student achievement,
and educational policy.
(Copley TA)
in Columbus.
OEA Spring 2013
Representative
Assembly
scheduled
May 10-11
T
he Spring OEA
Representative
Assembly will be
held at Veterans
Memorial in Columbus on
Friday and Saturday,
May 10-11, 2013.
At the Spring RA, delegates
will elect an OEA President,
OEA Vice President, two
NEA Directors and two
Members At-Large
(NEA Director Alternate).
Detailed information
for delegates is available
on the OEA website,
www.ohea.org.
She believes that the
key to a better future for
Ohio’s educators is to
combine the potential
of OEA’s large, diverse,
talented membership
with responsible,
dedicated leadership
Higgins recognizes that the challenge of
OEA office is to provide strong leadership
at the state level while maximizing the
impact of leaders throughout the state.
She will work to . . .
n mobilize OEA’s members as a force
to advance the profession;
n provide district and local leaders with
the tools they need to plan and execute
their plans effectively;
n engage locals--particularly those not
presently involved--in the work of the
Association;
n meet emerging leaders on their own turf
to show them how to get involved in
leadership;
n work with other labor leaders
throughout the state to develop
awareness of each other’s issues; and
n seek ways to make local representation
and leadership more effective.
She has been President of the Copley Teachers’ Association, a Unit Representative and
a District President. She is a member of the
OEA-FCPE State Council, a member of
OEA’s Organizing Strategy Core Function
Committee and chairperson of District
Screening Council NE-3. As a local president, Higgins negotiated and enforced
contracts, represented her members in the
community, and unified a local of independent-minded members. As a district
president during the Senate Bill 5 crisis in
2011, she built a strong base of support for
collective bargaining in northeastern Ohio,
built coalitions with other labor leaders in
the area, and worked with leaders around
the state to organize an effective statewide
defense of collective bargaining rights.
She offers a proven record of leadership at
the local and district level, and she plans
to bring that leadership ability to the OEA
presidency.
22
Visit her website,
beckyhiggins4oeapresident.wordpress.com,
for her positions on a wide variety of issues
affecting OEA members.
(South-Western EA)
Our political strength must grow through
grassroots organizing that includes fundraising, candidate recruitment, campaigns, and
communication. We must continue and grow
our Member Candidate Training, so that
we have members holding elected offices in
every part of the state and at every level of
government. We must increase participation
in FCPE throughout the state so that every
single member is invited to participate. We
must continue to grow a grassroots network
where OEA members play a prominent role
in every campaign for House and Senate and
State School Board, as well as other races.
I love this union. I love what we stand for,
who we are both individually and collectively, and the dream of what we can become.
I have prepared for this job for many years,
learning the complexities of our own organization and of other institutions, building
relationships both internally and externally,
developing skills and expertise in leadership
and organizational development, and creating and refining a vision of a more powerful
and inclusive OEA. I am ready for the challenge of leading the largest union in the state
and committed to serving our members.
Visit me at www.bill4oneoea.com/ and
www.facebook.com/bill4oneoea.
Scott DiMauro
Jeff Rhodes
Brian McConnell
Candidate for OEA Vice President
Candidate for OEA Vice President
Candidate for NEA Director #3
For the past ten years, I have been a
Technology Education teacher at North
Royalton High School. I have also worked
for Head Start as a
summer intervention
supervisor; developed
and taught career
exploration camps;
and driven a bus to
pay for my undergraduate degree at
Kent State. I have
dedicated my time and efforts for the last
four years to the Ohio Education Association and North Eastern Ohio Education
Association (NEOEA) Board of Directors.
I sit on the President’s Cabinet, function as
the board liaison for the Local Leadership
and Development (LD&T) Core Function
Committee (CFC), and am a member of
the Information Systems board committee.
I have been vice-chair to the new board
member orientation committee and was on
the PSU/OASU ad-hock bargaining committee during the previous two contracts.
During this time I received my certifications in both Public Pension and Public
Employee Healthcare Management.
Brian McConnell has been teaching
music for the past 22 years and is
currently the Vocal Music Director
at Warrensville
Heights High
School in the
Warrensville
Heights City
School District.
(Worthington EA)
Scott DiMauro is a 22-year veteran
educator with the Worthington Schools.
He currently teaches social studies at
Worthington
Kilbourne High
School while serving
as President of
Central OEA/NEA
and Chairperson of
the NEA Standing
Committee on
Legislation. He
has served in a variety of leadership
positions, including as full-time local
president, a member of his local
bargaining team, Central OEA Political
Action Coordinator and Leadership
Development Chair, a member of
the OEA Fund for Children and
Public Education State Council,
Chairperson of the Central Ohio
Regional Coordinating Council, and
longtime delegate to the OEA and NEA
Representative Assemblies. DiMauro
was one of three labor representatives
on the Ohio School Employees Health
Care Board.
Platform
I am running for OEA Vice President
because I am inspired by all the
members and students we serve
across Ohio. We have an ongoing
responsibility to protect and promote
great public schools for every student.
(North Royalton EA)
Platform
(Warrensville EA)
McConnell is
currently the
Recording
Secretary of the North Eastern Ohio
Education Association. His association
experience includes serving on the
NEOEA Board of Directors, Chairman
of the Public Relations Committee,
OEA Convention and Planning
Committee, and the FCPE State
Council. He is the Past President
and Vice President of the Warrensville
Education Association and has served
on the WEA bargaining team.
Platform
I am proud to be a member of OEA
where all education employees work
together to elect education friendly
candidates regardless of their party
affiliation. We must remember that
our work is far from over. We must
continue to work together to build
partnerships promoting education
and embrace any opportunity to meet
with stakeholders in public education.
My platform will be centered around OEA
being a more educator led organization,
with a focus on three priorities:
1.INCREASE OUR PRESENCE AT COLLEGES
AND UNIVERSITIES:
Our best avenue for organizing new
To do this, we first must organize in
All children deserve access to a
members is through the college and
ways we’ve never organized before:
quality public education, preschool
university
OEA
student
organizations.
to elect pro-public education candidates
through college. The preparation of
We need to get these future educators
to office, pass levies, grow our
involved before they enter the profession.
students for the 21st Century not only
membership, and build support for
These young adults want to be a part of
positively impacts the economy, but
public education in our communities.
our vocation, and we should use every
also fuels a competitive society.
opportunity to get our message out early
Second, we need to empower ourselves
My experience as a teacher, local
and often.
to regain control of our profession
leader and district officer has afforded
2.ELECT OUR MEMBERS TO SCHOOL BOARDS:
and stop politicians in Columbus and
me opportunities to hear the needs,
Organize and promote “Run for Your
Washington from undercutting the
concerns and ideas of members on
Local
School
Board”
training
programs
work we do.
every level. I can assure you that I will
to get our teachers elected at the district
Finally, we must advocate for people
use my voice to carry our message
level. If we want to fight the extreme
and policies that ensure that every
agendas we are starting to see in EVERY
to Washington, D. C.
district, we need to be “at the table” in a
student receives a great public
management capacity.
education. With public education
facing greater threats than ever, our
3.INCREASE MEMBER PARTICIPATION:
advocacy is critical not only for the
We urgently need to increase non-active
member participation by growing
members and students we serve, but
education-related opportunities. Among
for our democracy itself.
the ways we can accomplish this are by
expanding the Bargaining and Summer
Leadership conferences to have a broader
educational and teaching tone, and offering educator-led classroom management
instruction, best practices in teaching, and
23
teacher-led seminars
for every subject.
Gretchen Washington
Tammy Koontz
Elton Burrus
Candidate for NEA Director #4
Candidate for Board of Directors
At-Large (NEA Director Alternate)
Candidate for Board of Directors
At-Large (NEA Director Alternate)
Tammy Koontz has been an
Administrative Office Technology
Instructor at Lebanon Correctional
Institution for
22 years and
Secretary for
SCOPE LPDC for
four years. She
has also taught
for the Cincinnati
Public School
District for
two years. Koontz has served her
local SCOPE for 15 years in
different capacities, including
Site Representative, Building
Representative and, currently,
Department Representative.
She has served two years as an
Election Board Committee member
for National Education Association
and has attended numerous
Representative Assemblies as an
OEA Delegate. Koontz currently
serves as an OEA Board of Director
At-Large and as a member of the
Central OEA/NEA Executive Board.
Originally from New York City,
Burrus moved to Ohio by attending
Wilberforce University in 1991. He
graduated from
Wilberforce
University in
1995. Burrus
worked in the
private sector
for seven years
before becoming
a substitute
teacher in Dayton, Ohio in 2002.
He received his Masters in
Education from Antioch University
McGregor in 2008. After graduating,
Burrus began teaching kindergarten
at Dayton Boys Prep Academy. He
became active with the union by
attending the Minority Leadership
Training Program. Since then, he
has attended the Mid-Atlantic
Conference, become a BAR for his
local, become an executive board
member with his local, and is a
member of a few committees.
Platform
Platform
My goal is to educate not only our
students but our members to become politically aware about issues
that affect public education. I believe
we need to be proactive to help stop
organizations that are trying to take
away collective bargaining from
unions.
(Sycamore EA)
Gretchen Washington is a 27-year veteran
educator, currently working as a Special
Education/Inclusion teacher at Sycamore High
School where she also serves
as a building representative.
Washington has served on
the Sycamore Education
Association’s Executive
Committee, as SEA
Treasurer, and as a member
of the Negotiations
Team. She is a member of
SWOEA’s Awards Committee, and has served
as a member and past chair of SWOEA’s
Human & Civil Rights Commission, member
of the Executive Committee, and past member
of the Screening Committee. Washington has
completed two terms as a member of the OEA
Board of Directors as an At-Large member.
She has served as Chair of the New Board of
Directors Member Orientation Committee, as
a member of the Steering Committee, and as
board liaison to the Member Rights and
Protection Core Function Committee. She has
also served on the Legislative Committee as
Ohio’s representative on NEA Elections
Committee. Washington is a member of the
NEA Minority Leadership Training Cadre. She
was recently reappointed as a member of NEA’s
Representative Assembly Steering Committee.
Platform
If re-elected, I will continue to be an advocate
for educational employees and the learners that
we serve. I will fight to preserve the livelihood
of our members, and to secure a safe and professional work environment for all members.
We serve a diverse membership in the education
arena: K-12, Educational Support Professionals,
Higher Education, SCOPE, Developmental
Disabilities, Retired and Students. I will be
inclusive of all members in our diverse
association. I will take an active part in
continuing to work for the betterment of the
Ohio Education Association and its 121,000
members. I truly believe that we should, and
can, have Great Public Schools for ALL learners.
I will vigilantly encourage our legislators in
Washington to support pro-public education
legislation, and our members to take an active
part in lobbying legislators. Members can have
a powerful collective voice. More than anything,
we must all get out and actively participate in
speaking out against those legislators who attack
public education and vote for those who support
public education.
24 Ohio Schools April 2013
(SCOPE)
I firmly believe that every student
has a voice and a right to a quality
education. Although I am a state
educator, I am an educator and I
will continue to be a voice for those
of us who do not have a voice. I
will continue to educate myself and
strengthen my knowledge in all
areas of issues that plague us as
educators and to continue to bridge
the gap between the issues that
differ for those who work for the
state and for those who are public
educators by sharing information
and advocating for the rights of all
who work in the world of education.
Together we can, and together we
will.
(Dayton EA)
Proposed Amendments to the OEA Amended and
restated CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS SPRING 2013 RA
PROPOSAL 1:
To amend Bylaw 8-3(c)(5) and (c)(6) to standardize
membership eligibility requirements for appointment of OEA
Caucus members to OEA member committees. (Requires a
majority vote for passage.)
Rationale and Background
The proposed amendment provides the same standard for
selection of members from the three (3) caucuses for service
on the OEA member committees. Currently, no restrictions
are placed on the membership class for members of the Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus who are eligible
to be appointed to the OEA member committees. This change
would apply the same standard to the Women’s Caucus and
the Doris L. Allen Minority Caucus, both of which currently
restrict membership on the OEA member committees to active
or life members of the two (2) Caucuses.
Bylaw 8-3 (c). Committees.
a.Member committees shall include Core Function
Committees, Standing Committees, Special Standing
Committees, and Ad Hoc Committees.
(1) The Core Function Committees shall be: the
Collective Bargaining Core Function Committee,
the Member Rights and Protection Core Function
Committee, the Professional Efficacy Core Function
Committee, the Local Development and Training
Core Function Committee, and the Organizing
Strategy Core Function Committee.
(2) The Standing Committees shall be: the Legislative
Committee, the Resolutions Committee, and the
Convention Planning Committee.
(3) The Special Standing Committees shall be: the Audit
Committee, the Reapportionment Committee, and
the Nominations Committee.
b.Committee members shall be appointed for each Core
Function and Standing Committee by the President
from a slate of recommended names presented by the
governing body of each District Association submitted
on or before May first (1st) annually, at the ratio of 1 per
8,000 members, or major fraction thereof, of each District.
(1)By May first (1st) of each year, the Advisory
Councils of the Division of Higher Education,
Division of OEA Retired, the Ohio Student
Education Association Division, the Executive
Board of the Doris L. Allen Minority Caucus,
the Executive Committee of the State Council
of Professional Educators, the Executive Com
mittee of the Women's Caucus, the Executive
Committee of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and
Transgendered Caucus, the Chairperson of the
Education Support Professionals Department,
and the Chairperson of the MR/DD Department
shall submit a slate of recommended names of
members for consideration by the OEA President. (2) The Board of Directors shall also cause the
availability of any open committee positions to be
published in appropriate OEA communications,
which are accessible to the membership of the
affected constituency.
c. Each committee shall be composed of:
(1) At least one (1) member of each District Association
for a term of three (3) years.
(2) One (1) member from the Division of Higher
Education for a term of three (3) years.
(3) One (1) member from the Division of OEA Retired
for a term of three (3) years.
(4) One (1) member from the Ohio Student Education
Association Division for a term of one (1) year.
(5) At least one ONE (1) active or life OEA member
from the Doris L. Allen Minority Caucus for a term of
three (3) years.
(6) At least one ONE (1) active or life OEA member
from the Women's Caucus for a term of three (3)
years.
(7) One (1) member from the State Council of
Professional Educators for a term of three (3) years.
(8) One (1) Education Support Professional Department
member for a term of three (3) years.
(9) One (1) MR/DD Department Member for a term of
three (3) years.
(10) One (1) member from the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
and Trans-Gendered Caucus for a term of three (3)
years.
d.Each committee must be composed of a cross-section of
the membership, taking into consideration the OEA EEO
policy, plus age and experience, rural, suburban or urban
residency, work assignments, political and geographical
composition of the state and such other factors as may
be determined by the Board of Directors to be necessary.
The President may appoint up to three (3) additional
members to any committee, if necessary, to achieve
a desirable balance of skill, interest and demographic
representation on each committee. Committee members
should be skilled and interested in the area of emphasis
for which his or her assigned committee is responsible.
e.No one member shall serve more than two (2)
consecutive terms.
f. One-third of the members of each committee shall be
appointed annually.
g.The Resolutions Committee shall include the Ohio
members of the NEA Resolutions Committee as voting
members.
h.Each committee shall select its own chairperson as
provided herein.
i. A staff consultant and support assistance shall be
provided to each committee.
j. The committee chairperson must report the substantive
actions of each meeting to the Board of Directors either in
person or in writing.
k. The President with approval of the Board of Directors
may appoint a member of the Board of Directors to serve
as a liaison to each committee.
l. Each committee member is responsible for reporting
the substantive actions of the committee to the District
Representative Assembly.
m.The Board of Directors may remove any member who
does not adequately fulfill the duties of a member of the
committee.
n.A District may, by two-thirds (2/3) majority of its governing
body, recommend for recall a representative of that
District. Following such recommendation for recall, the
Board of Directors shall provide a just cause hearing. A
majority vote of the Board of Directors shall be required
for recall.
OEA Board of Directors Position and vote
on proposed amendment—March 16, 2013
Proposal 1 Support 51 yes; 0 no; 0 abstentions
actions
February
A
t its meeting held February 16, the OEA Board of Directors
approved the following President’s recommendations:
n The 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 Board of Directors
calendars.
n The appointment of the following individuals to the
Orientation Committee for new Board Members: Kevin
Cain-Chair, Sandra Lewis-Vice Chair, Joel Gleason, Theresa
Lemus Santos and Tammy Koontz. n Removed Michelle Wysong from the Right-to-Work
Committee.
n Accepted the resignation of Mary Jane Quaranta,
representing Higher Ed, effective immediately, from the
Local Development and Training Core Function Committee, leaving a vacancy with a term ending August 31, 2013.
n Affirmed the appointment of Angela Stewart as the
ECOEA-3 representative to the OEA Board of Directors
until an election is held at the ECOEA Spring
Representative Assembly.
In other action, the Board
n Accepted the financial reports for January 31, 2013.
n Accepted the recommendation of the Executive Director
to hire Jeremy Baiman and Makia Burns as UniServ
Organizers pending the satisfactory completion of a
background check.
n Approved the stipends for the 2013 NEA Representative
Assembly as follows: State At-Large—$1,609;
Retired—$2,034; Student—$1,188.
n Set 2013-2014 dues rates as follows: Students—$19,
OEA-Retired—$15, OEA—Retired Life—$100.
n Approved the OEA State Budget Resolution appropriating
$300,000.00 from the contingency fund for the purpose of
addressing OEA’s issues related to the State Budget Bill.
n Placed Proposal #1 on the ballot at the Spring
Representative Assembly to amend Bylaw 8-3 (c)(5) and (c)
(6), Committees.
n Approved a recommendation from the Member Rights
and Protection Core Function Committee that beginning
with the 2013 Summer Academy, OEA will provide wellpublicized training on one or more of the following topics:
preventing bullying and harassment based upon real or
perceived sexual orientation and gender identification,
developing safe schools programs, forming Gay Straight
Alliances and protecting the employment rights of GLBT
members.
n Approved a recommendation from the Member Rights
and Protection Core Function Committee that OEA cover
in Ohio Schools important GLBT issues such as bullying,
Gay-Straight Alliances, protecting members’ employment
rights and GLBT related training for members.
n Approved the affiliation of the Ohio Educational Library
Media Association.
n Approved the recommendation that the Core Values be taken
to the OEA Spring Representative Assembly for adoption.
March
t its meeting held March 16, the OEA Board of Directors
approved the following President’s recommendations:
A
n Accepted the resignation of Becky Whited from the Board of
Directors WOEA-4 position effective March 15, 2013, with an
unexpired term ending August 31, 2013.
n Affirmed the appointment of Ella Jordan Isaac as the WOEA-4
representative to the OEA Board of Directors until August 31,
2013.
n Approved the appointment of the following individuals to
the Executive Director ad hoc Search Committee: Pat FrostBrooks—Chair, Mary Binegar, Scott DiMauro, Becky Higgins,
Bill Leibensperger, Tim Myers, Jeff Rhodes, Kim Richards, and
Gretchen Washington.
n Approved the appointment of Theresa Lemus Santos to the
RA Steering Committee.
n Approved the following OEA RA and corresponding Board of
Directors meeting dates: December 4-5, 2015; May 12-14, 2016;
December 2-3, 2016.
n Approved the appointment of Homer Adams, representing
GLBTC, to the Convention Planning Committee with a term
ending August 31, 2013.
n Accepted the resignation of Karen Andermills, representing
Capital, from the Legislative Committee, leaving a vacancy
with a term ending August 31, 2015.
n Accepted the resignation of Leonard Donaldson, representing
NWOEA, from the Legislative Committee, leaving a vacancy
with a term ending August 31, 2015.
n Accepted the resignation of Kim Rees, representing SWOEA,
from the Professional Efficacy Core Function Committee,
leaving a vacancy with a term ending August 31, 2014.
n Approved the appointment of Tom Beck to the OEA Appeals
Board for a seven year term ending August 31, 2020.
n Approved the nomination of Ed Schultz, television and radio
host, for the OEA Friend of Education Award.
In other action, the Board
n Accepted the financial reports for February 28, 2013.
n Approved the Valic Amendment to the VEBA Trust Agreement.
n Directed that the 2013-2014 Budget Adjustments be printed
and made available for budget hearings at District RAs.
n Approved the recommendation of the Executive Director to
place the following individuals in the OEA UniServ PreEmployment Pool contingent upon the satisfactory completion
of a background check: Bret Benack, Melinda Dorris, Lina
Drinkard, Sheila Harte-Dmitriev, Jason Leto, and Jerrod Neal.
n Approved the recommendation of the Executive Director to
hire Kristy Spires to fill the vacancy of Assistant Executive
Director—Business Services.
n Approved the recommendation of the Executive Director to hire
Matthew Ides to fill the vacancy of UniServ Organizer contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check.
n Voted to support Proposal #1 to amend Bylaw 8-3, Committees.
n Approved the following OEA award recipients: John F.
Kennedy Scholarship—Amanda Wallace, Steubenville
Education Association; Marilyn Cross Scholarship—Leah
Kasmenn, Euclid Teachers Association; Jean Kershaw
Scholarship—Natalie Passarelli, OSEA/OSU—Main Campus;
Holloways/Human and Civil Rights Award—Ernestine M.
Davis, Ph.D., East Cleveland.
n Transmitted the following to the 2013 Spring Representative
Assembly: proposed 2013-2014 Resolutions Report and the
March 2013 Affirmative Action Status Report.
Awards to be presented:
• John F. Kennedy Scholarship
• Marilyn Cross Scholarship
• Jean Kershaw Scholarship
• Education Support Professional Award
• Holloways/Human and Civil Rights Award
• OEA Friend of Education Award
Registration Deadline: April 23, 2013
Cost: $40 per ticket -or- $320 tables of eight
TICKETS WILL BE HELD AT THE DOOR
Send checks (made payable to OEA) to: Randy Flora, Director of Education Policy Research
and Member Advocacy, OEA Awards Banquet, 225 E. Broad Street, P.O. Box 2550, Columbus, OH 43216
OEA District RA and Delegate Briefing
Schedule—Spring 2013
Date
District Delegate Briefing
4/10 WOEA
During RA
4/11 EOEA
Precedes RA
4/11 NWOEA During RA
4/13 SWOEA During RA
4/16 SEOEA
Follows RA
4/20 ECOEA
During RA
4/20 NEOEA
During RA
4/22 NCOEA
Follows RA
4/27 CENTRAL During RA
4/30 CAPITAL During RA
Location
Event Times
Northmont High School 4916 W National Rd., Clayton
Undo’s
51130 National Rd. E,
St. Clairsville
Findlay High School
1200 Broad Ave., Findlay
Receptions
5975 Boymel Dr., Fairfield
Westview Elementary
16349 Beaver Pike, Jackson
Canton Prof. E.A. Office
1327 Market Ave. N, Canton
Warrensville Heights HS
4270 Northfield Rd.,
Warrensville Heights
Springmill Learning Center
1200 Nester Dr., Mansfield
Worthington Kilbourne HS
1499 Hard Rd., Columbus
OEA—Media Center
225 E. Broad St., Columbus
5:00 pm RA
6:00 pm RA
5:45 pm RA
9:00 am RA
6:15 pm RA
8:30 am RA
10:00 am RA
5:00 pm RA
9:00 am RA
5:00 pm RA
OEA WOMEN’S CAUCUS
NEA Human and Civil Rights
Women’s Leadership Training Program
June 21-23, 2013
E
SAV ATE! Crowne Plaza Columbus / Dublin
D
600 Metro Place North • Dublin, Ohio
THE
Campaigning To Win (CTW)
Campaigning To Win is for Association
leaders who want to learn how to conduct a
campaign to run for a higher elected office.
For more information on registration contact:
Joni Watson, Chair—OEA Women’s Caucus,
[email protected]
Registration will close on May 15, 2013
Ohio Schools April 2013 27
OEA Educator
Appreciation Night
June 15th Crew Stadium
OEA Educator Appreciation Night
with the Columbus Crew.
The Crew will take on the Montreal
Impact at 7:30 p.m.
• $10 ticket price
• $1 Budweiser drafts and
Bob Evans Buck-a-Brat
• Educator raffle prizes and
giveaways
• Postmatch penalty kick and
much more!
• Call 614 447 4189 to order
your tickets now.
OEA seeks applicants
for 2013-2014
Retirement Systems
Training Program
I
n the interest of supporting the best, most highly
qualified OEA members in their preparation for
election to Ohio’s retirement boards, the OEA is
sponsoring a Retirement Systems Training Program.
The International Foundation
of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP), the
largest educational association serving
the employee benefits and compensation industry, will conduct the training
program. A nonprofit, non-lobbying
organization, the foundation is a
trusted resource for objective, accurate
and timely information.
To encourage participation in the
Retirement Board Training Program,
the OEA will offer scholarships for
members interested in pursuing seats
on the STRS, OPERS and SERS Boards.
These scholarships will cover the cost
of four, two-day training sessions
required to complete a Certificate of
Achievement in Public Plan Policy
(CAPPP), as well as other related
trainings and/or meetings.
According to OEA Board policy,
members who attend retirement board
meetings and complete their CAPPP
certificate training receive favorable
consideration in OEA’s screening
process for recommending candidates
for the retirement board.
For an application form and more
information, please refer to the OEA
website, www.ohea.org, under
Programs and Events.
The OEA Scholarship Review
Committee members will review
applications, conduct interviews
and make award scholarship
recommendations to the OEA Board
of Directors. The OEA Vice President
will review progress reports from
training participants and provide
updates to the Board.
••••
OEA Minority Leadership Training Program
June 21-22, 2013
Crowne Plaza Hotel – Dublin, OH
The OEA Minority Leadership Training Program (MLTP) targets ethnic minority members who have an interest in
Association activities and leadership roles.
The training fosters development of an understanding of organizational culture, an appreciation for cultural diversity
& inclusiveness, and the identification & demonstration of skills required for effective leadership in a multicultural
setting. The training also explores the importance of minority involvement at all levels of the Association.
The 2013 program will offer the following sessions:
Emerging Leaders: (designed for new participants) *Limited to 18 participants
• Social Justice
• Understanding the Association
• Assertiveness
• Running for Office
Experienced Leaders: *Limited to 18 participants
• Social Justice
• Message Development
• Running for Office
The training will commence on Friday evening and conclude late
Saturday afternoon. There is no cost for this training and it includes
dinner, breakfast and lunch. Hotel accommodation for Friday night is
available if you do not live near the training location. The registration
is on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Kelli Shealy to obtain
registration information at [email protected] or 800 282 1500 ext. 3013.
Attention Postmaster:
Please deliver no later than April 15
OhioSchools
Re-elect
James McGreevy and
Bob Stein
to the STRS Board
As members of the Board they
are committed to providing:
n Secure and lasting pension benefits
James McGreevy
n Retired teacher
n Former Chair
of STRS Board
nAccess to quality health care
nPrudent and experienced leadership
Endorsed by the OHIO EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
and the Ohio Federation of Teachers
Bob Stein
n Retired teacher
nBroad investment expertise

OEA Ohio Schools magazine, April 2013

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