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Educate
Versailles Members express their Concerns
Editor:
RE: Versailles Board of Education (BOE) Meeting of 3-15-11
Several Educate Versailles members presented questions, made comments
and noted responses. These are noted below.
*Has the BOE run any financial projections relative to the impact of SB
5 (Senate Bill 5) and state funding reductions? The Boards
response was NO.
*Does the Board intend to attempt to complete a new "Master Agreement"
prior to SB 5 being signed into law? This question was related to a
3-12-11 article published in the Dayton Daily News entitled, "Teachers
rush for contracts before SB 5 becomes law". The response was that the
Teachers Union had requested to commence negotiations. We requested the
negotiations not be started until SB 5 is signed by the governor and
written into law. The reasons are SB 5 will eliminate several of the
very costly and onerous items that have heavily contributed to the
serious financial deficits the Versailles School district faces.
Example. The present 15 annual (and cumulative) days of sick leave.
Also 4 days of personal leave (2 cumulative). Based on the average
annual salary of the 93 teachers at $58,904.77 this one item alone
costs the district approximately $565,440 annually. This does not
include the administrative cost nor the cost of substitute teachers.
Most businesses (including those in Versailles) do not list any
specific number of allowable sick days in their employee handbook.
Neither do health care employers such as hospitals whose employees are
exposed on a daily basis to a variety of illnesses, viruses etc.
Another very costly item is health insurance. In FYR 2011 this
will cost our district $1,388,225 based on a district contribution of
98% for singles and 95% for families. SB 5 will reduce the districts
cost to 80% which is comparable with many private sector plans. These
are just 2 of many mandated changes designed to rein in escalating
costs. Another is the elimination of STEP (seniority) increases.
These along with base increases have added to our serious deficits.
At present YOUR property taxes which generates
approximately $2,325,000 in taxes for the school are at a BASE of 20
mills. This means even if your property values decrease this year, your
taxes will NOT go down. You may consider this a tax increase. The
county's new evaluation will soon be made public.
* If a new "Master Agreement" is negotiated and signed PRIOR to SB 5
becoming law, many of the costly items presently in the
contract WILL remain in effect for the duration of the agreement which
is usually 3 years. It will be unfair to the taxpayer if this occurs.
*The BOE was asked if they concurred the information in the
Educate Versailles article dated 3-9-11 was accurate. The BOE demurred
by saying they had not discussed it and would let us know at next
months meeting. We responded. That's not ACCEPTABLE. The
Superintendent then noted he and the Treasurer found NO problems with
the article. Translation: The numbers were accurate.
*We reported the General Counsel (Bob Chanin) of the National
Education Association (NEA.) recently told their members the following.
"We don't care about the students". We don't care about improving
public education". We care about the HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of
Dollars our 3.2 million members gladly contribute to us because
it means power". To view this not so shocking disclosure go to
www.crossroadsgps.org. Further, the Versailles Education Assoc.
union members annual dues of $710 go to not only the NEA,but the
OEA & WOEA (Western Ohio Education Assoc). This is how your tax
money is being
spent.
* The BOE was advised the VEA should DECERTIFY from the Union and get
out of the 16,500 word "Master Agreement" where the words
children, students, pupils, community and public appear a meager
13 times. As Mr. Chanin of the NEA so eloquently stated, "It's
not about the kids or improving public education, it's about the power.
Versailles district citizens, you need to get involved, NOW.
To find out more about Educate Versailles join us on Facebook.
Educate Versailles Committee
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