Where Does Billionaire Monopolist Bill Gates Get Off Saying Bigger Class Size and Fewer Teachers Is the Education Solution?

From June Hughes, December 17, 2010

"But if you follow the money, it leads to very rich people who have two sets of educational standards: One for their kids, and another for ours."

"They want to fire experienced teachers because they cost more, increase class size, and commit our kids to online learning -- none of which they would consider for their own children," said Haimson. "It is the height of hypocrisy."

Where Does Billionaire Monopolist Bill Gates Get Off Saying Bigger Class Size and Fewer Teachers Is the Education Solution?

By Scott Thill
Posted on December 17, 2010

http://www.alternet.org/news/149232/where_does_billionaire_monopolist_bill_gates_get_off_saying_bigger_class
_size_and_fewer_teachers_is_the_education_solution?page=entire

Once dominant, now America is just average when it comes to education. Its public solution, recently communicated by Microsoft mogul Bill Gates? Increased class sizes, decreased teacher counts, fewer advanced degrees, and probably more mediocrity.

It's the type of technocratic cure-all one would expect Gates to champion, and it will doubtless perform as lamely as Microsoft, which currently hobbles at $30 a share while its more intuitive tech rivals like Apple and Google respectively hover around $200 to $600. But Gates' short-changing of the nation's education system is just another strain of neoconservative austerity going viral in our global village. And it's just as short-sighted as the disaster capitalism that destroyed America's economic integrity: Increasing America's class sizes and downsizing its teachers could cost us more than it could save us.

View complete article here.

Minutes for the December 9, 2010 CORE meeting

From Dave Parshall, December 15, 2010

The meeting began with a welcome by CORE President Dave Parshall and the introduction of several first time attendees. Two gentlemen and CORE supporters from Jefferson County were in attendance. It is a long drive to Columbus from Jefferson County so their effort was warmly received by the 30 plus members in attendance. Donna Thorpe and Ruby Fisher brought a guest to the meeting from Clinton county. Virgene Peterson taught for 50 years and has done substitute teaching for the past 18 years. WOW! We all were astonished by this woman and her drive.

Old Business: In the absence of CORE secretary Marie Fetters, who was away on family business, it was motioned and approved to suspend the reading of the October board minutes. It was also decided by default that Dave Parshall would do the December minutes.

Treasurer’s Report was given by our new CORE treasurer Carole DePaola. The CORE fund is secure and continues to grow. Carole is off to a great start.

Dave Parshall presented highlights of the November STRS board meeting. Once again, under Member Benefits, a lengthy and informative health care presentation was made by the STRS staff. The bottom line is that we are using principal in the fund to pay claims. It is still estimated that our health care fund will be gone by 2021. At that time we will have to start to pay the entire cost which they estimated at or around $2,900 a month. Parshall pointed out that as the ORC reads now STRS has to provide the coverage equal to Medicare and pay half the cost. There are 9,636 30 year teachers who are 65 or older and don’t qualify for or have Medicare Part A. We all may need the new healthcare bill state pools one day.

A discussion followed about the plan to help the retirees with $30,000 pensions and who were 30 year teachers with a straight pension. The STRS board voted to take no action at this time. I will revisit this with several board members and even ORTA after we are done with our lobbying efforts with the new legislature and whatever the new bill might be. But it is hard to see why freezing the 3 % COLA for the 30 and below retirees is called charity and the restoring of the COLA for future retirees back to 2% and the grandfathering of the unearned 88% enhancement that will cost us money for decades to come is not also charity.

New Business: A discussion was held about plans for lobbying the new state legislature. It was decided that out January meeting would end with a work session to come up with possible talking points etc. to give to our members to use during visits with house members. While the final points can’t be finalized until after we see what is in the real bill, we can begin to organize now. CORE members need to find a lobbying partner to visit house members when they are back in their home districts or here in Columbus. So please plan on attending this very important meeting in January. Dr. Alice Faryna will give us a power point presentation on meeting with and talking to members of the legislature during our January CORE meeting.

Debbie Silverstein presented a fine and informative presentation about HB 159, known as The Health Care For All Ohioans Act. This bill will save Ohio Taxpayers over $2.3. Our healthcare system is bankrupting our country. Debbie is a retired teacher and CORE member Alice Faryna are members of Single Payer Action Network of Ohio. You can learn more about this organization at http://www.spanohio.org/. After her presentation she asked for CORE to be one of the many groups lending their name and support for HB 159. It was agreed to ask the CORE board and officers to vote on this request. The voting is underway now.

The last item for discussion was a request by Parshall for permission to upgrade our CORE website with new officers and to remove other dated information. The motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:10 pm. The next CORE meeting will be on January 13, 2011 at STRS-----HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Prepared and submitted by Dave Parshall

Want to know more about the new Health Care Law and how it might affect you?
Click here (pdf format).

More from Maryland re: YOU CAN'T TOUCH RETIREES' COLA!

From John Curry, December 14, 2010

http://baltimore.citybizlist.com/1/2010/12/14/Pension-Commission-Delays-Decisions-–-But-Is-Told-It-Can’t-Reduce-COLAs--By-Len-Lazarick.aspx

Pension Commission Delays Decisions – But Is Told It Can’t Reduce COLAs - By Len Lazarick

December 14, 2010

Len@MarylandReporter.com

The commission examining changes to state retirement benefits put off any decisions until at least next week, but staff on Monday told the members that they couldn't alter employee cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) - one of the largest areas for potential savings.

Freezing or capping COLAs for current and future retirees for five to 15 years was one scenario suggested to the Public Employees' and Retirees' Benefit Sustainability Commission. But Michael Rubinstein, a legislative analyst staffing the commission, told the commission that "simply from a legal question that approach is not viable."

Both the assistant attorney general for the State Retirement and Pension System and the general counsel to the General Assembly said, "You cannot change the COLAs for current retirees" or for those active workers who had already earned benefits, Rubinstein said.

Like Social Security beneficiaries, state retirees did not see increases in their pension checks this year because the cost of living did not go up.

There seemed to be growing consensus on the eight-member commission that health benefits for current workers and retirees need to be changed. The state has an unfunded liability of $15 billion in promises for health care it has made over the next 30 years, and it has put aside only about 2% of that.

"There's no question that Maryland needs to come more in line with other states," said former state Sen. Barbara Hoffman.

State treasurer Nancy Kopp said, "I sense there is a consensus that health benefits ought to resemble other states."

These changes in plan coverage would lower the costs to the state by 10% or about $100 million a year and raise the costs to employees, according to the "Decision Guide" the commissioners were given. But Warren Deschenaux, the legislature's fiscal policy chief, told them such changes "would have to be brought to the bargaining table" with the state employee unions.

Depending on how they use medical care, the changes could cost employees and retirees anywhere from $400 a year to thousands of dollars.

By far the biggest long term savings for health care would be to shift all Medicare-eligible retirees to Medicare Part D to cover the cost of prescription benefits. In the long run, that could save the state $5.5 billion over the next 25 years, or about $420 million a year.

None of the changes in pension or health care benefits would save any money for next year's fiscal 2012 budget, for which a $1.8 billion deficit is projected.

Commission member Aris Mardirossian questioned the fairness of trying to cut employee benefits when the underfunding of the state pension system was caused by the reduction in contributions to the pension system, and "the failure of the investment strategy" during the last two recessions.

The panel also reviewed several scenarios for shifting some of the costs of teacher pensions back to the counties.

Taps.....

Word has been received of the death of former CORE trustee Chuck Chapman on December 12, 2010. Condolences are extended to his wife, Marilyn, and to his family. Always a cheerful presence and a positive force, he will be greatly missed by many.

View obituary here or here.

Ohio Education Association Annual Salary Summary information from the U.S. Department of Labor

From John Curry, December 12, 2010

The following OEA annual salary information came from U.S. Department of Labor. The OEA employees’ salaries listed are classified as “Column D - Gross Salary Disbursements - (before any deductions)." This information was filed with the U.S. Department of Labor in November of 2010. LRC stands for Labor Relations Consultant - a Labor Relations Consultant assists with negotiations and grievances for educators.

I have grouped these employees in two groups:
....I. Those with Gross Salary Disbursements of over $100,000
...II. Those with Gross Salary Disbursements between $60,000 and $99,999

John Curry
Concerned Ohio Retired Educators (CORE)
www.concernedohio.org

I. OEA Salaries Over $100,000

Patricia Frost-Brooks (President) $172,288

William Leibensperger (Vice-President) $149,450

James Timlin (Secy.-Treasurer) $150,426

Larry Wicks (Executive Director) $185,108

Mark Allison (CIS Consultant) $124,330

John Avouris (LRC) $108,055

Susan Babcock (AED Start./Workforce) $151,769

Ann Bayou (LRC) $124,546

Marla Bell-Gombita (LRC) $124,519

Rodney Bird (LRC) $136,101

Lee Blandon (LRC) $124,823

George Bozovich (LRC) $124,537

Robin Busby (LRC) $124,501

Gary Carlisle (LRC) $128,541

Elizabeth Chandler-Mark (LRC) $126,746

Melissa Clark (Lobbyist) $126,550

Airica Clay(LRC) $101,125

Darren Clum (CIS Consultant) $124,109

Joseph Cohagen (Dir. Accounting) $128,124

Patricia Collins (Dir. Region 1) $140,370

Jeanette Cooper (Dir. Region 4) $123,272

Mark Constantine (LRC) $124,742

Doug Crawford (LRC) $175,133

Donald Dalton (LRC) $124,482

Demetrice Davis (Ed. Reform Consult.) $117,909

Robert Davis (Lobbyist) $125,711

Vicky Davis (LRC) $128,548

Matthew Dotson (Lobbyist) $124,558

Betty Elling (LRC) $112,304

Fritz Fekete (Dir. I/S & Research) $137,820

Ruth Field (LRC) $126,952

Linda Fiely (General Counsel) $124,627

Randall Flora (Director EI & I) $134,910

Gregg Gascon (Research Consultant) $127,491

John Grafton (LRC) $124,793

Russell Harris (Ed. Reform Cons.) $124,460

Jonathan Hart (CIS Consultant) $118,834

Donald Holub (Research Consultant) $122,493

Lynette Howell (LRC) $124,449

Talmadge Hutchins (LRC) $125,330

Paul Jewell (Research Consultant) $124,296

Charles Johnson (LRC) $124,520

Rachelle Johnson (AED Mem. Serv.) $144,455

Jan Jones (LRC) $124,478

Bonnie Joseph (Political Consultant) $124,565

Thomas Jowhar (LRC) $124,508

Suzanne Kaszar (Comm. Cons.) $127,556

Jeffrey Kestner (LRC) $136,673

Amber Kirkwood (LRC) $112,276

Gary Kovach (LRC) $106,536

Annette Kubiske (LRC) $124,468

Kim Lane (LRC) $124,256

Chloann Leidy (LRC) $124,558

Mark Linder (LRC) $144,024

Linda Lindsey (LRC) $124,558

Lavonne Lobert-Edmo (LRC) $127,289

Michael Mahoney (Dir. Comm.) $128,176

Victor Marchese (LRC) $126,795

James Martin (AED Bus. Serv.) $153,914

Robert Murkowski (LRC) $126,607

Helen Matusick (LRC) $118,179

Linda May (LRC) $124,565

Michael Mceachern (LRC) $156,089

Bonnie McMurray (LRC) $124,523

Darlene Messer (LRC) $118,413

Donald Messer (LRC) $126,254

Diane Miller (LRC) $124,519

Tim Miller (LRC) $124,298

Cristina Munoz-Nedrow (Dir. Reg. 5) $129,548

Henry Musilli (LRC) $124,495

Alfred Nelson (LRC) $130,500

Julie Newhall (Editor) $124,334

Jeffrey Nolasco (LRC) $124,682

Parry Norris (Dir. Region 2) $134,305

Kathleen O’Connell-Burt (LRC) $118,052

William Otten (LRC) $138,345

William Pearsol (LRC) $126,741

Cynthia Peterson (Ed. Reform Cons.) $124,466

Herman Pipe (LRC) $118,286

Michelle Prater (Comm. Cons.) $124,544

Dinica Quesada (Ed. Reform Cons.) $116,190

Ronald Rapp (Dir. Gov. Serv.) $120,968

Marci Reimund (LRC) $124,482

Thomas Reynaud (LRC) $124,520

Lynne Rumsey (LRC) $106,565

Sheila Saad (LRC) $124,446

Venita Shoulders (LRC) $143,163

Carrie Smolik (LRC) $124,417

Jerry Squires (LRC) $127,102

Edward Stephenson (LRC) $124,486

Mary Suchy (Dir. Of Membership) $137,965

Melodie Terman (LRC) $124,640

Ann Thomas (LRC) $101,148

Diane Tieman (LRC) $124,473

Patricia Turner (Research Cons.) $124,171

Eric Urban (LRC) $111,939

Rebecca Illimani (LRC) $129,229

Cecelia Weldon (LRC) $174,285

Cathy White (LRC) $125,132

Don Williams (LRC) $141,734

Debra Wing (LRC) $118,328

Michelle Winship (Ed. Reform Cons.) $100,506

Norman Young (LRC) $124,396

II. Salaries from $60,000 to $99,999

Jolynn Austin (Staff Accountant 1) $67,905

Alexandru Barbu (CIS Consultant) $84,866

Lynn Bartlo (Admin. Secy. II) $62,280

Katherine Boerger (LRC) $85,867

Gail Botz (Comm. Tech.) $72,942

Lisa Brooks (Ex. Asst.-Counsel) $76,927

Richard Castorano (Ex. Asst. Memb. Svcs.) $85,019

Graciela Chanfrau (Dir. Human Res.) $74,909

Danielle Chute (Staff Account. II) $69,628

Cathy Cline (Admin. Secy. II) $61,536

Tad Colbeck (LRC) $85,628

Shelly Colyer (Admin. Secy. II) $64,285

Margaret Crumrine (Admin. Secy. II) $61,955

Elaine Davis (Admin. Secy. II) $62,540

Daniel Day (LRC) $96,040

Arlene Doubledee (Admin. Asst.) $65,059

Dawn Elias (Ex. Asst. H/R) $86,506

Joyce Facchiano (Admin. Secy. II) $62,117

Kathleen Gallagher (Admin. Asst.) $71,483

Sandra Gonzales (Admin. Secy. II) $62,378

Schalet Jackson (LRC) $93,968

Todd Jaeck (LRC) $95,495

Barbara Johanson (Admin. Secy. II) $61,989

Patricia Johnson (LRC) $82,997

Esther Jones (Admin. Secy II) $61,605

Teresa Kalkaska (Memb. Account.) $74,060

John Kappes (Tech. Operator) $77,799

Rose Keller (Mgr. Legal Servc.) $93,203

Linda Kelm (Data Entry) $66,297

Diedri Kennedy (LRC) $85,450

Sally Kidwell (Staff Accountant II) $81,876

Susan Lehman (Ed. Reform Consult.) $94,131

Donna Lester (Admin. Secy. II) $63,460

Beverly Martin (Admin Secy. II) $61,698

Debbie Maynard (LRC) $95,874

Vickie Miller (LRC) $67,527

Linda Mills (Account Asst. ) $62,264

Daniel Mueller (LRC) $85,967

Lori Navin (Admin. Secy II) $61,766

Judy Nelson (Admin. Secy. II) $61,579

Kerri Newgard (LRC) $95,852

Sharon Obrien (Admin. Secy. II) $62,313

Crystalle Phillips (Admin. Secy. II) $66,221

Barbara Picker (Admin. Secy. II) $61,405

Debra Puterbaugh (Admin. Secy. II) $62,744

Sam Radel (LRC) $97,436

Patricia Ray (LRC) $85,588

Phyllis Reed (Admin. Secy. II) $61,958

Allison Roberts (LRC) $70,368

Debbie Roberts (Admin. Asst.) $69,284

Miriam Rosa (Admin. Secy. II) $61,926

Beverly Sekella (Ex. Asst. Memb. Svcs.) $66,786

Laura Simonyi (Admin. Asst.) $68,766

Rebecca Slaughter (Mgr. Gov. Relations) $93,126

Peggy Smith (Admin. Secy. II) $61,594

Connie Starcher (Admin. Secy. Ii) $63,733

Joyce Stewart (Admin. Secy. II) $61,559

Angela Thompson (Admin. Secy. II) $62,891

Renee Townley (LRC) $85,988

Delores Tufaro (LRC) $86,623

Jerrilynn Volz-Costell (Executive Asst.) $88,043

Diana Watson (LRC) $90,825

Theresa Whitney (LRC) $90,966

Leroy Wittemire (Exec. Asst. Bus. SVC.) $83,309

Amy Yevincy (LRC) $85,846

Susan Dodge (LRC) $64,188

You can verify the information above by doing the following:

1. Go to http://erds.dol-esa.gov/query/getOrgQry.do . When the page opens, ignore all the blanks; just look for "Basic Search" in bold red letters near the top, and the blue words, "File Number" under that.

2. In the box next to "File Number", enter this employer number: 512-490 and click the "Submit" button.

3. On the page that comes up, click NATIONAL EDUCATION ASN IND STATE ASSOCIATION, STATE AFFILIATE OHIO EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

4. On the next page (titled Union Detail), under the Fiscal Year column, click the first item, "2010 Report." Scroll down to SCHEDULE 11 - ALL OFFICERS AND DISBURSEMENTS TO OFFICERS