#QualityWorthKeeping - this letter to the Copley-Fairlawn City Schools was shared with us with permission to repost. We appreciate and sincerely thank our supporters! --- Dear Board Members and Mr. Poe, I am writing to you in response to your letter to the community regarding negotiations between the school board and the Copley Teachers Association. My husband and I moved to Fairlawn in 1998 knowing that we would someday have children and that we wanted the best possible education for our children. We knew that this meant we would be paying higher taxes than in some communities, but we were willing to do that because we are willing to invest in future generations. During the previous levy, I distributed signs, called families, and actively campaigned for this investment at community events. It was the right thing to do for our children (not to mention our property values). What makes a “good school” in a community? I believe it is the staff who are involved in all levels in that school district: teachers, paraprofessionals, kitchen staff, custodial staff, bus drivers, secretaries, administrators. These are the backbone of Copley-Fairlawn schools. My children both had Mrs. Pelton as a kindergarten teacher, and they love reading, writing, and learning because of her kind influence. My daughter was lucky enough to be a part of Mrs. Ciulla’s final year of teaching band, and she is equally privileged to have Ms. Smith and Mr. Foster as music instructors. Many of my children’s teachers have gone the extra mile when it comes to not only teaching, but nurturing and caring for my children. I believe that our teachers are worth a financial investment, as they continually invest their time and energy into our children. I looked through the tentative agreement, and I did some calculating. What I came up with was this: A raise is not a raise when increased insurance rates (particularly in year three of the contract where there is no cap) means you are making less than in previous years. It is not even a fair offset, particularly when Copley teachers have been frozen in their steps for the past three years. Yes, I realize that some may now advance a step, but we all know that those previous lost steps will significantly impact those teachers’ retirements. When I say “we,” I mean you, Board Members and Mr. Poe, because your letter leads us to believe that the teachers are making more than they did previously. At best, the use of the word “raise” is disingenuous. If it was your intent to be transparent by publishing the tentative agreement, I suggest that you also publish all administrators contracts for the 2014-2015 school year. I would especially be interested in any bonuses, annuities, and retirement pickups that the school provides for administrators that might offset any “cuts” or “freezes” to their salaries, if there are any. Additionally, your letter leads us to believe that you are trying to pit the teachers against each other and against the families of the community by publicly suggesting that the union is divided. Be careful; it is currently very popular to bash teachers and their unions, but that pendulum will be swinging back very soon. Reynoldsburg is proof of this. I love this community, and I love Copley-Fairlawn Schools. I want to continue to give my children the best education possible, and the teachers of our district make that happen. Please do the right thing and give our teachers the respect they deserve. Stephani Itibrout
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 17:05:16 +0000
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