Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2006 > August > 30 > Entry
The Huber Heights strike standoff
I’m in Columbus today waiting to see if a day-long marathon bargaining session between Huber Heights teachers and support staff and the administration will pay off with a settlement before the two sides end up in a hearing before the State Employment Relations Board tomorrow.
SERB ordered these talks to try to end the strike before ruling tomorrow on a school board complaint. They have two mediators running back and forth between the negotiating teams — Superintendent William Kirby and an attorney for the board, union President Becky Whited and Ohio Education Association negotiator George Bozovich for the union.
Now we wait and see if they can work anything out. No wireless Internet connection near the SERB office. I’m posting right now from the DDN’s Columbus bureau. But if news breaks, check DDN.com first for the latest. I’ll post something here as soon as I can.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Schools and Politics
Comments
By hht
September 9, 2006 7:44 PM | Link to this
Let’s talk about what the Huber Heights Board just did. They increased their pay per board meeting from 80 to 125 dollars. That’s a 48% raise. Teacher’s go to school for 4 years and within 3 years of their employment are required to go back to school and earn a master’s degree using their own money.By Oldprof
August 31, 2006 9:23 AM | Link to this
If we’d quit listening to the insurance industry lies and instead adopt a universal single health care system like France, as Thomas Friedman notes, we’d probably get some of the same benefits that they enjoy—a much higher public health ranking in the world, at about 50% of the cost. Then Huber Heights could worry about where to spend all the money they’d have—as would the rest of us.By Mary
August 31, 2006 7:25 AM | Link to this
Ed, I noticed in an article in this morning’s DDN that the administrators in Huber have all but 5% of their health care benefits paid by the district while the teachers must pay a “whopping” 10%. I agree that examples like this don’t make sense, but, overall, both should pay more. Not too many employees get this much of their health insurance paid by their employer.By Ed
August 30, 2006 11:10 PM | Link to this
The real crime is in the salaries that administrators get. The reality is that they are support for teachers. Most custodians do more work for a teacher than a principal, so why are administrators paid so much more. As a tax payer, union president, and a head teacher - we must support those who directly support our children - the teachers.By Mary
August 30, 2006 6:24 PM | Link to this
“Null”, I think it is very appropriate and about time that the news media publish average teacher salaries. For one thing, it is public information and the public has a right to know. For another reason, the public is constantly bombarded and brainwashed that all teachers are underpaid. Give the public the details and let them decide. Pay information on both private and public employees is provided from time to time in news articles. I recall a few years ago that the starting salary for a regional jet pilot in our area was $15,000. Think the teacher’s union would settle for that starting pay. As far as going to school to keep one’s job, that happens in a lot of careers. In the military, you go to night school to earn extra degrees to get promoted in an “up or out system”. Even then you might be kicked out by a promotion board that has never met you and probably never will. As far as getting the pay of doctors and lawyers, think supply and demand and investment of time and money in education. They are in an entirely different league and rarely get summers off. They also have to pay a lot of malpractice insurance because they are under more rugged accountability systems.By null
August 30, 2006 4:03 PM | Link to this
I am torn. As president of a teacher local whose members have also helped pass levies, frozen salaries, taken raises of 1 percent or a small lump sum, and made adjustments in language, I understand. But with the economy, the lack of PUBLIC support for PUBLIC education, the cost of health care, etc…sometimes enough IS enough.I take offense at quoting average Huber Heights’ salaries, too.Did you include the average education level? I am sure it is not what is required for teaching. Did you check out the average lawyer or doctor salary? Do people understand that teachers have to continue to take classes or they cannot be re-certified? Did you include what the average college graduate credit costs? Did you ask if there was tuition reimbursement or if this came from one’s own pocket? You are comparing apples to oranges; yes, they’re both fruits BUT…By Wayner
August 30, 2006 2:42 PM | Link to this
Please keep us posted, Scott! Glad you’re on site. Do you get the sense that this is a situation where the longer they talk the better or worse, in terms of effecting a resolution for tomorrow?