Sunday, February 21, 2010 1:15 AM

Anybody worried about how well household income will stack up against expenses in the next year or two should feel for Ohio's school districts, which must plan for the near future with no sure idea how much money they'll be given by the state. They know only that the picture is likely to get uglier.

School officials should be able to turn to state leaders for realistic advice about how much state aid to expect. But in a campaign year such as this one, no one wants to talk about no-win scenarios such as that presented by Ohio's budget, which was balanced for 2010-11 only by pouring in more than $7 billion in one-time money -- from federal stimulus packages and other sources that aren't guaranteed to be available a year from now, when it's time to write the next state budget.

To be sure, the economy and state budget will be at the forefront of this year's legislative and gubernatorial campaigns, but no one will want to tell voters the simple, unvarnished truth: that Ohio -- along with all its local governments and school districts -- might have to make severe budget cuts or raise taxes or some combination of both to balance budgets beyond 2011.

Most state-government candidates will prefer to talk instead about their plans to boost economic development so that tax revenues increase and people find jobs. While economic development is critical to building a better future, it won't happen soon enough to solve the budget problems that local governments face right now. Ohio has yet to adjust to the fact that its true bottom line is going to be lower for some time to come. Story continues below Advertisement

School officials, who are working on budgets for their fiscal year that begins July 1, don't have the luxury of avoiding the issue.

The convoluted school-funding formula Gov. Ted Strickland wrote into the current state budget only muddies the waters. While the formula calls for substantial school-spending increases through 2019, fiscal reality dictates that, short of an unprecedented economic miracle that boosts state revenues beyond all expectation, the state won't be able to maintain level funding.

Even for the 2010-11 school budget year, which falls in the second half of the current two-year state budget, state funding for many districts could well drop, as state tax revenues lag behind estimates and the previous year's collections.

Beyond 2011, when the bottom truly drops out of the state budget, the picture is likely to be much worse.

Strickland hopes for another round of federal stimulus funding to bail out Ohio and other states as it did in 2009, but that would only worsen the already-dangerous federal deficit and delay the inevitable job of balancing Ohio's spending against the money it can raise in taxes.

Difficult cutbacks are in the state's future and almost certainly in the amount of state aid school districts will receive. What is uncertain is when the state's leaders will acknowledge this and start talking numbers.

Communities served by those school districts need realistic expectations, so they can start figuring out what they will have to live without. The longer those decisions are put off, the harder they will be.

Current 'guaranteed' money means influx of state cash needed in next 2-year budget

Sunday, February 14, 2010 By Jim Siegel THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH 

If an infusion of new state money does not materialize in the next two-year budget, a number of school districts, including many of those surrounding Columbus, could be at the front of the line for funding cuts.

When it comes to state funding for schools, there is the money that the state formula says a district is supposed to get, and the money a district actually gets.

For districts such as Worthington, Westerville, Reynoldsburg, Gahanna-Jefferson, Hilliard, Dublin and Olentangy, that gap has widened considerably.

The dynamic was created by Gov. Ted Strickland's school-funding formula, which was included with the state budget passed last year. A lack of money forced leaders to only partly implement the plan, but many districts across Ohio actually would get less money under the partial plan.

To soften the blow, state officials did two things as an interim step:

• They capped the losses at 1 percent this year and 2 percent in 2011.

• They gave about 400 districts what's known as "guaranteed" or "transition" funding -- money the districts would not have gotten if the funding formula had been allowed to work as written.

But those stopgaps could spell trouble. Generally, more "guaranteed" money today makes it less likely that those districts will get funding increases tomorrow. But projecting an exact impact is almost impossible.

"It's just another significant challenge that is very difficult to measure," said Jeff McCuen, chief fiscal officer for Worthington Schools, which went from $2.9 million in "guaranteed" money in 2009 to $12.1 million in 2010.

All this will not be a concern if state leaders are able to pour significant new money into education for the fiscal-year 2012-13 budget. That might be possible if the federal government comes through with another big stimulus package. The next state budget takes effect in July 2011 but will be rolled out in about a year.

Strickland and Democratic legislative leaders say they are committed to a full phase-in of the new funding formula by 2019, even though it will require several billion dollars.

"There is no desire on my part to see anybody get cut, and we're going to move heaven and earth to make sure that doesn't happen," said Rep. Stephen Dyer, D-Green, a key player in crafting the new funding formula. "I really think there has been a move from both sides of the aisle to really place the utmost importance on education funding. That is a good place to be if you're a school district."

But state tax revenue for January was $108 million below estimates. Through seven months of this fiscal year, tax collections were $1 billion less than in the same period of the previous fiscal year. And the state faces an estimated $4 billion to $8 billion deficit in the next budget, largely because of the loss of one-time state and federal money, much of which went to schools.

McCuen has forecast a freeze in Worthington's funding, but as tax collections fall, so does his optimism. "Concerns are raised significantly as to the state's ability to maintain education funding at the current level. Certainly, school districts that are as deep into the guarantee as we are most likely will be the first to see significant reductions."

David Varda, executive director of the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, agrees. "Those districts have to be aware that in a tough economic time, they are probably going to be the districts" that will be cut, he said.

Much can change in the next biennium. Dyer noted that if certain parts of the formula are phased in, such as the state picking up a greater share of the local contribution to education, some districts might not need more guaranteed aid.

Varda said that if money is available to support phasing in the funding plan, worries should be lessened. But he acknowledged, "that's a big if."

"Is it realistic that we're going to get through this biennial budget without cuts?" he said. "Our school districts have been held pretty harmless compared to their colleagues in other states."

While suburban schools are getting more guaranteed money, the change in the state funding formula has had the opposite effect on Columbus City Schools. It got nearly $11 million in guaranteed money in 2009 but this year gets none. Cleveland dropped from $52 million to zero.

Cutting district's costs will take cooperation of unions, officials say

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 3:03 AM By Charlie Boss THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

South-Western schools should lower their health-insurance costs, trim the maintenance staff and eliminate some buses, according to a state audit released yesterday.

The performance audit, which the district requested during its August levy campaign, also called on officials to spend $700,000 to replace technology.

Though the district could save about $2.5 million by instituting the audit's recommendations, more than half of the savings would require agreements from the district's unions. The savings would account for about 1 percent of the district's $200 million budget.

But some of the recommendations, such as eliminating positions, would compound savings over time, said Treasurer Hugh Garside.

"We're looking for about $15 million of savings over the next four years," he said. "If the items compound themselves, it could help."

Unlike a traditional financial audit that examines the district's bookkeeping, yesterday's audit analyzed South-Western's operations, including finances, human resources, facilities, transportation, technology and food service.

"Performance audits are management-improvement tools and, hopefully, district officials will take the recommendations and implement the ones they think will be helpful to their district," said Chris Abbruzzese, spokesman for the state auditor's office.

But some of the suggestions would require bargaining with the district's certified and classified unions, including:

• Mandatory direct deposit for all employees.

• Modifying step increases or limiting future wages for classified employees, so that compensation is in line with that at similar local districts.

• Removing provisions in the employees' contracts that hinder administrators' ability to manage, such as requirements on class size, school-day schedules and kindergarten aides.

• Bringing monthly health-care premiums in line with State Employment Relations Board averages for the Columbus area, enrolling more employees in lower-cost health-insurance plans and increasing employee contributions for dental and vision insurance.

• Evaluating incentives that encourage employees to retire.

But some suggestions raise concerns.

A recommendation to create an internal auditor position to review the district's operations would increase expenses, Superintendent Bill Wise said.

And eliminating nine buses from the district's fleet, as suggested, would mean longer ride times for students. Slashing 15 positions in maintenance and operations would meet industry standards, but it wouldn't take into account the district's community needs, Wise said.

For example, the district covers custodial costs when community groups such as parks and recreation departments use the buildings, he said.

Auditors lauded the district's operations in eight areas, including how officials manage workers' compensation costs and provide instruction to specialized students such as gifted and special-needs children.

District officials will compose a response plan to the findings, including whether they will go forward with any of the recommendations.

Bob Ruth, a retired Dispatch reporter who lives in the school district and helped start a citizens' watchdog group called Excellence for South-Western Schools, supports the auditor's health-insurance recommendations. Ruth and his daughter, Cindy Legue, have criticized the district's health-care plan at board meetings.

"The board has been irresponsible in caving in to the union in the past, and I hope they can get some backbone this time for a change," Ruth said.

The district is holding a community meeting to discuss the audit at 7 p.m. Thursday at the South-Western Career Academy, 4750 Big Run South Rd. in Grove City.

   Comments

Published: Wednesday, February 10, 2010

To the Editor:

Enough of Mr. Graham's (Worthington News, Jan. 17) vendetta against Huntington Bank given his frustration over financial losses. Let's keep focus on the topic, which is reducing teacher pay to ease the financial burden on taxpayers.

To close the books on my Huntington Bank experience, the bank realized $536 million in income, including eight of nine quarters of significant profit, when I worked for it. So much for my "front row seat" as the "banking industry plunged faster than the gas needle on a Cadillac."

As for teacher salary reductions, as outlined in my last letter, recent economic data -- private sector worker productivity -- is the primary justification for my position.

As for questioning my data related to teacher pay, I stand by it 100 percent and challenge anyone to prove it wrong.

As it relates to my position related to teacher pay cuts lacking logic, let's try it for the third time.

Private sector employees have absorbed pay cuts. The same should have been asked of Worthington teachers. The quality of education would have not have suffered as there are many teachers working for exemplary school districts nearby making considerably less that would have taken vacated positions. Supporting data has been presented in previous letters.

Graham's defense of the school board's fiscal incompetence was amusing. While he may find comfort in the fact that other businesses were in worse financial shape, from my perspective, any budget deficit reflects poor management.

While it is nice to see that he has come to support my position of reducing teacher salaries, he has yet to provide a specific recommendation. In a previous letter, he was critical of those taking his current position. Have he changed his thinking?

Finally, I am all for police and firefighters taking pay reductions. We in the private sector have been forced to tighten our belts and there is no reason why the same should not be expected by all within the public sector.

Guy Molde

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 2:53 PM By EVAN BROOKS ThisWeek Staff Writer Results of a state performance audit include recommendations that should yield $2.4-million in annual savings for South-Western schools. Almost all the savings would require collective bargaining to be accomplished.

The results, released officially Feb. 9, indicate that the bulk of annual savings - $1.4-million worth - should come by placing more of the cost burden on employees for medical insurance. Another $588,000 could be saved annually by doing the same for dental insurance costs.

The audit was conducted by state auditor Mary Taylor's office at the request of the district, which paid $68,800. The district's annual budget is nearly $200-million.

The audit also recommends elimination of 15 full-time and one part-time nonteaching jobs, plus eliminating the use of seasonal groundskeepers, all saving the district a total of $761,000 annually.

The audit recommends district officials eliminate nine active buses, as well, saving the district $305,000 a year.

The audit also says the district should spend an additional $700,000 annually to fully fund a five-year replacement schedule for technology.

South-Western treasurer Hugh Garside said the district already spends $500,000 annually on technology replacement.

"We recognize there are some things we need to do better," Garside said.

Superintendent Bill Wise said the audit gives his administration ways to be as efficient as possible.

"We want to make sure we make the best use of taxpayer dollars as we continue to move forward," he said.

Wise and Garside recognize health care costs are an impediment to district efficiency.

"We've made changes, but we need to continue to work hard and continue to make changes," Wise said.

He said in order to shore up a $15-million budget hole in the next three years (attributed mainly to state education cuts) his administration will need to work "hand-in-hand" with union employees, a community advisory group and performance audit results.

He added health care costs are an issue for nearly all employers across the nation.

The audit points out 29 areas that could be improved, mostly in district operations.

It also praises the district in eight areas: specialized instruction, workers compensation premiums, enrollment projection, classroom inventory and building utilization, transportation plan, network infrastructure, software application integration and the technology inventory system.

The audit highlights 35 other areas in the district's operations that are "in line with benchmark and standard organizational practices."

"(Auditors) really do say we do an outstanding job in many areas," Wise said.

Wise said district officials will release a response to the audit recommendations. He was unsure exactly when that would happen.

District officials have invited the community to a town hall meeting to discuss the audit at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at the South-Western Career Academy, 4750 Big Run South Road.

According to the audit, district data was compared to different peer groups, including similar school districts in Ohio. It also compared data to standards outlined by the Ohio Department of Education, State Employment Relations Board and other national auditing benchmarks.

Wise said the audit "validated at least 43 occasions areas where we are implementing best practices."

He and Garside drew attention to the district's per pupil expenditure number as validation.

South-Western spent $9,336 per pupil in school year 2007-08, while its peers spent $10,108, a difference of $773 per pupil.

The average number for school districts in the state is $10,184 per pupil annually, a difference of $848 per pupil from South-Western.

District critics have said South-Western employs too many administrators. According to the audit, the district actually employs fewer administrators per 1,000 students than 10 other peer districts across Ohio. South-Western employs 4.9 administrators per 1,000 students, which is 0.2 less than its peer average, according to the audit.

Also, South-Western spent about 9 percent less per pupil than its peers on administration in school year 2007-08.

     Comments

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 1:10 PM By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Staff Writer

Changes in assignment patterns and in program structure are in store for Worthington's four middle schools.

Probably beginning next school year, all traditional students attending Perry Middle School will go to McCord Middle School, and team teaching will be replaced with a program that includes eight class periods each day at McCord, Worthingway, and Kilbourne middle schools.

Details of the changes have not been finalized, and parents are invited to hear about the plans and to give their input during a meeting set for 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at Kilbourne Middle School.

The changes are expected to result in a savings to the district, Superintendent Melissa Conrath said. Budget reductions became necessary when voters approved a 6.9-mill incremental operating levy in November.

When the school board decreased the size of the levy after a 7.4-mill levy failed last spring, it acknowledged that reductions would be necessary.

"We are trying to identify ways to increase efficiencies without hurting the quality of the program," Conrath said.

The cost of operating the middle school program is higher per pupil than the high schools or the elementary schools, district spokesperson Vicki Gnezda said. The middle schools' costs also are higher than those in other central Ohio districts, she said.

Currently, the district operates the four middle schools. The alternative Phoenix program and about 150 students in a traditional program share the Perry building.

Those students are to be moved to McCord, which could house all of the students, Gnezda said. The redistribution of students is expected to last about five years, when the currently sagging middle school enrollment is expected to rebound.

Meanwhile, officials plan to expand the Phoenix program.

Moving the Perry students to McCord is expected to save money because of the reduced repetition of services.

"We will use the three buildings we have now to accommodate our students," Conrath said. "We are not planning to close a building."

What will be closed is the team-teaching approach that has been used for more than two decades. Students are assigned to a team of teachers who work together and stay with the same students much of the school day.

The new program will resemble the old junior-high program, though administrators seem to shy away from using that terminology.

"We are looking at a blended model," Gnezda said. "We are looking at restructuring the school day."

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 11:46 AM By PAUL COMSTOCK ThisWeek Staff Writer

It will take more than freezing base salary and step increases to solve problems inherent in the pay systems of Ohio public education, said Van Keating, director of management services for the Ohio School Board Association.

Largely because of the economy, some citizens are calling for the South-Western school district to negotiate a freeze in base salary and step increases with its unions this year.

The Reynoldsburg school board on Jan. 19 approved a freeze in base and step salaries for its employees until July 31, 2011.

Such a freeze is a short-term step that doesn't address larger problems of how school union contracts are negotiated, Keating said. The original intent of school employee salary schedules "has been severely perverted over time and has become cost-prohibitive," he wrote in the OSBA School Management News in October.

In that article on school salary indexes and in an interview with The Record, Keating said two elements of teacher and school employee compensation -- base pay and step increases -- originally were designed to serve two different functions.

Base pay, he said, was designed solely to provide cost-of-living increases so teacher and school employee pay can keep pace with inflation, "to keep a dollar worth a dollar."

Step increases served a different purpose, particularly for teachers, he said. Awarded during certain years of a teacher's tenure, step increases increase pay based on a teacher's years of experience and any additional education he or she receives.

"The more experience (teachers have), the more they are worth to the district," Keating said.

"That was really your raise, because you are worth more," he said.

School worker unions have sought to change all that, Keating said. Unions "like to talk about the base salary increase. They have it in their minds that's where they have their raise. ... Clearly the thinking has gotten convoluted," he said.

In his article, he wrote, "Unions put unrelenting pressure on districts to increase based salaries based on a litany of reasons: ability to pay, comparable data, average teacher salaries, fairness, etc. Every argument was advanced except that of inflation, so teachers began to regularly receive base salary increases that exceeded it. Discussions about raises based on the (salary) index were dismissed as if the index was divinely decreed and to argue otherwise was heresy."

In their bid to increase base salaries, he wrote, unions sought changes in certification and licensure standards and increased tuition reimbursement. "Schools reimbursing employees for tuition while simultaneously advancing them on the salary schedule has significantly added to the overall cost of indexes statewide."

He also wrote, "It is important to consider that merely taking a break from the effects of a salary index does not mean it, or the problems,will go away the following year. Freezes are a short-term treatment, not a permanent one."

Several districts have salary schedules that were "no longer sustainable. ... Unfortunately, there is no quick or easy fix to realign salary schedules other than through the method that created the problems to begin with: collective bargaining," his article said.

His article contained other criticisms of widespread salary practices, including those that discourage teachers from retiring.

He told The Record that South-Western, Westerville and Hilliard school districts all will negotiate contracts in 2010. "All of them really are in some ways within a whisker of each other with their problems," he said.

The Reynoldsburg pay freeze is part of a one-year contract extension for its teachers and classified employees.

The Ohio Education Association, the umbrella organization for most local Ohio teachers' unions, did not return a message seeking comment for this article.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Staff Writer

Marc Schare might be a man of "great character" and "enormous integrity," but he is not qualified to be vice president of the Worthington Board of Education, according to board member Charlie Wilson.

Wilson made a 15-minute impassioned plea before the board on Jan. 11. He asked fellow board members to not elect Schare as vice president.

His plea fell on deaf ears: The remaining board members voted 4-1 to make Schare vice president. Julie Keegan was unanimously elected president for 2010.

Schare likely will become president next year, as the vice president from the previous year traditionally fills that position. That idea does not please Wilson, who heaped generous praise on Schare prior to criticizing him for allegedly not supporting board decisions, rejecting the offer of the Worthington Education Association to freeze the base salary next year and rejecting the most recent contract with the teachers' union, among other charges.

Wilson said that in 2006, Schare voted against a proposed levy and wrote a letter to the editor, stating why residents should vote against the levy. Such action, Wilson said, violated Schare's responsibility as a board member.

Last November, Schare voted to place the levy on the ballot, but on his Web page said his personal vote on the issue depended on the message of the campaign committee.

Wilson called that "a huge disservice to the people of Worthington."

Wilson said he also objected to Schare's recent letter to the editor, in which he wrote that some teachers are paid too much, others are paid just right, and some are paid too little.

"I'm concerned about the impact of that letter on teachers," Wilson said.

He also accused Schare of violating a board member's code of ethics by urging Sen. David Goodman (R-New Albany) to vote against a bill that Wilson said would have benefitted the district and other districts across the state.

"I'm not convinced Marc's greatest concern is the welfare of all public schoolchildren," Wilson said.

Outgoing board president David Bressman said he was disappointed with Wilson's comments, especially because Schare's family and friends were present to see him take office.

Bressman said he sometimes disagrees with Schare, but that does not mean he is not qualified to be board president.

"The comments you made tonight serve to divide this board," Bressman said. "I wish you had thought this out a little bit more."

Asked if he wanted to answer Wilson's accusations, Schare told ThisWeek that he chose not to at this time. Instead, he said, he is studying some of the factual information presented by Wilson and will rebut his comments during the next board meeting.

Schare made a brief prepared statement at the end of last week's meeting. He said it has been a privilege and honor to work with the board.

There is broad agreement in the district, he said, adding that on the few issues about which the board disagrees, debate has always been respectful and productive.

"I am so grateful for the continued opportunity to serve this community, and while 2010 may indeed be a time of renewal for our school district, the decade-long tradition of absolute excellence is something that will never change," Schare said.

Published: Wednesday, January 20, 2010

To the Editor:

Guy Molde's response (Worthington News, Jan. 6) to my last letter made me even more appreciative of the wisdom of Somerset Maugham: "I can imagine no more comfortable frame of mind for the conduct of life than a humorous resignation."

Molde either did not understand or conveniently forgot that I actually agreed with his proposal for pay and benefits cuts for Worthington teachers. Granted, I think Molde's percentages are excessive, and his letter reinforced my thinking because it was an emotional outburst that lacked logic.

I didn't state that Molde still worked at Huntington Bank. I wrote that his thinking about public employees' pay and benefits cuts was shaped by his experiences as a middle manager at the bank. I wasn't sure where he is currently working, but apparently he was with Huntington from 2006-2008 and it was during that time that the banking industry plunged faster than the gas needle on a Cadillac, and Molde had a front row seat. That had to have shaped the words and tone of his letter.

As to qualifications for public flogging because of mis-management, Molde suggests that the Worthington Board of Education members rank ahead of the directors and managers of his former employer. A statistical analysis is in order.

A $14 million short gap in the annual Worthington school district budget would have been 12 percent of the current year's $114.8 million operating expense. Between the last quarter of 2007 and the last quarter of 2009, Huntington stock value declined 82 percent and its dividends by 96.7 percent. Twelve percent versus 82 percent and 96.7 percent is fifth-grade arithmetic and Huntington loses hands down.

That isn't to make light of Huntington's situation. After all, I own a number of its shares and I'd have been perfectly happy to have to only dealt with a $14 million problem with the local school district.

The most important point, however, is that all public employee unions should make pay and benefits concession, not only for the public good but for that of the unions as well. I expect police and firefighters to be included in those concessions. Does Molde agree?

Dick Graham

Sunday, January 17, 2010 By Dana Wilson The Columbus Dispatch

Unionized teachers and classified employees in the Reynoldsburg school district have agreed to forgo raises during the 2010-11 school year.

The school board will hold a special meeting Tuesday to vote on the pay freezes negotiated with the Reynoldsburg Support Service Association and Reynoldsburg Education Association.

The district faces a $4 million deficit next year after voters turned down a 9.9-mill operating levy request in November.

The unions' offers, combined with administrative salary freezes already planned for 2010-11, would save the district more than $1 million, said Tricia Moore, district spokeswoman.

The Reynoldsburg Education Association, which represents the district's teachers, approved a one-year contract extension that forgoes "step increases" and cost-of-living raises.

The Reynoldsburg Support Service Association, which includes secretaries, bus drivers, custodians, maintenance workers, cooks and others, recently approved a two-year contract that freezes salaries through July 31, 2011.

The concessions are "extraordinary examples of shared sacrifice aimed at cutting the budget while trying to protect educational quality," Superintendent Steve Dackin said in a news release.

Board disagrees, votes Schare as veep

By PAMELA WILLIS Published: Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Consensus became contention at the Worthington school board's organizational meeting this week as one board member stated publicly why another board member did not deserve a vice president position.

Board member Julie Keegan's election as the new president of the board was unanimous at the board meeting Monday, Jan. 11, at the Worthington Education Center.

Keegan held the vice president position last year, and the Worthington school board typically has slid the vice president into the presidential spot each year.

Electing this year's vice president was a different story.

Board member Charlie Wilson objected to the nomination of fellow board member Marc Share and stated why he would vote "no" for Schare's election to the vice president position.

Wilson read an Ohio School Board Association definition of a "good school board member" that stated a board member has a responsibility "to support a decision when it is made."

"I am not convinced Marc embraces the concept that it is his legal obligation to support the board once they have decided on an issue," Wilson said.

Wilson said Schare had voted against putting the 2006 operating levy on the ballot -- which Wilson said was Schare's right -- but that "10 days after the vote to put that levy on the ballot, in my opinion, Marc openly violated his responsibility to support the decision by arguing against the public passage of the levy.

"For the 2009 levy, his behavior was even more disappointing, in my opinion," Wilson said. "He said on his Web site his vote for or against the levy 'was up for grabs' and announced he would support the levy only if he agreed with the campaign language and the way the campaign was conducted. So he was announcing he would support the levy only if his demands were met."

Wilson said if Schare were elected vice president of the board, he would likely end up in the leadership position of president because of the board's past election practices.

"In my opinion, moving Marc into a leadership position would be a disservice to the district," Wilson said.

Wilson also said Schare had published a letter to the editor about Worthington teachers "being paid too much, too little and some just the right amount.

"I am concerned that he claimed some of the teachers may not be earning their salaries," Wilson said.

Wilson went on to say, "I believe Marc is an outstanding human being and I have enormous respect for Marc as a person.

"I also want to say this is not a divided board; we've always been able to disagree without being disagreeable," Wilson said.

David Bressman, last year's board president, said he was "very disappointed" about Wilson's comments.

"I find your comments disheartening," Bressman said. "You say this board isn't divided, but comments like that can serve to divide it.

"Lord knows Marc and I have had hard conversations over the last eight years, but I am very disappointed that what should have been a happy occasion, with many of Marc's family here to see him elected vice president, has turned into this kind of scene," he said.

Board member Jennifer Best agreed with Bressman.

"Marc has attended many more school functions than most of us and I believe he is always acting in the best interest of the students and the public," she said.

Schare didn't comment on Wilson's words before Keegan asked for a vote. Wilson was the only board member to cast a "no" vote for Schare.

Schare made one comment at the end of the meeting.

"January is a time for renewal, and it has been my privilege and honor to work with each of you," Schare said. "Our discussion and debate has always been respectful and you can't ask for more than that."

The next regular board meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at Worthington Education Center, 200 E. Wilson Bridge Road.

By GARTH BISHOP, COMMENTARY EDITOR

Published: Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Scanning through our series of "Year in Preview" stories last week, I happened to spot a few detailing school districts' plans to put levies on the ballot in 2010.

I can already hear the protests.

Campaigns opposing school levies have always pretty much sounded the same, and the state of the economy has only made the trend more prominent.

"The people can't afford it" and "The schools don't deserve it" are the two most significant rallying cries. Now the former applies to a much larger chunk of the population, while the latter's comparisons between the public and private sectors are all the more noticeable given the sacrifices made in the private sector.

Those arguments are true for some, but they're overgeneralized. No school district is without a single resident who can afford the levy, and no district budget is entirely devoid of worthwhile expenditures.

Pro-levy campaigns should be subject to the same scrutiny of overgeneralization. They love to trot out the "Your kids' education will suffer if you don't pass the levy" mantra and the "Hey, the state gave us a good rating -- that proves we deserve the money" line.

But they know those things by themselves don't really work anymore. They must go beyond empty campaign platitudes and point to hard facts: cuts made, concessions granted, promises kept.

I'm sure people will question the truth of some things proponents of last fall's successful levies said. But there's no denying the campaigns went beyond what was expected.

Organized levy opposition tends to go beyond the campaign platitudes and dredge up district documents to reinforce points. But thanks in part to pro-levy campaigns' much greater resources, it seemed only a handful of people went really deep into statistics to support anti-levy arguments.

A lot of post-election letters lamenting levy passages placed all the blame for that passage on school promises they don't expect to see kept. But none took any responsibility for their own role in failing to defeat it.

"No" voters truly dedicated to defeating a levy can't just rely on the local opposition campaign. These campaigns might not be able to send out the same types of campaign fliers or garner the support of prominent local officials, but they can point to the arguments against the levy -- preferably ones that aren't antagonistic, as antagonistic arguments tend to alienate voters -- or even get their hands on some district figures and make their own arguments.

Pro-levy campaigns have figured out that they can't get a levy passed on guilt alone. They have to find the best facts to support their point and get them passed along to as many voters as possible.

Anti-levy campaigns know they can't rely entirely on guilt, either -- but getting their data passed on to voters is tougher. That's where individual voters have to get involved, calculating and then disseminating their own information.

You can be one of those people. Maybe you'll find in the district's data something far more likely to garner "no" votes. Or maybe you'll realize the district really is trying its best.

But either way, you'll be much more convincing.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Staff Writer

Newly appointed school board president Julie Keegan, right, congratulates newly elected vice-president Marc Schare after swearing him in at the board meeting on Jan. 11. By Chris Parker/ThisWeek Newly appointed school board president Julie Keegan, right, congratulates newly elected vice-president Marc Schare after swearing him in at the board meeting on Jan. 11. Julie Keegan and Marc Schare were elected president and vice president of the Worthington Board of Education on Monday.

Keegan's election was expected, as she served as vice president in 2009. The vice president historically steps into the president's position.

Schare's election was less predictable, since he was passed over for the position last year. At that time, some members accused him of "having his own agenda" and not being a "consensus builder." Keegan was unanimously elected on Monday.

The vote on Schare was 4-1, with board member Charlie Wilson voting "no."

Schare is beginning his second term on the board. He and David Bressman and Jennifer Best were re-elected in November. They were sworn in on Monday.

The board also made annual appointments to boards, commissions, and organizations for 2010.

Appointed to the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) as legislative liaison was Wilson; delegate and alternate delegate to the annual assembly meeting of the OSBA, Keegan and Schare; student achievement committee, Best and Wilson; board representative to Metropolitan Educational Council, Keegan; share solutions committee, Wilson and Schare; liaison to city of Worthington, Keegan; OSBA- SALT, Wilson; finance committee, Keegan and Schare; liaison to Worthington Education Association, Wilson; liaison to Worthington Libraries Board, Best; communications committee, Bressman and Schare.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Staff Writer

Residents are overwhelmingly pleased with the quality of life in Worthington.

They especially like their strong neighborhoods, the accessibility of the city to central Ohio attractions, and the high-quality schools.

Concerns include stormwater drainage, street repair, economic development and crime prevention.

And if residents were forced to cut city services, the top choice would be parks and recreation facilities.

Those are some of the results of a recent telephone survey of 200 city residents done by a company called Communica, which was hired by the city, Worthington City Schools and Worthington Libraries to help with a collaborative strategic planning process.

The company called 600 randomly chosen registered voters. Two hundred were asked questions about the schools, and 200 about the libraries.

On Monday night, Bill Grindle of Communica presented the results of the city's portion of the survey.

The results of all three will be presented again on Jan. 22 and 23 at a community planning session called a visioning conference. Fifty to 60 community members have been invited to take part to help put together a plan for the future of all three entities.

The outcome for the city will be a plan to help guide future decisions. The schools and the libraries will write their own plans.

Worthington city manager Matt Greeson said he will present a draft for council review before the final plan is written.

"I am optimistic we will have a written plan this calendar year," Greeson said.

Grindle told council on Monday that, according to survey results, the favorite things about living in Worthington are neighborhoods and friendly people; central location; and the high quality of the schools.

Fourteen other qualities were also mentioned.

Asked what makes the city unique in comparison to other central Ohio communities, respondents said neighborhoods/friendly community/small town feel; excellent schools; and antiquity/history/older community/architecture.

The top three answers to the biggest challenge facing the city were school system funding/quality; financial crisis/poor economy; and the high cost of property taxes.

Asked to rate the performance of city government, survey respondents gave high grades. Ninety percent agreed or strongly agreed the city provides programs and service the community needs; 85 percent said the city is well managed; 80 percent said the city is headed in the right direction; and 65 percent said the city uses its money wisely.

"Overall, residents are pleased from a governance standpoint," Grindle said.

The survey compared what residents said was important to the performance of the city in the same area.

In most areas, performance was aligned with expectations.

Some of the exceptions were crime prevention, street repairs, and stormwater drainage. In each case, performance did not keep pace with expectations.

Economic and business development also proved to be an area of concern to residents. Sixty percent rated it as important, but only 38 percent rated performance as high.

A question that may be asked more frequently in the coming months was what items residents would consider reducing or eliminating if necessary because of funding issues.

The top answer - 59 percent - was "don't know."

The next most frequent answers were parks and recreation facilities, 29 percent; arts programs, 22 percent; holiday decorations, banners, programs, 20 percent; and lead/yard waste collection, 18 percent.

Local newspapers was the preferred method of communication, with 37 percent answering that it was how they get most of their local information. Other answers were e-mail, 28 percent, and mail, 25 percent.

The respondents were mostly female (65 percent); over age 65 (34 percent); household income between $100,000 and $150,000 (24 percent); had a four-year college degree (40 percent); and were married (70 percent).

Wednesday, January 6, 2010 By cbrooks@thisweeknews.com ThisWeek Staff Writer

The company that provides health insurance to employees of the Worthington Schools was the biggest contributor to the November levy campaign.

United Health Care Services contributed $10,000 to Worthington Community for Schools to use to persuade voters to approve the 6.9-mill incremental operating levy.

The levy was approved by a 60-40 margin on Nov. 4.

The campaign committee collected approximately $89,000 and spent approximately $60,000. Most of the money came from hundreds of individual contributors in amounts of $100 or less.

United Health Care was by far the biggest contributor.

Others who gave more than $1,000 to the cause include the Worthington Education Association (the teachers' union), $5,000; Huntington National Bank, $2,500; Joseph James & Associates, $1,500; Limbach Co., $1,500.

Those who contributed $1,000 include Worthington Kilbourne PTO, Thomas Worthington PTSO, CARDS Inc., Wolves Athletic Association, Central Ohio Realtors PAC, Microimage Inc., and Bricker and Eckler LLP State PAC.

Bricker and Eckler is law firm that represents the district.

The campaign committee spent approximately $60,000, according to finance reports filed with the Franklin County Board of Elections on Oct. 22 and Dec. 10.

Besides covering the expected yard signs and local advertising, the contributions funded the services of a Cleveland public relations firm and a Texas-based elections consultant.

Burges & Burges of Cleveland was paid approximately $24,000 for consulting, data lists, and reminder calls.

The Tyson Organization of Fort Worth, Texas, was paid $3,146. Its Web site states that it conducts "telephone voter turnout and grassroots advocacy programs for Democratic and non-partisan clients."

A company called Strategies Unlimited, 988 Circle on the Green, Columbus, was paid $4,500 for a survey.

The campaign committee inherited $15,000 left over from past campaigns.

A balance of $44,265 will be available to future levy campaigns. School officials have said that another operating levy could be on the ballot as early as 2011.

Published: Wednesday, January 6, 2010

To the Editor:

If Mr. Graham's (Worthington News, Dec. 23) letters are to have credibility, he needs to get his facts straight.

He cites my employment with Huntington Bank as the reason for my recommending that Worthington teachers absorb a pay cut much like that experienced by the private sector. Such an observation is ridiculous, as I have not worked at Huntington Bank for nearly two years.

Mr. Graham also infers that private sector pay cuts have been driven by a reduced demand for goods. This is also without merit.

Over the last two quarters, private sector worker productivity, driven by higher output and reduced pay, has increased at levels not seen since 2003. This indicates that demand remains, with private sector employees of all types being required to produce more while earning less as businesses struggle with other financial factors.

Related to the district's fiscal state, Mr. Graham suggested a "public flogging" of the board if our school system had been as badly managed as Huntington Bank. Perhaps he ought to get his whip ready given the following.

The district faced a budget shortfall of $14 million and the potential of having key education programs eliminated just a month ago.

While Worthington teachers are paid the 12th highest average salary in Ohio to achieve an exemplary Performance Assessment, eight school districts within 25 miles -- employing over 1,800 teachers -- pay their teachers at least 20 percent less while achieving a high rating.

While teachers at surrounding school districts have had their pay frozen, Worthington teachers continue to average a 5 percent annual pay raise when all designated increases are applied.

Despite arguments to the contrary, the facts remain. The financial distress experienced by the district was in line with that of the private sector that found pay cuts necessary and the quality of education provided students would not have been compromised by pay reductions given the close proximity of financially motivated, highly effective teachers.

With the next contract renegotiation, consideration ought to be given to decreasing teacher salaries. While contrary to the standard "throw more taxpayer dollars at it" solution, reducing expenses by over $5 million annually -- under a 10 percent pay reduction scenario -- makes the effort worth it.

Guy Molde

Published: Wednesday, January 6, 2010

To the Editor:

Dr. Ottolenghi (Worthington News, Dec. 16) opined that a pay freeze would result in teacher losses -- I assume he means "losses at an unacceptable rate." I must respectfully disagree.

Does anyone really believe that there would be some sort of mass exodus if pay were not increased 5 or 6 percent over a two- or three-year period? Sure, a few teachers might look elsewhere, but that's a positively rosy scenario when compared to failed levies and the resultant educational cuts.

State funding for our district is in decline; taxpayers at the local level must pickup the slack. Voters can understand this and might be willing authorize the next levy if this is the primary issue. If teacher pay raises can't be checked, the primary issue next levy time will once again be teacher pay.

Our teachers and administration are doing a great job -- can the board show some mettle and do the same?

John Toth

Worthington leaders will have their hands full in the new year as funds dwindle and enrollment increases at the elementary schools.

By PAMELA WILLIS Published: Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The Worthington City School District is struggling like most school districts in a tough economy, but 2010 also will bring enrollment challenges as leaders continue to move ahead with a school renewal process.

Superintendent Melissa Conrath said she would have to look back before envisioning the year ahead, because one of the reasons 2010 can be a successful year is the passage of Issue 49, the 3.9-mill incremental levy.

"The passage of Issue 49 was a significant accomplishment for the district, along with achieving an 'Excellent with Distinction' rating on the state report card," she said. "Passing the tax issue was vital to our ability to provide the revenue to support our program."

Passing the tax issue doesn't mean the district's financial problems are over, however.

"Because we went for a reduced millage amount and a phasing in of levy dollars, we will generate less dollars than the issue we had on the ballot in May," she said. "With the uncertainty of the state budget, we know we'll lose 1 percent of state funding this year and 2 percent next year.

"We're hoping that is the extent of it; however, currently there is an uncertainty as to whether the state will be able to provide even that level of funding," she said. "We will also see a dropoff of revenue because of the phasing out of the tangible property tax. We're being reimbursed for that right now, but the law doesn't extend beyond fiscal year 2012, so that could be a very significant decline in revenue."

Conrath said the district once again will have to revisit expenditures and make reductions.

"We need to make reductions because we want to be able to work with our community from the funding and revenue side to be able to request reasonable levies at reasonable intervals," she said. "The financial challenges and how we respond to them is important so that we do not diminish the quality of our Worthington school district."

Fluctuations in student enrollment also will be a challenge in 2010.

"We have experienced some decline in enrollment over the years, which is now at the middle school and high school, yet are beginning to see an increase in enrollment at the elementary level," she said. "The challenge that creates is, how do we most effectively house our students?"

Conrath said the increase in enrollment at the elementary school level means more buildings at capacity.

"We are running out of room and will not be able to accommodate the projected enrollment in our elementary buildings, some of which are at capacity," she said. "Yet we have excess capacity at the middle grade levels and with our current attendance patterns will have excess capacity at Worthington Kilbourne High School for several years.

"So we're dealing with how to best utilize our buildings and our capacity to house our students," she said.

Several years ago, a decline in enrollment at the elementary school level led to the merging of Liberty and Sutter Park elementary school students into the Liberty building.

The district currently houses preschool classes and some special-education classes at Sutter Park.

Conrath said school leaders will be seriously looking at and planning for a restructuring of the middle school program this month and next month.

Another major challenge will be making sure students are prepared academically for an increasingly global society.

"Our core purpose is to prepare students for their post-secondary plans," she said. "We need to make any changes that will best prepare students in the core academic areas to enter a world that is different than the world we have had in the past. Technology will play a major role in that."

Conrath said all Worthington school buildings have been working on school renewal plans to best prepare students for 21st-century learning.

Some of those plans, such as the International Business Academy at Worthington Kilbourne and the Entrepreneurship Academy at Thomas Worthington, already are in operation.

"We have been using the renewal process to reflect upon and become familiar with what the skill areas will be for those students and have to determine how we can redesign ourselves or position ourselves in a way that will provide students with the opportunities to develop the skills they need," she said.

Monday, January 4, 2010

For members of the Ohio School Funding Advisory Council, this is an inauspicious time to begin their task of recommending how much the state should spend on schools. Without a penny to spare in the current biennial budget and a mind-boggling deficit of billions of dollars looming in the next one, the group will find no gravy to spread around. In fact, cuts are more likely.

But the 28-member panel, which meets for the first time on Thursday, can do the state a great service if members recognize that fact and focus their efforts on devising the best possible school-spending plan with the limited resources available.

That would be a change from what some have seen as the council's mandate: to decide what schools ideally should have and tell the legislature how much to allocate, regardless of how much money is available or how much any other state program needs -- all based on a faulty assumption that school spending forever will increase.

That idea that education, among all the critical services delivered by state government, should be exempt from the give and take of competing funding needs never was reasonable. Now, given the state's straitened circumstances, it's impossible.

Unfortunately, the budget law that created the panel doesn't encourage practicality. It enshrines Gov. Ted Strickland's preoccupation with the inputs of education, the idea that schools will be successful if they just have a specified number of teachers, counselors, classrooms and the like. Besides being a transparent gift to teachers unions, the checklist approach has little provision for fostering innovation and encouraging those programs that work better than others.

The panel also, by law, is stacked with people bound to have a vested interest in the education status quo, not to mention a financial interest in bigger education budgets. Of the 28 seats, 13 are reserved for people directly involved in preschool-through-12{+t}{+h}-grade education. Only one person represents the public, and one seat each is saved for the business community, philanthropic organizations and the Ohio Academy of Science. Two are from higher education and four represent charter schools. The remaining seats go to the governor or his designee and four people named by leaders in the Ohio House and Senate.

Without doubt, the panelists will hear from the usual chorus of school-spending boosters. To do its job right, the council also should hear from the state budget director and tax commissioner and others who can keep the process grounded in fiscal reality: How much will the state have to spend on education in the 2012-13 biennium?

The answer, barring an economic miracle or a federal bail- out that would sink the nation further into debt, is likely to be less than the education establishment deems adequate.

That leaves the council with a job far more important and harder than lobbying for a bigger share of the state treasury. It means paring down a large wish list to those items that will do the most to improve the academic performance of Ohio's children.

By PAMELA WILLIS Published: Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The Worthington City School District moved through a year of renewal in 2009 as schools came up with new and innovative ways to teach students.

District leaders leaped into 2009 with high hopes, but soon found themselves crunching numbers and mulling over what to cut and what to keep to continue that renewal process.

Here's a look back at some of 2009's top stories in Worthington schools.

Published: Wednesday, December 30, 2009

To the Editor:

Dick Graham's letter (Worthington News, Dec. 23) is right on from start to finish. In particular, his analysis of Marc Share's "psychobabble" and Guy Molde's suggestions are on target.

On the topic of necessary union adaptations, having written two books on relevant topics and spent a career in teacher union staff leadership, I offer the following from that writing.

"... There is something to the charge that unions can be a problem. The origin of that problem, created by the long-term efforts to limit union influence, was when unions lost control over the quality of their members' work. Unions started with the old guilds where worker quality, standards, and compensation were all handled by the guilds themselves.

"Nevertheless, to become thoroughly relevant, a modern union must attend to at least four issues:

* Protecting its members from the consequences of out-dated, inadequate and-or dysfunctional systems;

* Establishing reasonable benefits and working conditions on behalf of its members;

* Accepting responsibility, in collaboration with others, for the design and continuous improvement of the systems in which its members work and for its members' individual and collective performance; and

* Assuring its members an opportunity for experiencing joy and satisfaction in their daily work.

"Both because the systems have been set against them, and because of their acceptance of a limited view of their role, few unions see their functions as incorporating much beyond issues 1 and 2 above. That will have to change for unions to avoid the inevitable criticism they receive, but it is even more important that it change if the systems in which people work -- from auto manufacturing to education -- are going to survive, much less thrive."

Thanks again to Dick Graham for his great letters.

Bob Barkley

By PAMELA WILLIS Published: Tuesday, December 22, 2009

From robots to recorders to arrows and audiobooks, grants received recently by Worthington teachers will enhance education in the classroom, said Worthington Educational Foundation Trustee Susan Petrick.

Petrick and school board member Julie Keegan gave grants out to a number of teachers during the Dec. 12 board meeting.

"We are pleased to announce we've awarded more than $10,000 in grants to these teachers," Petrick said.

Petrick said the next due date for grant applications from teachers is Jan. 7.

Applicants can find copies of the grant application form at the Web site worthedfoundation.org. All applications should be submitted electronically as e-mail attachments to Petrick at rpetrick@columbus.rr. com.

Nonie Chick, Sara Dale, Stephanie Frederick and Nicole Moritz of Liberty Elementary School received $660 to purchase magnetic letters, vowel puzzles, Scrabble tiles and other materials that allow third-grade students to engage in hands-on activities focused on vocabulary building.

Melissa Webber of Slate Hill Elementary School was awarded $703.48 to purchase 10 digital audiobooks and accompanying print books.

"The books will enhance independent reading practice and enjoyment for second-graders, with special benefits for English Language Learners, special-education students or any with disabilities or reading challenges," Petrick said.

Amy Root of Brookside and Evening Street elementary schools received $3,000 to purchase a set of 500 leveled Reading Recovery books, magnetic letters and timers to be used for ELL students in both elementary schools.

"This is the first time an ELL teacher has used Reading Recovery training with ELL students," Petrick said.

Ben Wilson of Bluffsview Elementary School received $1,452 to purchase archery equipment for students in grades 3-6 to participate in an annual biathlon unit and intramural club combining physical fitness with the National Archery for the Schools program.

Rebecca Crieg of Slate Hill received $778.84 to purchase audiobooks for sixth-graders in order to give ELL and special-education students more opportunities to hear fluent, expressive reading.

Jon Baird, Mike Miller, Debbie Voisin and Randy Ross of the district's four middle school buildings received $2,260.57 from the Grainger Fund to purchase eight Lego NXT robots for a robotics and automation unit for students in the Gateway to Technology class.

Sandrine White of Worthington Kilbourne High School was awarded $200 to purchase 10 cassette recorders, to be used by 20 advanced placement French students to prepare for the speaking section of the AP College Board French exam.

Tracy Keyes, Lynn Snyder and Michelle Banks of Worthington Estates Elementary School received $962.88 to purchase cameras for use by both teachers and students in kindergarten classes.

"The teachers will be able to take pictures and video clips to document and share learning activities and accomplishments with both students and parents," Petrick said. "The students will use kid-friendly Polaroid cameras to document their own learning and to have a means of self-assessment. They will also be taught the computer skills necessary for uploading photos to the computer to share with classmates."

Published: Thursday, December 24, 2009 

To the Editor:

I agree, in large part, with Dr. Ottolenghi's letter (Worthington News, Dec. 16). He fails, however, to offer any constructive ideas on containing costs.

It is true that the surrounding school districts would jump at the opportunity to hire experienced teachers, but only in the core areas of math, English and foreign languages. Dr. Ottelenghi exaggerates the demand for our administrators.

The same can not be said for "retired" and then rehired teachers or for administrators placed back in the teaching ranks. We are in the middle of an economy that has created a glut of new teachers and administrators. Worthington could easily hire the best and the brightest.

Great change starts with small steps. Stop the practice of retire and rehire. Bring in new blood at lower salaries and you will have begun the process of change. Charles de Gaulle once said, "The graveyards are full of indispensable men."

John Patterson

Published: Thursday, December 24, 2009

To the Editor:

Of the two responses to my asking what Worthington teachers' pay and benefits should be, Guy Molde (Worthington News, Dec. 9) gave an answer. Marc Schare (Worthington News, Dec. 9) provided no figures or percentages and took 238 words of psychobabble to say, in effect, "We should think about it."

Once again, Schare avoided taking a specific position on a specific issue because he's afraid of committing himself to anything. If Schare were asked his favorite color, he'd probably say "plaid."

Molde proposed that Worthington teachers' pay be reduced by 10 percent and their contribution to their benefits costs increased to 50 percent. Does he know their current percentage contribution toward benefits, I wonder?

My initial reaction was to agree, but Molde's logic was not as persuasive after some thought. His calculations are based on private sector reactions to the economic downturn that started two years ago and his experiences as a middle manager at Huntington Bank. Having been a longtime shareholder in and customer of Huntington, I assure readers that if the Worthington school system were managed as badly as Huntington Bank has been over the last several years, I would favor public flogging of the school board members on the Village Green.

Molde's idea should be taken with several grains of salt. It doesn't necessarily follow that Worthington teachers should be penalized merely because the subprime lending crisis and Molde's superiors proved that the private sector can be even dumber than Molde thinks the public sector is.

That said, Molde's idea should be seriously considered, albeit with more calibrated percentages. The nature of unions, especially those in the public sector, is changing, and unless unions adapt, they will disappear. That will be bad for capitalism because it will lead to the completely unregulated markets that caused the current economy.

To survive, unions will have to make concessions. Public employee unions should lead the way, starting, as Molde will no doubt agree, with police and firefighters. After all, in his logic, every public employees union must become more like the private sector.

Dick Graham

Firefighter's contract calls for 3-percent raises; police negotiations under way

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Staff Writer

Except for firefighters and possibly police officers, city employees will receive no wage increases in 2010.

The wage freeze covers the city manager and all department heads, as well as non-exempt positions in all of the city's departments.

Firefighters will receive 3-percent raises as required by their labor contract.

The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the city are currently negotiating a new contract. The current contract expired Dec. 31.

According to interim finance director Jason Nicodemus, no salary increase for police is included in the 2010 budget approved by Worthington City Council on Monday night. If a raise results from negotiations, the budget would have to be amended.

This will be the first year for city budget freezes. In 2009, police received a 3.75-percent salary increase; firefighters, 3-percent; management, 2.5-percent; and the rest of the staff, 3-percent.

Council approved the ordinance setting the salaries of exempt employees on Monday. The salaries, which are the same as 2009, will be:

City manager Matt Greeson, $128,125.

Director of finance Molly Roberts, $92,000.

Director of parks and recreation Lynda Chambers, $96,072.

Director of public service David Groth, $96,072.

Assistant to the city manager/human resource manager Lori Trego, $73,807.

Secretary to the city manager Tonya Word, $52,397.

Assistant city manager Robyn Stewart, $97,375.

City engineer Bill Watterson, $96,072.

Court clerk Barb Nofziger, $50,470.

Administrative assistant/service department Rob Chandler, $47,976.

Assistant to the city manager/information technology manager Mike Horvath, $73,807.

Administrative assistant/public information and community relations officer Anne Brown, $60,628.

Chief building inspector Don Phillips, $82,500.

Director of law Michael Minister, $110,854.

cbrooks@thisweeknews.com

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Staff Writer

Worthington's two newest principals were on hand to meet the Worthington Board of Education on Monday.

Moses Hubert took over as interim principal at Granby Elementary School and Linda Strong took on the same position at Wilson Hill Elementary on Dec. 9.

They replace Linda Dawson, who is retiring as Granby principal, and Pat Reeder, who is retiring at Wilson Hill.

Hubert and Strong are retired principals from Columbus Public Schools. Strong has also been a principal in Dublin and last year served as an interim principal in Hilliard.

Salary information was not available on Tuesday and was not on the agenda at the board meeting because they are being paid by county funds. The superintendent can spend funds from the county without the approval of the school board.

Superintendent of Schools Melissa Conrath said she decided to hire interim principals because it is difficult to find qualified administrators who are able to leave their current positions in the middle of the year.

In the spring, the district will advertise for permanent successors for Dawson and Reeder. The positions will be advertised and staff and parents will be involved in the interview and hiring process, she said.

Also at the Monday meeting, the board:

* Recognized community volunteers who campaigned for Issue 49. * Commended 123 students who earned advanced placement scholar awards from the College Board on the basis of their performance on the college-level advanced placement program exams. The highest award, the national advanced placement scholar award, went to Suyang Li of Thomas Worthington High School and Vivian Chang, Joy Jing, Harika Rayala, and Yucheng Zhang of Worthington Kilbourne High School. * Appointed Dawn Valasco to the Worthington Libraries Board of Trustees. She will fill the vacancy created when Marty Jenkins' term expires Dec. 31, 2009. The term will run through Dec. 31, 2016.

By PAMELA WILLIS

Published: Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The last Worthington school board meeting of 2009 included hugs and handshakes for Issue 49 campaign members and public recognition for both high schools' advanced placement scholars.

Board members also approved the new Wellness4Life physical education course of study and considered a senior capstone course in Project Lead the Way.

The board met Monday, Dec. 14, at the Worthington Education Center.

Superintendent Melissa Conrath and board President David Bressman, along with teachers' union presidents Pete Scully and Pam Sturiano, gave out certificates to campaign volunteers who helped to make Issue 49 successful.

Issue 49 was the 3.9-mill incremental levy request approved by voters last month.

"The people we recognize today gave endless hours on this campaign and I know none of them had any idea how much we would ask of them," Conrath said. "On behalf of every child we have served this year, I want to give a heartfelt thank you from everyone in this district."

After recognizing the volunteers, the five board members, Conrath and Treasurer Jeff McCuen stood and gave the volunteers a standing ovation.

The board unanimously approved Wellness4Life, the district's new physical education course of study.

Physical education teachers showed up at a board meeting last month wearing identical chartreuse T-shirts with the Wellness4Life logo to explain the course of study to board members.

Designed and written by the district's physical education teachers, the course emphasizes lifetime fitness and includes wellness strategies, character development and wellness connections to integrate physical education with other classroom courses.

Teacher Margo Postak said assessment of the new course of study would be based on where a student begins the program and where he or she ends it.

"Whether a student is a good athlete or has no coordination, we have a program that can help them improve," she said.

Board members also heard a first reading on a culminating course in the Project Lead the Way program, which is the district's new engineering program.

Teacher Bryan Brown said "Engineering Design and Development" is a capstone course for seniors.

"The course is a year-long senior project where students apply knowledge they have learned in the three former courses and work with an engineering mentor," he said. "They also present what they have learned in a multimedia presentation at the end of the course."

Brown said the Project Lead the Way program recently received national certification so students can earn college credit for completing program courses.

The high school students recognized for receiving Advanced Placement Scholar awards all earned a score of 3 or higher on advanced placement courses.

Five of the students were named National Advanced Placement Scholars, earning an average grade of at least 4 on all AP exams taken and grades of 4 or higher on five or more of the exams.

They are: Suyang Li from Thomas Worthington High School and Vivian Chang, Joy Jing, Harika Rayala and Yucheng Zhang from Worthington Kilbourne High School.

The first school board meeting of 2010 will be an organizational meeting to elect new board officers, set for 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Worthington Education Center, 200 E. Wilson Bridge Road.

Published: Wednesday, December 16, 2009

To the Editor:

On Dec. 9, the Worthington News published three letters relating to the question of the compensation of teachers in the Worthington City School District.

While agreeing that the fiscal problems faced by the district are closely linked to that item, I found two of the letters long on theory and, while offering apparently attractive answers, they ignore reality. While the policies indicated by board member Marc Schare might serve to improve test scores, it is difficult to see how they would result in substantial savings.

On the other hand, regarding Guy Molde's letter, in which it is suggested that reductions in teacher compensation be equal to those suffered in the private sector, I believe that it is important to note that the reductions in the private sector are the result of a reduction in demand for goods and services. There is no such reduction in education. While there will be a temporary shift in demand at any given level, the overall demand remains fairly static -- decrease at the middle-high school, increase in elementary. Where there have been decreases in demand, there have been decreases in personnel.

Mr. Molde answers the contention that good teachers and administrators would leave should his suggestions be implemented by asking, "Where would they go?" This indicates to me that he is not aware of the market in Central Ohio.

While it is true that there is a glut of young and inexperienced -- and thus less expensive -- teachers, Worthington is surrounded by growing school districts (Olentangy, Dublin, Hilliard) that would jump at the opportunity to hire middle career experienced teachers and administrators. Thus the Worthington district would stand to lose that cohort that is most important for the future. That is even more important for teachers in difficult-to-fill specialties such as math, science, special education and some languages.

Similar considerations apply to John Toth's suggestion for a two-year salary and step freeze. Since teachers get no significant step increases after 15 years in the system, and since the average tenure in the Worthington system is longer than that (19 years), the step freeze would affect the young and mid-career teachers. Having this cohort go to other and growing districts would further skew the district toward older teachers with higher salaries and health care requirements.

Abramo Ottolenghi

Published: Thursday, December 10, 2009

To the Editor:

I respond to Dick Graham's letter (Worthington News, Nov. 25). In his letter, Mr. Graham asserts that I have "pontificated" about teachers making too much money and that I offer no real solutions. Ironically, I answered this question in a recent voters' guide.

We pay some of our teachers too much, some of our teachers too little and some of our teachers the right amount. I believe what we need in Worthington and throughout Ohio is systemic reform in the way that teachers are compensated.

I favor merit based pay for part of a teacher's compensation. In addition, the reality is that some teachers are more gifted and innovative than others, and some positions are simply harder to fill. We need to update teacher compensation practices to reflect this reality. This would allow us to reward excellence and provide incentives to become better teachers, as well as continue to attract and retain a quality staff.

It's worth noting that this opinion is shared by President Obama, former President Bush and a wide range of officials, including the current Secretary of Education and his immediate three predecessors. As with most significant issues, constituent input should be used to guide our district.

By Ohio law, teachers would need to consent to this change, but by working collaboratively with our faculty and with the support of our residents who ultimately pay the bills, I hope Worthington can lead in this effort.

Marc Schare

member, Worthington Board of Education

Published: Thursday, December 10, 2009

To the Editor:

In his recent letter to the editor, Dick Graham (Worthington News, Nov. 25) criticized those of us who felt that teacher pay and benefit concessions should have been included as a part the adjustments necessary to balance the Worthington City School District budget.

Obviously, Mr. Graham and I have never crossed paths, because as one of those in the teacher pay concessions camp, answering his question of "How much should Worthington teachers be paid in salary and benefits?" is not all that difficult to me. Providing an understanding of what is happening with salaries and benefits is warranted.

Those of us working for private sector companies, especially those businesses that are in financial straits, are routinely being forced to take pay cuts and pay more of our benefits costs. Unlike public sector entities like the Worthington school district, which can threaten to provide reduced services to its customers (students) while maintaining the wages of its employees, private sector entities have had to reduce employees' salaries and benefits in order to ensure that customer needs are met so they can stay afloat.

The answer to Mr. Graham's question is not how much teachers and administrators should be paid, but how much they should be required to concede under a situation that finds the Worthington school district operating like a private sector entity in financial distress.

A review of private sector salary and benefit concessions in the current economic environment finds that a 10 percent reduction in wages and increased payment to 50 percent of benefit costs has been the standard. With teacher and administrator salaries in the Worthington school district costing over $50 million in 2009, requiring a reduction in line with those of us in the private sector would have reduced annual expenses by over $5 million -- and that does not even include impact of reduced benefit expenses. Clearly, this would have gone a long way toward reducing the $14 million budget shortfall that we taxpayers now have to fully absorb.

In advance of the contention that good teachers and administrators would be lost if salaries and benefits were reduced, I ask the simple question, "Where would they go?" Like those of us in the private sector, they too have homes, kids in school, and family and social connections, and are working in an environment where jobs are limited. Like those of us in the private sector, while frustrated by the pay cut, they too would have remained, learning to do more with less like the rest of us.

Next time Mr. Graham looking for a specific response to teacher pay concessions, he should look me up. I'll have an answer for him.

Guy Molde

Published: Thursday, December 10, 2009

To the Editor:

Now that the school levy has passed and the board is looking to the future, I hope our leaders will take this as an opportunity to mute the spending critics.

Future budgets must include at least two years of cost of living and step increase freezes. This is at a very minimum, in my opinion.

I urge the board and the administrators to set these expectations now, well before the next round of contract talks begins.

John Toth

Teachers who change jobs or move pay a high price

By Robert M. Costrell and Michael Podgursky 

Teacher pensions consume a substantial portion of school budgets. If relatively generous pensions help attract effective teachers, the expense might be justified. But new evidence suggests that current pension systems, by concentrating benefits on teachers who spend their entire careers in a single state and penalizing mobile teachers, may exacerbate the challenge of attracting to teaching young workers, who change jobs and move more often than did previous generations...

For almost 90 years, the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS Ohio) has been a cornerstone in helping to provide financial security for the public educators of this state, as well as supporting economic activity at the local, state and national levels. The contributions to the pension fund, both from members and employers, are part of the members' compensation package paid in return for work performed. At the conclusion of the teachers' career, STRS Ohio uses this deferred compensation to provide a pension benefit (in lieu of Social Security).

In the near future, some Ohio newspapers plan to publish stories about Ohio's five public pension systems and examine if they are sustainable in the future. For many months, the State Teachers Retirement Board and staff have been conducting their own self-examination about this very issue. This current "Great Recession," along with other economic and demographic factors, have had an impact on the financial condition of the pension fund. As we have shared with our members, legislators and the media during these lengthy discussions, looking long-term, STRS Ohio sees a shortfall in having the funds available to pay benefits. To keep this from happening, the responsibility lies with the Retirement Board, working in conjunction with the Legislature. The STRS Ohio Defined Benefit Plan is sustainable with reasonable, measured changes for the future.

On Sept. 1, the Retirement Board took the prudent and responsible step to unanimously adopt a plan that calls for changes in pension plan design and contributions. The board is not depending solely on market returns or simply the passage of time to solve its funding challenge. Because all of us are living longer, the plan recognizes the need to increase the retirement age and reduce benefits for current and future retirees; it also calls for an increase in member and employer contributions. For the changes to be made, action is required by the Ohio General Assembly, as all of the plan components require changes in existing law. We are currently reviewing the first draft of this legislation and anticipate that a bill will be introduced yet this year or early in 2010.

During that legislative process, we expect and will welcome spirited debate. We know that the bill may undergo changes during this time-honored process. Our overarching goal in this discussion will be the preservation of the Defined Benefit Plan for current and future educators in Ohio. The reasons for this are many. The Defined Benefit Plan:

- Provides participants a reasonable lifetime benefit they won't outlive - a problem now faced by millions of Americans whose savings have been depleted in this recession.

- Provides a stable source of revenue for local economies; STRS Ohio pays more than $3.6 billion in benefits to Ohio residents each year that they then spend in Ohio.

- Supports the services provided by state and federal governments through the taxes paid on these benefits.

- Reduces the likelihood that its participants will have to turn to taxpayer-funded public assistance, Medicaid or social services in retirement, thus relieving taxpayers of future obligations.

- Helps Ohio's public schools (including charter schools), colleges and universities recruit and retain quality educators.

Preserving a Defined Benefit Plan for Ohio's public educators provides financial protection for both plan participants and taxpayers. The plan proposed by the State Teachers Retirement Board helps ensure the sustainability of STRS Ohio for thousands of Ohio taxpayers - Ohio's retired public educators. We will continue to use our Web site, newsletters, e-mail news service and face-to-face meetings to keep you informed about this issue during the legislative process.

Michael J. Nehf STRS Ohio Executive Director

November 22, 2009

We watched an interesting YouTube video the other day. It was brought to our attention by state Sen. James Meeks, the Chicago Democrat who is also pastor of Salem Baptist Church on the South Side. We think our readers should check out the video. It'll open your eyes.

Meeks, who chairs the Illinois Senate Education Committee, has been in a war with the Chicago Teachers Union since he had some tough things to say about public education in a Tribune essay and in a speech at Rainbow Push.

The CTU responded with a vow not to give him another dime in campaign money until he apologized. Meeks promptly wrote a check for $4,000, giving back every dime the union had already given him.

No apology.

You have to love this guy. He's genuinely looking out for kids and doesn't back down to pressure.

Back to the video. It shows the top lawyer of the National Education Association, Bob Chanin, speaking at the NEA's annual meeting in July. Chanin was retiring. This was his swan song.

Chanin makes unmistakably clear what the highest priority is for the union. Hint: It's not the education of your kids.

Chanin closed his nearly 25-minute speech by explaining the influence of the NEA:

'Despite what some among us would like to believe it is not because of our creative ideas. It is not because of the merit of our positions. It is not because we care about children and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child. NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power.

And we have power because there are more than 3.2 million people who are willing to pay us hundreds of millions of dollars in dues each year, because they believe that we are the unions that can most effectively represent them, the unions that can protect their rights and advance their interests as education employees.'

Oh, it gets more interesting.

'This is not to say that the concern of NEA and its affiliates with closing achievement gaps, reducing dropout rates, improving teacher quality and the like are unimportant or inappropriate. To the contrary. These are the goals that guide the work we do. But they need not and must not be achieved at the expense of due process, employee rights and collective bargaining. That simply is too high a price to pay. '

Too high a price to pay for educated children. Chanin got wild applause from thousands of NEA members at the San Diego Convention Center for his remarks.

We tried for several days to get NEA officials to explain those remarks. We wanted to ask if the rest of the union leadership believed that kids ranked behind collective bargaining on the teacher priority list. We're still waiting to hear from them.

We know the answer the Chicago Teachers Union gave the Rev. Meeks: Cross us and we'll choke off your money.

Meeks plans to introduce a bill in January that would give the kids at Chicago's lowest-performing schools a choice. It would give kids at 15 high schools and 48 elementary schools a voucher to pay for another school.

He plans to push to remove the cap on the number of charter schools in Illinois. The legislature raised the cap this year. But there should be no cap at all.

Meeks met on Thursday with Sen. Dan Cronin, the Republican leader on the Education Committee, to see if they can work out a bipartisan agenda.

Good for both of them.

The teachers unions in Illinois get angry when we write about them. They argue that they're pushing a reform agenda, too.

If that's the case, they shouldn't be asking Meeks for an apology. They should be asking for an apology from everyone who cheered Chanin.

Too high a price, eh?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-piPkgAUo0w&feature=player_embedded

By JOHN HERRINGTON, GUEST COLUMNIST

Published: Thursday, November 12, 2009

On Nov. 3, democracy did what democracy is supposed to do: It allowed citizens to decide the direction of this district.

Educate Worthington applauds those Worthington residents who took time away from their busy lives to get educated about the levy and to cast an informed vote.

Believe it or not, EducateWorthington.org is not disappointed with the passage of this levy, as it represents a significant improvement over the larger levy that was offered in May. It also temporarily protects our children from the "massive cuts" that some board members seemed all too willing to impose on students -- despite the district's cash surplus that extends into 2012.

This brings us to the truly critical question for Worthington: "Where do we go from here?"

Do residents now disengage? Do district leaders and the union return to "business as usual," ignoring the fact that rapidly rising salary and benefit costs will require much larger levies in 2012, and again in 2014?

Do we ignore the sad reality that student programs are still going to be cut, that student services are clearly taking second priority to compensation, and that this is only going to get worse in coming years? Do we ignore the near certainty that Worthington residents will not be able to keep up with the levies the district will require?

Or do we instead, as a community, commit to remain engaged and to press for real change in the unsustainable spending that is at the heart of the "school funding crisis" throughout Ohio? Do we recognize that the union contracts of the past cannot be the union contracts of the future, and that we will be doing ourselves, our children, and this community a huge disservice if we don't return to putting students first?

Educate Worthington acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of valued district staff, and the prompt action by administrators to give back this year's salary increase. The union's best offer of a partial pay freeze in 2011 is helpful as well.

Unfortunately, the cumulative cost of many years of 5 percent to 6 percent average raises, nearly free health insurance, taxpayer-funded health care deductibles and extremely generous retirement packages cannot be offset by a partial salary freeze every 16 years. In fact, the new five-year forecast proves this by showing that even after taking these "freezes" into account, the district still projects ever larger levies in 2012 and 2014 -- or sooner.

Educate Worthington considers this course unsustainable, and we are not alone. Consider that each future levy will likely be followed by more actual cuts to students programs. And even more "massive cuts" will be threatened just to get people to vote "yes." This is the course that the district faces, and we wonder who in this district would consider this a viable solution.

Hopefully, it is becoming apparent to residents, students, district leaders, district staff and state legislators that real change is no longer an option -- it is a necessity. And we hope that those who care about this community and want to see its students and residents prosper will recognize the importance of honestly addressing this challenge.

Starting today, all of us must stay engaged and pursue real, meaningful solutions.

John Herrington is one of the founding members of Educate Worthington.