Letter to the Editor: Errors Mar Ohio Treasurer Mandel's Public Employee Website
Cleveland Heights Teachers Union writes letter in reaction to teacher salary mistakes on database
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To The Editor:
Our State Treasurer: Web-Based Incompetence
Having searched State Treasurer Josh Mandel’s “Transparency Project” website, I was struck by two glaring realities:
First, I discovered incredible errors among the salaries posted for teachers I represent in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools. Several teachers’ salaries are incorrectly reported as being well over $100,000.
In fact, one teacher is listed as having earned $174,000 in 2010, $30,000 more than the superintendent (Douglas Heuer) of the district. Beyond the old adage “figures don’t lie, but liars figure,” these numbers are totally wrong and display the incompetence of our state treasurer and his supporters at the Buckeye Institute who are trying to scam the public.
Our teacher starting salary is $40,500. After 14 years and a Master's degree, teachers max out at $82,100, unless they complete additional coursework. We have a few Ph.D.s earning $87,400.
Second, if you search the database by salary level, you will find pages and pages of lists of public employees whose salaries are below $25,000 per year. These salaries appear to be accurate, at least for the CH-UH district.
I urge your readers not to rush to judgment regarding the salaries posted on Mandel/Buckeye Institute website. Verify before you vilify. I believe voters are smart enough to see the “transparent” phoniness of the Mandel/Buckeye Institute agenda against Ohio’s public employees.
Tom Schmida, President of the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union
Karen Smart
11:37 am on Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Leave it to the union to defend a 9 month working salary. By the way... when are the teachers ever going to fore-go a raise and not ask for the levy? Never will happen. That speaks volumns. Your pockets first.... children come last.
Earl Elevant
10:57 pm on Monday, September 19, 2011
Hmmm...let's see...
Teachers don't get paid for 12 months--only nine. So why would they claim what isn't real?
Teachers have taken 0% pay raises. Take a look at some of their contracts sometime.
And teachers hate children. Do you realize how moronic this sounds?
Michelle Moling Ware
12:03 pm on Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Funny, the last I saw, my children were in school for closer to 10 months. Plus, teachers have to get masters to keep licensure, out of their own pockets. Plus, most teachers need to put in time in the summer on administrative things. But, I bet you also think that teachers work a 6 hour day, and don't think about lesson planning, grading, etc. And let's not forget how much money most of our teachers spend of their own on supplies for their students. And no, I am not in a teachers union. I just understand the work that teachers do.
Karen Smart
2:02 pm on Thursday, September 15, 2011
I don't know what school you go to where kids are in school for 10 months unless you have 1 month of snow days. Not sure why you claim teachers have to get masters and Oh, my.. out of their pockets?? Who else would pay for your education? The pay is fair, no one said it's Disneyland. Teachers are not in combat zones, and the last I heard FROM A TEACHER.. .she was sitting on her deck of her pool doing summer work. My view is a cubicle. Teachers just love themselves so much. I didn't reailze that being a teacher came with such concite. No one said teachers work 6 hours a day. 8 hours is fine, 10 hours is fine. We all work overtime. Only teachers crab about it all the time SB5 YES. See what it's like to have a real working job in the real world. College degrees, work 50-60 hour work weeks ALL year long. Not a holiday every single month and weeks of vacation... SB5 YES...
Michelle Moling Ware
12:07 pm on Friday, September 16, 2011
My kids are in CHUH. They start at the end of August, and finish in the middle of June. That makes 3 weeks MORE than 9 months, which is closer to 10 months. As far as the masters, go to the Ohio department of education website, and look at licensure. When you are first licensed you get 2 years. Ever 2 years, you need to have so mane credits towards your masters, for 7 years total, then you need to have a masters. Out of your own pocket. Oh, and when I worked in a cubicle, most people spent a fair share of time on the web non-work related, and socializing with coworkers. Funny, I sure don't see that kind of time from elementary school teachers, whose only planning time is during specials, when they oftern have team meetings.
Jeri Ann Waltrip
12:34 am on Thursday, September 15, 2011
You should spend one day visiting a school & see what a teacher does in a class. I volunteered in my kids' schools for 20 years. Besides all the things that Michelle commented on above, they should earn combat pay for the things they have to deal with on a daily basis. Not only from their students, but from the parents. I respect and appreciate all the hard work that our teachers do every day. You couldn't pay me enough money to do the job they do.
Karen Smart
4:54 pm on Thursday, September 15, 2011
"You couldn't pay me enough money to do the job they do".... of course, that's why they keep asking for more and more money. They feel the same way you do. No sympathies here... they feel there isn't any ceiling to the money they deserve. That's what makes them feel like they deserve to take the taxpayers money. Like we don't deal with the public pain the butt people all day long in the private sector?.. Give me a break...
Donald R. Thompson
12:46 pm on Thursday, September 15, 2011
Combat pay?? Are you kidding me?? How many teachers have died in the line of duty?
Karen Smart
2:03 pm on Thursday, September 15, 2011
Donald, don't give them any ideas. We'll have a levy before you know it.. they will cut all sports, ask for a levy and teachers will get combat pay!