What did the administration give up?

Without SB-5 would this have happened? NO

I'm sure the teachers are relieved that the contract didn't call for salary reductions to bring the district within budget. Is the very reasonable increase in their health care premiums going to help with the projected deficit, or does it just help offset impending insurance premium increases due to the new health care law, you know that law that was supposed to lower everyone's health insurance premiums? Most of us are paying 4 times what they must pay, so I'm sure the teachers don't mind too much about their part in providing health insurance to their families. It's nice that there will continue to be 206 district staff (including teachers) that make over $60,000 per 185 days (some more days), plus benefits and pensions. Will this new contract help bring the district within the amount of revenue they have coming in or will they still be spending more than they take in and still expect property owners to make up the difference even though they are tapped out and many still on the verge of foreclosure? Here are the current salaries, which won't decrease next year: http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/teacher-salary
Use the drop down menu for District to find: Stow/Munroe Falls, then select year, then skip salary range and select Order: Salary High to Low. You'll see the super at $118,705 (260 days) along with majority of princibles around $90,000 - $100,000. The top 128 staff and teachers make over $70,000 + benefits & pension (185 days). Will there be enough staff cuts?

Mr Thomas we did not have SB5 in the past. But the Union has been asking for more more money through the teachers. The residents of Stow are tired of the school saying it is for the kids and had enought enjoy your job teaching or get out and see what the real world is about. We need to clean out the school board and Dr Jones. Many people who have power become deaf -mute to the residents of Stow when asking questions. Remember you are working for us and we are paying your wages and I mite say paid yery well. Thank you
.

Joseph,
I must not have made my point very well and for this I apologize. I am a full supporter of SB-5 and agree that the Union/Politician relationship has been a disaster for the taxpayers of this country. For heaven sakes how else can you explain how Dennis Kucinich keeps getting re-elected. Union money and power. There is no way that this joke on the body politic of Ohio and the United States could win without them.

How many of the negative posters here have done any of the following in the last year?
--Spent more than 10 minutes in one of our schools
--Gone to a school board meeting
--Talked to a teacher or other school district employee about their job
--Familiarized yourself with all of the state and federal mandates (many of which are unfunded by the state and federal government) that schools must adhere to

Just wondering.

To Moly: Yes, I've been in our very nice schools for more than 10 minutes.
Yes, I've gotten to actually study in depth all the board minutes, not just show up at a meeting (I have to work 2 jobs in order to feed my family and pay my property taxes, so I don't have as much free time as some).
Yes, I even had a neighbor who is an elementary teacher in Stow. She's usually gone during the summer staying at her vacation home.
Is there room for improving our school system and the way it is funded? Absolutely!
Can we tighten the $59,000,000+ annual budget more so that we are spending what we take in and not creating a deficit? Yes. Can we expand some of our classrooms from 18 students to 25 or even 30 especially at the high school without affecting the lessons? Yes. And, there are students whov'e been asked whether they thought their learning would be hindered if there were 10 more students in the room and they said of course not. We'll be able to hear the teacher just the same. That's not what the union would want to hear or the teachers association, they protect jobs after all.
Are property owners under the greatest financial burden ever? Yes.
Can supporters of the levy donate to the schools if the levy fails? Yes.
Count yourself as blessed if you can afford to pay unlimited levies coming your way every year.
Have we supported our district over the years? Yes. In fact, we've passed school levies every other year for the past 25 years. We just passed one last year.

Make sure you read what has to be, one of the most unbelievable pieces of IB propaganda ever written right here in Patch. Mind you, I'm not blaming Patch reporters, they are quoting school representatives verbatim. However, I implore them to do some real journalistic investigation into what appears to be a gross misuse of taxpayer funds for IB indoctrination, also known as "social justice". Please see my comments here:

http://stow.patch.com/articles/video-a-new-way-of-teaching-at-indian-trail-elementary

We appreciate and welcome comments. Please remember to follow the terms of use. Full first and last names are needed: http://stow.patch.com/terms

Dear Amanda,

My bad! I am patriotmommy. ;-)

Thanks for changing it Lisa and thanks for participating on the site!

I have not seen but heard about the teachers and staff contracts. If all they gave up was a pay increase, what happened to their step raises? Ironically they have to pay approximately 150 dollars for health benefits, does this include their dental and life insurance? I and my wife are retired and have to pay almost 400, dollars for our hospitalization, not including dental and what is taken out of social security. So don't tell me they gave up anything of any consequence. Let all of them see what the private sector has got to give up just to work.

why is the actual article not showing the e-mail update comments I am receiving for it?