Your Strongsville Board of Education continues to choose to negotiate 1-year contracts with its unions and incur all the accompanying lawyer fees that go with it. These fees are expensive, drain the district’s limited funds, and are not going to your children. But, since they are negotiating this way, let’s review some of the events that have occurred over the last year:
A year ago, Strongsville teachers agreed to a base pay freeze and major health care concessions. One year later, we want to continue to honor those concessions.
Compared with one year ago, the district’s expenditures for teachers’ retirement, insurance, and other benefits are down $2,538,500, a decrease of over 16.5%
Compared with one year ago, the district’s expenditures for teachers’ salary and wages are down $2,380,700, a decrease of over 8%. (Much of this is due to attrition with the remaining teachers picking up the extra students and increased work load)
According to the Treasurer’s Permanent Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2011, the sum of all Strongsville City School District employees’ salaries, wages, and benefits for the FY 2011 will be 82.3% of the district’s total expenditures. According to the most recent Cupp report, the average for “similar districts” in 2009-10 was 86.1% (Why is the District reporting different numbers to the community?)
Strongsville’s teachers are proud of our students for earning the Strongsville City School District its 9th consecutive Excellent Rating on the State Report Card, and proud of our contribution in helping students achieve this honor for the district.
Strongsville teachers care about our students’ growth and achievement. A survey of over 200 Strongsville teachers found that the average teacher spends about 400 unpaid hours each year outside of the school day on activities that benefit your child’s growth and achievement. These activities include writing recommendations, tutoring, running over 100 clubs and activities, and showing support by attending extracurricular activities.
Strongsville’s dedicated teachers have received numerous local, state, and national awards for their classroom activities, preparedness, and professional activities.
Strongsville teachers have taken it upon themselves to augment classroom materials by successfully writing grant proposals for classroom materials and technology. One teacher alone has obtained over $22,000 in grants for the direct benefit of her students and your children.
Our survey of Strongsville teachers found that the average teacher spends about $450 per year on materials to use in their classrooms. With over 400 teachers in the district, this amounts to over $150,000 donated to your children by Strongsville teachers out-of-pocket each year.
It is no secret that negotiations between Strongsville’s teachers and its Board will soon resume. Some rumors you hear may not be true and we want to provide you with some facts. We are passionate and love our jobs of teaching your children. We know that the district is having financial difficulties. We have helped and are helping to be part of the solution.
If you have questions about the District’s financial situation or how your money is being spent, please call the Strongsville City School District Offices 572-7000 or ask questions at the Board Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 21st, at 7pm in the Strongsville High School Media Center.
