Public Rally for Strongsville Teachers

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Fred Dillon
SEA Spokesperson
E-mail: dillonsea@att.net
Web: http://strongsvilleeducators.blogspot.com/

STRONGSVILLE COMMUNITY TO RALLY FOR TEACHERS

Over 400 district teachers receive layoff notices for the 2011-2012 school year

            A public rally has been scheduled outside the Strongsville administrative offices at 13200 Pearl Road, on Sept. 2, 2010, at 6:30 p.m.

            The collective bargaining agreement between teachers represented by the Strongsville Education Association (SEA) and the Strongsville Board of Education expired on July 31, 2010. Since this time the school district issued layoff notices to the entire teaching staff employed by the Board.

            “The Strongsville teachers are extremely outraged by this reckless and irresponsible action taken by the Board,” SEA spokesperson Fred Dillon said. “The Board has known since last year that, barring additional revenues, some staff reductions would be necessary to help balance their budget for the 2011-2012 school year.

            “Unfortunately, instead of using this time to accurately determine the depth and breadth of the cuts, the Board erred on the side of laziness and sent out over 400 reduction in force (RIF) notices to their teachers, which ultimately only damages the quality of education that is being provided to Strongsville students,” Dillon added. “It is equally outrageous that the board would use such a shoddy scare tactic in order to undermine the association’s prolonged attempt to negotiate a fair and equitable contract.”

            Help support the Strongsville teachers and encourage the Board to get back to the table and work out a fair and equitable agreement.

The SEA is an affiliate of the Ohio Education Association and the National Education Association and represents approximately 400 certified employees in the Strongsville School District.

SHS Teachers VOLUNTEER to Guide/Mentor Outside of Classroom

Strongsville Teachers VOLUNTEER Their Time for Our Children

Strongsville Teachers make a difference in the academic lives of our community’s students and in their development outside of the classroom. Strongsville High School teachers VOLUNTEER their time in almost 50 clubs involving our young adults of the community.  Many of the clubs listed below encourage responsibility in helping others that are less fortunate, responsibility in decisions that affect one or others, and responsibility in healthy lifestyles.  Children’s success in life is often measured in what is accomplished in both the classroom and in service to the community.

Adopt-A-Soldier Animal Rights Club Anime Club Asian-American Club Black History BPA Business Club Campus Life Computer Club Dance Team Dance,Dance Revolution Debate Team Engineering Club FEA Fellowship of Christian Athletes Figure Skating Flag Team French Club Game Club Gay Straight Alliance German Club Ginger Club Ice Hockey Spirit Club Investment Club Irish Club Italian Club Jump Rope/Double Dutch Club Latin Club Math Club Middle Eastern Club National Art Honor Society Nutrition Club Ohio Career Assoc. Pin ‘em Club Ping Pong Club Project Support Republican Club Rotary Interact Club SADD Science Club SHS Film Society SHS Spirit Club Signing Club Ski Club Sociedad Honoraria     Hispanica Spanish Club Technology Club Tri-M Music Honorary Youth Optimist Club

Teachers HAVE Made Health Care Concessions AND Suggestions

On Tuesday, August 24, the Plain Dealer published an article about the RIF notices given to all Strongsville teachers on their first day back for the 2010-11 school year.  To read the article, go to http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/08/strongsville_teachers_face_lay.html.

SEA spokesman Fred Dillon wrote the following letter to the Plain Dealer in response to a misrepresentation in the article:

Dear Ms. Starzyk,

My name is Fred Dillon.  I am the official spokesman for the Strongsville
Education Association.  I want you to be aware of my being in this position in
case you have questions about the ongoing contract negotiations between the
Strongsville Board of Education and the SEA.

I am writing to forward a letter from one of my colleagues about your recent
article about the RIF notices given to the entire teaching staff of the Strongsville City Schools.

"Thank you for your coverage of the potential layoffs in the Strongsville City
School District,  but I would like to make you aware of a misleading, and
potentially  damaging, statement you wrote in the article "Strongsville teachers
face  layoffs--a year from now." You wrote that the district cut costs by
"negotiating health care savings in contracts with non-teaching employees."
This statement implies that  the same isn't true for teaching employees;
however, just one year ago,  teachers made health care concessions for the
purpose of saving the  district money that are equal to or greater than the
non-teaching employees made.  Some of these concessions have cost individual
teachers  thousands of dollars a year, and they most definitely have helped the
district cut costs.  Teachers have also researched and suggested alternative
health care plans that would save the district even more money, but the district
has not discussed these options.  I would request  that this statement be
corrected to reflect that teachers have already  negotiated health care savings
so that the teachers of this district are  not unfairly portrayed in the media,
no matter how unintentionally."

Thank you for your time.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with further
questions.  For more information, please visit our website, http://strongsvilleeducators.blogspot.com/

Fred Dillon
Strongsville Education Association Spokesman

Strongsville Teachers Make a Difference

Strongsville Teachers Make the Difference

in the Classroom!

We take pride in our profession, our efforts, and the quality of services

we provide in our school district.

• Teachers Make the Difference: Excellent school district 8 years in a row

• Teachers Make the Difference: Strongsville teachers have earned many awards, grants and honors.

• Teachers Make the Difference: Teachers in Strongsville care about their students. Teachers personally spend hundreds of dollars on classroom materials

• Teachers Make the Difference: Teachers are continually finding ways to keep up to date with the latest research and learning trends in education. Strongsville teachers attend countless hours of continuing education classes each year at their own expense.

• Teachers Make the Difference:Teachers spend untold working hours outside the classroom each day.

• Teachers Make the Difference: We are asking you to contact the Board immediately and tell them that the education of your child is a priority. Education in Strongsville is worth it. Please join us at the next Board meeting on September 16, 2010 at 7 p.m. at the SHS Media Center to show your support for a fair and equitable agreement.

Strongsville School Board Contact Information

Ruth Brickley            brickley@strongnet.org     440-572-0535

David Frazee           frazee@strongnet.org        440-572-5917
David Gusman        gusman@strongnet.org      440-846-0413
J. Scott Maloney     maloney@strongnet.org     440-476-3104
Jennfer Sinisgalli    sinisgalli@strongnet.org     440-268-8100

Board's Action (or Non-Action) Prompts Teacher Response

This summer negotiations between the Strongsville Education Association and the Strongsvillle Board of Education stalled. Unfortunately, the Board has not returned to the bargaining table.


The teachers, however, returned to their classrooms on August 24 without a contract and continue to provide Strongsville students with a high quality education because we care about your children. After agreeing to contract concessions one year ago that cost some teachers thousands of dollars, the Strongsville teachers’ proposal for a continued pay freeze was ignored by the Board.

Teachers understand the ups and downs of the economy. We don’t want to extend our district’s resources unduly. However, if the Board’s poor planning and poor stewardship continue, there will be even more serious concerns for the entire community.

Teachers make the difference. Ultimately, all the teachers are asking for is a fair and equitable agreement.