Molly writes to Linda Omobien, new president of OSBA

From Molly Janczyk; Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2006

Subject: FW: My letter to Linda F.R. Omobien, Newly Elected OSBA President

Ms. Omobien, Congratulations on your new position. You are in an unique place to promote education. Please consider educators proposals to increase contributions for both employee and employer. As you are aware, STRS has worked diligently to increase earning power in order to reduce unfunded liability which is approx. 55 yrs or more currently due to various circumstances over the past few years. This was no fault of the educators of this state who suffered the consequences and wish to take part of the burden of solving this crisis. I am in complete agreement with Robert Jones whose letter follows below.

Ohio is low on priority to education when ranked nationally and therefore is not in the position of attracting the highest quality educators which is the ONLY solution to strengthening our human resources and thus Ohio's standing for education and growth.

It is easy to quote a big dollar figure to the public and say STRS has this much money and should use it more wisely and we know the public can be easily swayed by huge figures without specifics to inform them of where these dollars go. In actuality, you know as well as we do that STRS is again on the upswing but subject the market trends for recovery.

STRS went into a huge hole paying for health care for its retirees as a self pay system. When copays and premiums are met, STRS foots the bill for 100% of the remaining costs for each retiree for the balance of the year. When times were so good, STRS should have found a steady stream of revenue but did not as health care is not mandated and money was plentiful. However with the market downturn and health costs unprecedented money became tight and retirees were burdened with saving health care until revenue could be found.

We all know the boomer generation is bringing large numbers to retirement. There is not enough money to pay for their healthcare and pension funding is inadequate to cover benefit payouts for this group for the next 30 yrs as stated by law. Educators are doing their share to help with costs by increasing their share to 10% a couple of years ago and wishing to increase their share more with legislation. The only stumbling blocks are the school boards. Yes, the districts are in financial binds along with educators and pension systems. We all have to consider solutions outside the box to maintain healthy conditions for educators which directly affects the children. Yet, OSBA seems to feel that increases for educator employer contributions has little to do with kids. It has everything to do with our community and our children. If Ohio is unable to attract and keep the best educators, Ohio suffers.

There are always ways to redefine money for school systems. STRS has trimmed excess from its system and school boards can do the same with eliminating consultants, high fees, overlapping positions, constant purchasing and discarding materials every few years which remain beneficial, constant and unnecessary redesign of employment and job titles forcing upheaval when easy and cost free solutions are obvious.

Teaching Across the Curriculum using leveled materials to meet all students' needs teaching toward grade level and testing objectives. These materials are in the schools sitting in boxes or unused on shelves. There are on target for Science, Soc. Studies, Health, etc . and can be used for all Reading and Language Arts skills and strategies. Flexible and Leveled groups can work with teachers on these skills and strategies and collaboratively on reports on necessary grade level topics to present to the class and be used for testing knowledge. Math can be incorporated into these topics with appropriate skills and problem solving processes with writing 2 and 3 step problems related to topics. It does not take extra money, just creativity and industrious educators attracted by the best districts which allow such education. Good teachers can make lessons from what is available as long as leveled books are at their disposal. Such were purchased at great cost years back and dusty from non use. Wonderful non fiction materials to address any topic.

Stop wasting money on resources not used more than a couple of years. Stop wasting money on high end consultants and creating more top level positions. Retain management that knows education and how to implement real teaching. Hone down on the pork in the systems. Keep educators training by inservice from successful educators within your own districts known for innovative and effective practices. Send less versed educators to their classrooms for observation or partner teams with highly qualified educators. Not just on paper but qualified as evidenced by results from their students. ALL FREE RESOURCES! Modeling and participation vs. lecture are by far better learning methods.

Engage students vs. lecturing to them- an outdating practice still too often seen with teachers standing and delivering their only way to do something to the class and those who get it advance and those who don't fail. Let students who understand show other students how they arrived at solutions. The students in groups say and write step by step processes on charts and in notebooks for proficiency objective and grade level goals. Learning occurs by students using their verbal, written and thinking processes vs. listening to teachers only.

21 years have passed since any increase to deal with inflation and current costs for educators have passed. Educators will do their part, please do yours to stop flight from Ohio and draw the best right here for our children. Materials exist in front of us for easy use. Planning is the time consuming issue. Once in place, teachers are directors towards children seeking answers. Teachers work with each skill level daily on strategies necessary to manage materials and model good skills. Allow Ohio to be the best. Attracting educators of the highest quality is what will bring Ohio growth not sending them away to other states and occupations that fill their financial needs.

Please open your mind to others' thinking and consider choices.

Sincerely,

Molly Janczyk