Comments from Dave Speas re: increased employer contribution

From Dave Speas, April 1, 2010
Subject: Re: The time for an employer increase contribution has arrived

To all,

I do not disagree with Bob. However, our local board has not had to cut teachers, programs, possibly close buildings, and not offer a raise to our teachers since the mid 60s. We are in that position now as the state aid has diminished, property is sitting empty and not selling and a large entity in our small township has not paid any taxes since they built the building and went into operation years ago.

Many of our people are out of work and have not had raises in years. In the last 16 years, the board has not received any substantial raise in state funding to speak of and we have used our over million dollar carryover to keep the education program in place and not lay off teachers or administration. We did this as we waited for a renewal of an emergency levy. As my son who is in education said, maybe it is time for the teachers to pay the 5% so we can be protected when we retire in our 60s.

It is a bad sign when education, the engine that produces our future workers and citizens, is put in a situation that it cannot do its job to the best of its ability. When money is taken from the boards, the children do not get it and our parents do not understand why they pay and we are cutting programs for their children. If this is done, a concerted program of explanation from our lawmakers, STRS, and the retired teachers organizations will be necessary.

The public is angry and fed up with higher taxes and seeing the ones they love the most lose services and opportunities. I am a retired teacher and have been active in the cause. However, the selling of this component to the public is going to have to be strong as many of Ohio's school districts begin to tighten our belts and move toward Ohio's minimum standards in course offerings.

I know some very difficult cuts and job cuts are being looked at by us and we are a conservative district with finances. May God help us all and especially our children caught in this mess of deficit spending across this great land. Spending more with less is going to be difficult when we do not even know how deep the cuts that may come will be.

Dave Speas