Kathie Bracy's Blog: December 17, 2006

Saturday, December 23, 2006

The will of the people and a midnight rush job by a bunch of ducks

Posted on Thu, Dec. 21, 2006
Akron Beacon Journal
Duck soup
The next time a Republican lawmaker talks about the will of the people laugh out loud -- and point to this recent rush of legislation Let's recall -- again -- the events of Nov. 7, Election Day, just six weeks ago. Ohio voters stated emphatically their desire for change, practically shouting: Enough of absolute Republican rule. Democrats captured all but one statewide executive office. They reduced the Republican majorities in the legislature. Ohioans wanted new voices added to the debate about the direction of the state. How have Republican lawmakers reacted? They've taken their cue from Dick Cheney, the vice president arguing before the election that the results hardly mattered, insisting the White House would follow its path in Iraq whatever the outcome at the polls. Thus, Speaker Jon Husted and Bill Harris, the Senate president, have presided over a lame-duck session that has amounted to the Republican majorities thumbing their noses at Ohio voters.

Ohioans should be outraged. Republicans have operated as if they received a mandate at the polls. They've had to hurry, knowing the political landscape changes at the start of the year. No surprise, then, much legislation has been thrown together, the intent more often to thwart Ted Strickland, the Democratic governor-elect (with almost 60 percent of the vote) than to serve the larger interests of the state.

In the worst instances, these defiant ones have appeared plain mean. Take the changes to the Consumer Sales Practices Act. If the Republican majorities wanted to correct errors they think the Ohio Supreme Court committed in a November ruling, they shouldn't have done so in this rushed fashion, among other things, placing a severe limit ($5,000) on noneconomic damages, weakening the effort (championed a few months ago) to curb predatory lending.

They might have listened to Jim Petro, the attorney general and a fellow party member who recommended a more effective approach, one that would protect consumers and discourage excessive awards. As it is, Husted, Harris and company weren't interested in thoughtfulness. The speaker, in particular, waved aside the legal analysis of Petro, that the Supreme Court decision (a 5-1 vote) was ``consistent with more than 30 years of case law permitting the recovery of noneconomic damages,'' that comparable federal laws follow the same path.

In explaining his opposition, Petro advised lawmakers to ``take another cut'' at the task. Bob Taft can make that happen with a veto. The governor doesn't need a further reason than the hasty crafting of the measure. Ohio can do much better.

As galling was passage of legislation implementing state Issue 2, the constitutional amendment raising the minimum wage, approved by 57 percent of voters. The Republican majorities carved exemptions far beyond baby sitters, camp counselors and other ``casual workers,'' callously denying wage increases to many working poor. This legislation would have benefited from wider input. Yet Republicans gave the cold shoulder to C.J. Prentiss, the Senate Democratic leader who stood at the forefront of the Issue 2 campaign and proposed an alternative bill.

Republicans traded in false piety, contending they were merely acting as supporters of Issue 2 intended. Do they think Ohioans are so dim? Gov. Taft should reject such arrogance. He might recall the respect he had for the voters who elected him.

Friday, December 22, 2006

Universal Healthcare...not "if," but "when"

December 18, 2006 · In: Healthcare Policy

Since the 1990s, universal healthcare has been largely a dead issue on Capitol Hill, despite occasional flurries of interest from the left. However, the issue has gotten a new lease on life, fueled by the Democratic takeover and the increasing consensus that something must be done, now. Political experts say that both liberals and conservatives are finally ready to compromise, with liberals letting go of demands for a single-payer system and conservatives conceding that government may have a role in healthcare delivery. Many federal and state observers are looking to the Massachusetts universal healthcare plan as a possible model for reform.

To learn more about these developments:
- read this article in the Boston Globe

Related Articles:
PA gov proposes universal health coverage. Report
SF's universal health plan closely watched. Report
MA voters fight to put universal health on ballot. Report
MD may require residents to buy health coverage. Report
IL may require citizens to buy health coverage. Report

Beacon Journal editorial: Absent at the Core

Akron Beacon Journal

December 22, 2006

State lawmakers have raised high school graduation standards. They have left schools to find the resources to meet the goals

In the long run, nothing is more important to the future of Ohio than a better-educated population. Responding to the need, the state legislature approved major education bills in the recently concluded lame-duck session, a feverish round that allowed no opportunity for broad debate. Missed was the chance to move forward in a more productive way.

Give the Republican-dominated majorities some credit. Ohio benefits from raising high school graduation standards. Even more than doubling the schools where students will be eligible for vouchers reflects a certain attention to the state's highest priority. Lawmakers can can return home and say they did something to advance the quality of education.

The problem is, the most critical and demanding task, devising a fair and steady, even ``thorough and efficient,'' stream of funding for public schools, was left until another day -- and another administration, that of Gov. Ted Strickland. So there was motion. It wasn't all going in the right direction.

The Ohio Core plan, the centerpiece of Gov. Bob Taft's State of the State speech last January, was widely praised for its goal of elevating graduation standards, particularly with more rigorous math and science requirements. But the legislature gave a mere nod to the difficulties most districts will have implementing the plan, pushing the date back from 2012 to the class of 2014 and adding just $16 million for teacher recruitment and retention.

For starters, that's not enough money. Sylvester Small, the Akron superintendent, correctly observed that local districts ``will be left holding the bag.'' Lawmakers invited further questions by exempting dropout recovery schools from the Ohio Core. Such charter schools were supposed to elevate traditional public schools. Now these charter schools cite their need to escape higher standards?

The funding system, with its heavy reliance on local property taxes, the yield constantly adjusted downward so that revenue does not rise with inflation, makes meeting new standards a burden local school leaders will shoulder first. State lawmakers get to crow about demanding improved performance.

By classifying more schools as eligible for vouchers (from 99 to 236), the legislature hopes to shore up a failing experiment that drains as much as $5,000 per student from public schools. The number of voucher slots, at 14,000, would stay the same. Less than 4,000 are currently filled. Republicans usually bow to the market. In this situation, the market has spoken: Parents overwhelmingly want to send their children to neighborhood public schools.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

The Virginia Gay Fund

A retiree has asked me to post information on this fund, which is described as "A Trust Fund Providing Financial Assistance to Retired Ohio Women Teachers as Provided for in the Last Will and Testament of Virginia W. Gay." This is posted on the ORTA website; click here for further information. KBB

Beacon Journal: HB79 & SB311 'New bills trouble school leaders'

From RH Jones, December 21, 2006

Subject: HB79 & SB311 "New bills trouble school leaders".

To all:

Today's Akron Beacon Journal, Front Page, 12/21/06, article "New bills trouble school leaders," "Increased graduation standards, vouchers will hurt districts' budgets" by Stephanie Warsmith.( Reporter Warsmith was at the first meeting at our STRS when the STRS board & employee excesses were exposed to the public by a few courageous STRS members.)

Warsmith reports that Gov. Taft still has to sign the bills. The continuation of the article appears on Page A10 and it lists how the politicians voted. I will quote it:

How they voted

Here's a breakdown of how local legislators voted on two education bills approved Tuesday:

House Bill 79 -- Vouchers and charter-school provisions and other education issues.

Yes: Reps. Chuck Calvert, Jim Carmichael, Bob Gibbs, John Hagan, William Healy II, Robert Otterman, John Widowfield and Brian Williams. Sens. Ron Amstutz and Kevin Coughlin.

No: Reps. John Boccieri, Kathleen Chandler, Scott Oelslager, Barbara Sykes. Sens. Robert Hagan, Kirk Schuring and Kim Zurz.

Not voting: Rep. Mary Taylor

Senate Bill 311 -- Ohio Core higher graduation standards.

Yes: Reps. Calvert, Carmichael, Gibbs, Hagan and Taylor. Sens. Amstutz, Coughlin and Schuring.

No: Reps. Boccieri, Chandler, Healy, Oelslager, Otterman, Sykes, Widowfield and Williams. Sens. Hagan and Zurz.

My thinking on these bills is that they are hurtful to the STRS Ohio and Gov. Taft (GOP) should not sign them. I can not understand why some Democrats voted yes on HB 71? Especially those in my District #41. If the Reporter Warsmith is correct, and I think she is, Reps. Bob Otterman and Brian Williams voted for HB 79! I can understand GOP Rep. Kevin Couglin voting for it -- He has traditionally voted against anything that would be of a help to retired public school teachers. But, I can not understand why in the world would STRS retired members Reps. Otterman, and Williams, vote for it? In the best interest of public schools, issues with vouchers & charter schools in them should be voted against. Period!

And, SB311, I am happy to see that Democrats of my area: Otterman, Sykes, Williams, at least, voted against this unfunded mandate. A 50% retired teacher issues voting average just does not add up, however. Otterman and Williams should have been in the math class that my beloved excellent 7th grade teacher, Anna Shean, taught me at Akron's Lincoln School. Voting half right, is not right. They have some explaining to do. Barbara Sykes does not. She voted right on both issues. She knows her math!

RHJones, a voting Constituent in Distr. 41 of Otterman, Skyes & Williams.

Also, a life member of OEA/OFT, ORTA, & a proud CORE lifer.

---

Posted on Thu, Dec. 21, 2006
Akron Beacon Journal
New bills trouble school leaders Increased graduation standards, vouchers will hurt districts' budgets

By Stephanie Warsmith

Beacon Journal staff writer

Two education bills passed by the state Legislature Tuesday have local school leaders worried about their cost -- both in funding and loss of students.

One bill would expand the state's voucher program to more than twice the number of schools statewide that are now eligible, including buildings in Akron for the first time.

The other, called Ohio Core, would raise graduation standards, which school leaders are concerned will prove expensive -- probably requiring the hiring of more teachers.

``It seems like another unfunded mandate.'' said Marva Jones, the Canton City school district's interim superintendent. ``We are for higher standards for our students. I'm worried about the funding.''

Akron Superintendent Sylvester Small said districts ``will be left holding the bag.''

``We now have to say, `What do we have to cut in our system to pay for Core,' '' Small said. ``As far as I can see, there's no money attached to it for us.''

The two bills were among a long list of legislation approved Tuesday as state legislators attempted to wrap up for the year. The House and Senate approved the legislation that included the voucher expansion Tuesday evening.

The House signed off on Core Tuesday evening, with the Senate following suit several hours later.

Both bills still need Gov. Bob Taft's signature to become law. That probably won't be a problem for Core, which was the cornerstone of Taft's final State of the State address. He released a statement Wednesday calling its passage ``a victory for the students of Ohio.''

Mark Rickel, Taft's spokesman, said the governor will ``take a close look'' at the bill with the voucher expansion.

The voucher expansion would make students in 236 Ohio schools eligible for tuition to attend private schools -- up from 99 now.

Previously, students qualified for vouchers if they attended a school that was in academic watch or academic emergency -- the equivalent of a D or F on the annual state report cards -- for three consecutive years. The legislation changed this to schools in academic watch or academic emergency for two of the previous three years.

Students up to eighth grade receive vouchers of $4,250, while high school students get $5,000. The voucher money -- plus the state's cost of administering the program -- is deducted from the school district.

Locally, 16 schools in Akron, Canton and Alliance are on the voucher list. The schools in Akron are Lincoln, Margaret Park and Schumacher elementaries and Innes, Jennings, Kent and Perkins middle schools. Canton's schools are Allen, Barbara F. Schreiber, Belden, Belle Stone, Dueber, Gibbs and Youtz elementaries and Hartford Middle. The Alliance school is Northside Elementary.

U.L. Light Middle in Barberton, Timken High in Canton and Alliance Middle are in the voucher program this year. All three would have dropped out next year because of improved academic performance but the new rules will keep Timken and Alliance Middle on the list.

Jones thinks the state's continued expansion of the voucher program is unfair for districts, which often -- as was the case this time -- have no chance for input into these decisions.

``We didn't have any warning that this was even a possibility,'' she said. ``Everybody here in Canton City Schools has been working so diligently. It's just like a change of rules at the end of the day.''

Jones said only about 2 percent of Timken students took advantage of the vouchers, and she hopes a similar low number would use them under the expansion.

``I can't say that we're not worried,'' she said. ``We feel confident that we work hard, and it's paying off.''

Small said he thinks the voucher program is ``designed for urban districts to lose students.''

``This is the second expansion in less than one year,'' he said. ``They haven't even seen if it's worthwhile. Why the big rush?''

Regarding Core, Small said he favors higher graduation standards but thinks the legislature needs to provide the funding needed to meet the tougher requirements. He said the district hasn't yet determined the increased cost because the legislation has been changed so much.

Core requires high school graduates planning to attend most state universities to complete four years of math, including Algebra II, four years of language arts and three years of science classes that involve laboratory work.

Small took issue with how dropout-recovery programs such as the Life Skills charter schools operated by Akron entrepreneur David Brennan are exempted from the Core requirements. He said more students could end up leaving Akron high schools to go to Life Skills, where they won't have as rigorous a class load.

``If the point is for all students to have higher standards, why the exemption?'' he asked. ``Why create a sub-diploma?''

Small called the exemption ``anti-Core.''

``Will it encourage more kids to drop out?'' he said. ``That's in exact opposition of Core.''

Bob Tenenbaum, a spokesman for White Hat Management, which operates Brennan's charter schools, said the Life Skills schools cater to students who have dropped out, or are close to dropping out, and it would be unfair to require them to meet the higher standards in Core.

``Anything that makes it possible for them to get a diploma is beyond where they would have been,'' he said. ``That does not mean there should not be standards and we should not be accountable. The same standards do not make sense, given the nature of the population.''

Tenenbaum pointed out that the voucher expansion bill requires the State Board of Education to make legislative recommendations for performance standards for dropout-recovery programs.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.

Our legislators.....showing their true colors!

Click image to enlarge

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

More takeaways from the working man from the majority party in the Ohio Legislature

From John Curry, December 20, 2006

Subject: More takeaways from the working man from the majority party in the Ohio Legislature

GOP lawmakers limit unions on last day
By JULIE CARR SMYTH
AP Statehouse Correspondent
12/20/06
COLUMBUS — Bills limiting organizing and political giving by labor unions were Republicans lawmakers’ parting gift to Democratic Gov.-elect Ted Strickland on Wednesday.

Strickland, whose campaign received labor support, next month becomes Ohio’s first Democratic governor in 16 years.

House Republicans ended the two-year legislative session Wednesday with votes on a minimum-wage bill and campaign-finance legislation that contained language reining in union power.

The minimum-wage provision, which squeaked by with 52 of 99 votes, adjusted the wording of a November ballot issue that gave access by third-party groups to private payroll records to prove the new wage was being paid properly.

The final bill clarifies that only the employee or a designated party, such as a lawyer, can get the records.

Meanwhile, the Senate inserted a provision in a campaign-finance legislation bill restricting the ability of union political action committees to make campaign contributions, by defining collective bargaining agreements as similar to state vendor agreements. The bill later passed the House by a 53-32 vote.

Democrats blasted both bills as unlawful — saying the minimum wage measure was not true to the intent of voters, and that the contributions bill violates the rights collective bargaining units have under federal law.

GOP lawmakers limit union contributions, money for abortion

From John Curry, December 20, 2006

Subject: GOP = Gut Our Power - What the Ohio Senate did today!

Organized educators are in trouble! John

---
"In an 11th-hour maneuver, the Senate moved on a bill containing campaign contribution restrictions on labor unions, a primary source of money for Democratic campaigns, if the unions negotiate contracts for public workers.

The legislation, on which the House will vote today, also prohibits union political action committees from giving more than $2,000 to an officeholder with which it has a bargaining agreement.

Democrats attacked the surprise move as an attempt to undercut a key source of their political support.

``For some time this legislature has been trying to figure out how to tie the hands of labor unions,'' Democratic leader Sen. C.J. Prentiss said."

"The Senate approved the measure 23-10 early today before the conclusion of its business for the two-year session."

Posted on Wed, Dec. 20, 2006

GOP lawmakers limit union contributions, money for abortion

By Julie Carr Smyth
Associated Press

COLUMBUS - Republican principles and power were in the spotlight into the wee hours today as GOP lawmakers scrambled to pass abortion and union restrictions and retain as much legislative power as possible before Democrats take Ohio's helm next month.

Lawmakers facing their first Democratic governor in 16 years moved at breakneck speed in what had been expected to be the session's final day to shove a pile of significant bills through committees and floor votes.

As they awaited Senate action that lasted until 4:15 a.m., the House was forced to schedule another session this afternoon.

Among the GOP's priorities was restoring public faith in a party marred by scandal by passing a host of good-government bills, including measures improving access to government records, cracking down on fundraising from state contractors and restricting campaign donations to state officeholders.

Democrats viewed many of the measures as a direct attack on their coming power, and they painted Republicans as vengeful and anti-voter.

In an 11th-hour maneuver, the Senate moved on a bill containing campaign contribution restrictions on labor unions, a primary source of money for Democratic campaigns, if the unions negotiate contracts for public workers.

The legislation, on which the House will vote today, also prohibits union political action committees from giving more than $2,000 to an officeholder with which it has a bargaining agreement.

Democrats attacked the surprise move as an attempt to undercut a key source of their political support.

``For some time this legislature has been trying to figure out how to tie the hands of labor unions,'' Democratic leader Sen. C.J. Prentiss said.

The Senate approved the measure 23-10 early today before the conclusion of its business for the two-year session.

Democrats were also angered by a bill implementing a minimum-wage increase that voters approved in November, which weakens language in the ballot amendment that would have allowed unions -- with employee permission-- to view private payroll records.

Publicly, however, Democrats focussed their concern on the fact that the bill exempts broad categories of workers from the raise and makes it possible for the first time in decades for workers to opt out of being paid the minimum.

GOP lawmakers said operators of church and recreational camps -- where staffers are technically on duty 24 hours a day -- were among those pushing for the exemptions, without which they might not be able to stay afloat.

The Senate approved the minimum wage measure early today, mostly along party lines, sending it to the House.

Republicans backed off of another bill, which would have made it more difficult for the administration of Gov.-elect Ted Strickland to write government rules. The measure, while unspectacular on its surface, would have significant consequences for Strickland in implementing new environmental, health care and education policy where rule-writing is most intense.

At the end of its 14-hour session, the Senate passed a bill along party lines prohibiting the use of state Medicaid funds for abortions. The measure, scheduled for a final vote in the House, also declares childbirth as the state's preferred policy over abortion.

Read this if you would like help with your letters to your legislators

Sample letters (thanks to Molly Janczyk) which may be used as is or as models for your letters to your legislators

---

Dear Legislator: (your legislators' names)

1. HB 700: VOTE NO to alternate pension options which will deplete funds of STRS and cheat actives out of benefits .

2. VOICE your concern regarding ignoring 4 court orders to properly fund education and press your fellow legislators urging them to support the court orders so funding can be properly designated and allow monies to be redistributed. Then School Boards may see funding more flexible and approve HC legislation.

3. Please explain how you feel about the HC legislator STRS and HCA have introduced.

School Boards tend to be against this legislation while they often support top heavy administrations with dependence on consultants, overspaced buildings and huge salaries. I feel they approve too many cost depleting programs with no real promise of success vs. a presence in schools for free to oversee that educators do their jobs and set up programs of daily reading skills on strategies leveled for each student's instruction success using multiple copies on content areas integrating grade level objectives and vocabulary across the curriculum.

Instead of finding ways to help educators with HC, they simply state dollar numbers of STRS with no real plan as to how those dollars can pay for HC because they cannot. STRS pays $1.5 million PER DAY for our HC. Misuse of money did not cause this crisis. That was an ethics issue. Not planning for a stream of revenue on a long term basis caused this issue as STRS did not plan for us beyond the market high relying on it instead of securing HC for us long ago with legislation. Legislation is long overdue and we have been stagnant for many years at the same employer contribution. Only recently has the employee contribution increased minimally.

Retirees have been depleted and untenably devastated by 800% increases since 2000 with only a 3% simple COLA based on our first year of retirement never to increase. Actives have increased 0.7% once in many years. Actives continue to get raises based on salaries which rise yearly.
0.5% would take about $50 per ck and produce the only chance they have of securing HC for retirement vs. no HC which robs you of retirement as it is far too costly for us to afford without working in our retirements.

I would happily have paid incrementally as an active to be able to retire now with HC. Not to be as no one warned us and we made irrevocable decisions and now pay the price using savings, selling homes, cutting costs, working if able to pay for HC at $148 for ourselves and $681 for our spouses for premiums monthly, $500 deduc. each and then 20% of medical and up to $125 for each RX for 90 days. The average retiree family has 20 RX's a month. IF ONLY I could pay $50 now per ck to secure HC for life.

Retirees who cannot afford HC are being treated in the ER and the state pays. With more and more retirees, this will drain state funds. Another reason why HC legislation helps save money for the state. Someone has to pay!

Young potential educators are deciding on other occupations looking towards their future retirement facing no HC. NO EDUCATOR CAN EVER SAVE ENOUGH TO PAY FOR THEIR HC IN RETIREMENT nor can they ever save enough to pay for their retirements which is also what HB 700 wants to promote. Once young educators choose alternate plans for retirement if HB 700 passes (Blasdel's bill ), they cannot opt back into STRS. STRS loses their contributions and active educators lose their state guaranteed pensions.

Please help education in the state of Ohio by:

1. Voting NO to HB 700 while not allowing it to be attached to another bill.
2. Support educators, active and retired, by supporting HC legislation presented by STRS and HCA.
3. Support proper funding of education in Ohio as ordered by the court 4 times.

Educators serve their communities and deserves a secure retirement with HC.

Thank you.

[Your name, address, phone no.]

---

Dear Legislator (your legis. name)

We have not yet heard of an appointment to the STRS Board by Sen. Pres. Harris or Speaker Husted. We urge you to consider contacting them with your support for Prof. of Economics, Miami Univ., Tom Hall.

Prof. Hall has the experience and expertise to advise STRS Board Members on economic factors affecting the market, business cycles and investments. His vitae previously sent both of you highlight his extensive knowledge of these areas. Prof. Hall is intent on preserving our pension fund and is astute in methods to protect our assets.

Most Board Members come with little or no knowledge in these areas crippled and dependent totally on others' advice. They receive one point of view too long slanted on how STRS wishes them to think vs. hearing from experts also vested in STRS rather than corporate mindsets not appropriate for a public pension system.

Prof. Hall has all the attributes to make him a perfect choice for membership. Please hear your constituents vs. favored political choices. We plead with you to contact the Speaker and Sen. Pres. for the appointment of Prof. Tom Hall who impressed us with his in depth knowledge during interviews on issues impacting STRS.

Sincerely,

[Your name, address & phone no.]

Tom Curtis: Letters to legislators

WAY TO GO, TOM!! We need for many, many others to follow your example. KBB

From Tom Curtis, December 20, 2006

Subject: 122006 Letters To Senators & Representatives

I have called and sent letters to various Senators and Representatives asking for their support of the appointment of Thomas Hall to the STRS board. Thus far, I have sent to the following:

Senators Dann, Fedor, Harris & Schuring

Representatives Boccieri, Husted, Oelslager, Otterman, Schneider & Williams

I will attempt to find time to send to more.

---

From Tom Curtis, December 20, 2006

Subject: 122006 Sen Fedor, Tom Hall & STRS Unfunded Liability
Dear Senator Fedor,
I am writing to request that you please consider and support others who will be recommending Dr. Thomas Hall to fill the vacated position on the STRS board. According to SB133, The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House appoint this position. Geoffrey Myers, the former CFO of Ohio Manor Care recently resigned from his appointment. In my opinion, Mr. Myers though very pleasant when we have spoken, was far removed from the level of income garnished by educators and their concerns for the much-needed reductions in spending and staff at the STRS. He was far to supportive of the spending practices that occurred in the past and continue to this date. During a regular board meeting, he recently told Dennis Leone that issues he has brought to the board were a waste of time, such as actually viewing contracts before voting to approve them. We absolutely do not need board members that will rubber-stamp the continuance of the spending practices and management style that Herb Dyer established while serving as the executive director at the STRS. Much of that wasteful spending still exists today and management continues to fail to respond to stakeholder requests to stop such actions. In my opinion, Tom Hall will not support such actions and will represent the membership with far more experience and knowledge in business practices and finance then others that were elected to the board.

Tom Hall is a professor of economics at Miami University. He has a very adequate background in various areas of finance and should prove to be beneficial to the board. Please review his vitae, which follows. Further, Tom is a contributing member to the STRS and understands the many issues that need to be addressed. Senator, our retirement system is at risk. I personally believe the problem can be corrected, but not by doing business as usual. Please support Tom Hall by asking the President of the Senate to appointment him to the STRS board.

In closing, I would like to bring to your attention an issue I have grave concerns about, the STRS unfunded liability. The most recent 2006 STRS valuation report from Buck Consultants indicates that the unfunded liability has been reduced to 47 years, from 55.5 due to the outstanding returns on investments over the past two years.

In my opinion, this is incorrect and needs immediate attention. One of the numbers used in figuring the unfunded liability, the percent of payroll increase at 4.5% is far from the correct number. The actual number as I view it from the 10-year history listed on page 43 of that report should be 3.2%. If this is true, the STRS unfunded liability is at infinity and that is very disturbing to me. Would you kindly respond to my request and concerns?

If I could arrange a time to speak with you by phone, I will gladly contact you at you convenience. If you would permit me some time to talk with you about the STRS during the Holidays when you are back home in our area, I would appreciate it. I view our unfunded liability as something to be very worried about. Beginning in 2001, STRS retirees started loosing the benefits they were promised when they retired and this has never stopped. We have lost more ground each and every year, while management continues to justify their poor performance in running an efficient operation.
Sincerely,
Thomas Curtis

[Address, phone no.]

[Tom Hall's credentials]

---

From Tom Curtis, December 20, 2006

Subject: 122006 Rep Boccieri, Dr Thomas Hall Appointment To STRS Board

Dear Representative Boccieri,

I am writing to request that you please consider and support others who will be recommending Dr. Thomas Hall to fill the vacated position on the STRS board. According to SB133, The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House appoint this position. Geoffrey Myers, the former CFO of Ohio Manor Care recently resigned from his appointment. In my opinion, Mr. Myers though very pleasant when we have spoken, was far removed from the level of income garnished by educators and their concerns for the much-needed reductions in spending and staff at the STRS. He was far to supportive of the spending practices that occurred in the past and continue to this date. During a regular board meeting, he recently told Dennis Leone that issues he has brought to the board were a waste of time, such as actually viewing contracts before voting to approve them. We absolutely do not need board members that will rubber-stamp the continuance of the spending practices and management style that Herb Dyer established while serving as the executive director at the STRS. Much of that wasteful spending still exists today and management continues to fail to respond to stakeholder requests to stop such actions. In my opinion, Tom Hall will not support such actions and will represent the membership with far more experience and knowledge in business practices and finance then others that were elected to the board.

Tom Hall is a professor of economics at Miami University. He has a very adequate background in various areas of finance and should prove to be beneficial to the board. Please review his vitae, which follows. Further, Tom is a contributing member to the STRS and understands the many issues that need to be addressed. Representative, our retirement system is at risk. I personally believe the problem can be corrected, but not by doing business as usual. Please support Tom Hall by asking the Speaker of the House to appointment him to the STRS board.

Sincerely,

Thomas Curtis

[Address, phone no.]

[Tom Hall's credentials]

Toledo Blade: Ohio lawmakers expand under-used voucher program

Article published December 20, 2006
Ohio lawmakers expand under-used voucher program

HOW THEY WORK

Up to 14,000 students from certain low-income families at 212 academically struggling schools could receive vouchers, or scholarship money, of $4,250 through the eighth grade or $5,900 for high school toward tuition at the public, private, or religious school of their choice. The statewide voucher program is separate from Ohio’s continuing program focusing solely on Cleveland schools.

Toledo Blade
By JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU
[Note: There are two charts in this article; one is barely visible and the other is totally invisible (a white space just to the right of these words). I couldn't get them to show up properly, but if you highlight them with your mouse, you'll be able to read them. KBB]
COLUMBUS - With three-quarters of Ohio's 14,000 school vouchers left unused in the program's inaugural year, lawmakers yesterday again expanded the pool of students eligible to apply.

Students in 19 academically struggling Toledo Public Schools buildings, up from five currently, could apply for scholarships of $4,250 through eighth grade and $5,900 for high school toward tuition at the public, private, or religious schools of their choice.

Lawmakers yesterday also approved measures toughening the math and lab science curriculum for high school students, setting dates to close failing charter schools, and giving the Department of Education authority to conduct regular criminal background checks on licensed teachers.

The voucher and charter school provisions were inserted into a bill late Monday night and rushed through both the House and Senate yesterday to ensure the measure reached

Gov. Bob Taft's desk before the current two-year session ends and his Democratic successor, Ted Strickland, takes office on Jan. 8.

Mr. Strickland is no fan of vouchers.

TARGETED SCHOOLS

The following school buildings have been in academic emergency or academic watch for two of the last three years, making their students eligible to apply for vouchers:

TOLEDO
Chase Elementary
Cherry Elementary *
Fulton Elementary
Garfield Elementary
Nathan Hale Elementary *
Jones Elementary
Lagrange Elementary
Leverette Elementary
Libbey High
Lincoln Academy for Boys
McTigue Junior High
Newbury Elementary
Pickett Elementary *
Raymer Elementary
Reynolds Elementary
Robinson Junior High
Scott High *
Sherman Elementary
Woodward High *

SANDUSKY
Hancock Elementary
Mills Elementary *

LIMA
Freedom Elementary *
Liberty Elementary
Lima North Middle *
Lima South Middle *
Unity Elementary *
(*) Currently in program

SOURCE: Ohio Department of Education

Interim Toledo Public Schools Superintendent John Foley called the vote "a challenge to urban education" and "a slap in the face to teachers."

"It doesn't support us making progress but hinders our progress," he said.

The bill passed the House 70-29 and the Senate 21-12.

Currently, Ohio's Educational Choice Scholarship Program affects students in families earning 200 percent or less of the federal poverty level at 99 school buildings classified as having been in either academic emergency or academic watch for the last three years.

The bill sent to Mr. Taft would expand the number to 212 buildings by lowering that threshold to two out of the last three years, assuming the school hadn't improved to effective or excellent in the last year.

"There just hasn't been much interest in the voucher program, so I don't see how expanding the program is going to make much difference,'' said Kathy Young, interim president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers. "This is coming in just the last few minutes of a legislation session. There's been no chance for the public to have any input on this at all.''

House Republicans had pushed for broader expansion but were met with resistance from Democrats and Senate Republicans.

"There is not one additional voucher slot in this bill,'' said Sen. Randy Gardner (R., Bowling Green). "There is not one additional charter school in the bill. There is more accountability for charter schools in this bill.''

The voucher program is separate from Ohio's continuing program focusing solely on Cleveland schools, the program that served as the vehicle for the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the constitutionality of using public dollars to send children to private and religious schools.

Sen. Teresa Fedor (D., Toledo) criticized legislative leaders for holding up for a year a bill giving more power to state education officials to go after wayward teachers so they would have a vehicle for these last-minute education amendments.

"I wonder how many children were at risk during that year and how many teachers abused and maybe would have lost their licenses,'' she said.

The bill authorizes the department to demand criminal background checks every five years for licensed teachers and would require all schools, public or private, to report suspected misconduct by teachers to licensing officials.

In other action, House Republicans attracted six Democratic votes to support passage of Ohio Core, a stiffening of math and lab-science requirements that high-school students must meet as a condition for getting into most of the state's public four-year colleges and universities.

In exchange, Republicans agreed to delay the requirements two years so that they won't take effect until the class of 2014, ultimately affecting today's fifth-graders.

They also earmarked $16.8 million for schools to recruit and retain teachers to prepare for the inevitable on top of $13 million already spent.

The bill, sponsored by Mr. Gardner and pushed heavily by Mr. Taft and the business community, passed the House by a vote of 55-40 with six Democrats joining Republicans in support. The Senate was expected to follow late last night.

"Enactment of the Ohio Core is a victory for the students of Ohio,'' Mr. Taft said.

"They must complete a more rigorous curriculum and will graduate from high school more prepared for college or a good entry-level job.''

"How can we not hold ourselves responsible for raising the bar for all students?'' Rep. Arlene Setzer (R., Vandalia) said.

Democrats, however, argued that, while the concept was sound, lawmakers were rushing to the finish line.

"We gave a [graduation] test before we gave [academic] standards, and now we're doing it again…,'' Rep. Ken Carano (D., Youngstown) said. "No one wants Core to go away. …Why do we have to do it so fast?''

Staff writer Joshua Boak contributed to this article.

Contact Jim Provance at:
jprovance@theblade.com
or 614-221-0496.

Have you written your state legislators yet?

From Kathie Bracy, December 19, 2006

I hate to sound like a defective CD, but we cannot let up! We are all in this together; if we want our pension and our health care to survive, we must keep letting our legislators know. Three major issues on the front burner right now:

1. HB 707: Health care funding legislation. Click here to read more about this initiative. Be aware: bills often return with a new number. Wording of HB 707

2. Getting Tom Hall appointed to the STRS Board. This is a joint appointment by the Speaker of the House, Rep. Jon Husted, and the President of the Senate, Sen. Bill Harris. See CORE E-mail Alert: STRS Board Appointment (12/16/06) for more information. You need to contact both Husted and Harris.

Kathie Bracy's Blog

Saturday, December 23, 2006

The will of the people and a midnight rush job by a bunch of ducks

Friday, December 22, 2006

Universal Healthcare...not "if," but "when"

Beacon Journal editorial: Absent at the Core

Thursday, December 21, 2006

The Virginia Gay Fund

Beacon Journal: HB79 & SB311 'New bills trouble school leaders'

Our legislators.....showing their true colors!

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

More takeaways from the working man from the majority party in the Ohio Legislature

GOP lawmakers limit union contributions, money for abortion

Read this if you would like help with your letters to your legislators

Tom Curtis: Letters to legislators

Toledo Blade: Ohio lawmakers expand under-used voucher program

Have you written your state legislators yet?

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