Dennis Leone to Sally Buis: Additional points to consider re: rehires

From Dennis Leone, Sept. 5, 2006

Subject: Additional Points to Consider

Thank you, Sally, for your comments below. Yes, you are correct in assuming that all dollars set aside is per person.

Two points I could have/should have put in my response to John and the Lima News article were these:

1. The supts and principals who think it's such a great idea to rehire retirees are actually hurting the STRS Health Care Stabilization Fund that is supposed to be there for the supts and principals when they retire in the future. This is because of the fact that rehired retirees who are utilizing STRS health insurance are causing an annual $2 million drain on the fund.

2. Every supt and principal, without exception, will tell you they like to have a good mix of new teachers and more experienced teachers in their school districts. All will say it's good for their districts. Experienced teachers often will admit that THEY learn things from new teachers as well. My concern about whether things will become "stale" in the future was not intended to be insulting to anyone. The truth is the truth. It's better for students and staff to have a good mix of teachers in a district.

Dennis Leone

-------

From Sally Buis, Sept. 5, 2006

Subject: Re: Dennis Leone re. Rehired Retirees article in Lima News 9/5/06

Thanks, John!

Once again I am in agreement with Dennis and I applaud his forthright statement! I was a rehire for a couple of years, as a sub, because it was difficult to find Cosmetology teachers with the proper licenses. While I continue to be covered on my husband's Federal Health Plan, I can see where Dennis is coming from......and I have to tell you he is absolutely right about us "getting stale" after a while - the students are just not the same; especially to substitute teachers, no matter how much experience, Voc. Ed., OR Industry, they have. Let the school districts cover the health care...it is so much better, in this system, at least! Thanks for allowing us to see the opposite side of the "argument"! If there is so great a savings to the districts, they should not oppose paying out for the "rehire's" health care costs! It is my understanding that the amount set aside for health care is per person, NOT according to age........am I correct on that?

Sally