Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

PEA, OEA and NEA

Concerning WHO negotiates the teachers' union contract with the PLSD BOE, page 4 says that negotiations teams will be limited to five (5) members each. It also states that negotiations shall be conducted in executive session.

I'm not sure if this means all 5 board members are on the negotiating team, or if the superintendent, treasurer and legal representative (who all sign the approval page, along with the board president) are part of the team.

For the PEA, the president, two team members and an OEA (Ohio Education Association) rep all sign.

Yes, the OEA has a signature line.

Don't kid yourself. The PEA is an arm of the OEA and the NEA. In fact, Article 1 of the contract states, ''The Pickerington Board of Education hereinafter referred to as the 'Board' recognizes the Pickerington Education Association (PEA), (Ohio Education Association) OEA, (National Education Association) NEA, Central OEA/NEA, hereinafter referred to as the 'Association' as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative of the bargaining unit defined in Article 2, Bargaining Unit.''

This means the PEA has the full force and resources of the OEA and NEA behind them. The OEA and NEA participate in or support these kinds of negotiations all the time. Pickerington Board members don't.

The unions also have lots of money at their disposal, to send in the brightest and best they can afford.

For the board to not hire a professional negotiator to negotiate on behalf of the board (i.e. the taxpayers) is completely foolishness.

I also think anyone who has a relative who is a member of the PEA, OEA or NEA should recuse themselves from the talks, to eliminate even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

The more I delve into this subject the more I realize that the deck is stacked against the taxpayers. We look to the board members to represent us, and in a perfect world that would be the case.

But it's looking more and more like we're sending boys and girls in to do the jobs of men and women.

There not going anywhere

I disagree with the idea that it is foolish to not hire a professional negotiator. Yes it will cost tax payer dollars but how much will they save those same taxpayers?

The school and superintendent have all said that if we don't pay these teachers what they ask for then they will go somewhere else. Going into a negotiation with an attitude like that only results in failure. The reality is that those teachers with master degrees and higher can't get hired by other districts because their salaries are too high.

They ain't goin anywhere.

Besides even if we lose a few so what. You don't need a Master's degree to teach second grade. Entry level teachers coming into the system from college will do very well with most classes.

I think we need to remove the board members and get in some real negotiators to protect the taxpayers.

What's your point, Katelyn?

Katelyn,

I?’ve been following your writings (SE Messenger) and posts (PATA website) for a little over a year now. And I guess I don?’t understand something.

What is your point in dissecting the teacher?’s contract? What goal are you hoping to achieve?

If it?’s to highlight the fact that the union looks out for its members at the expense (no pun intended) of the students, the district, the community ?… we all know that. Typical union behavior.

If it?’s to reduce the amount of the district?’s budget on staff salaries and benefits ?… you?’re fighting a losing battle.

I've heard multiple times that 80-85% of the operating budgets of every school district in every state in this country is spent on staff salaries and benefits. The PLSD is no different.

Unfortunately, I believe you have an ulterior motive. You?’ve transitioned from being a fair and balanced reporter to being an attack dog. You?’ve written and said some extraordinarily mean-spirited things about the district, its administrators, its teachers, the campaign committee, school board candidates, etc.

And yet you wonder why ?– when you ?“respectfully submit?” a public records request for the PEA contract ?– you?’re met with icy stares and cold shoulders at the district office.

So COME CLEAN. Let us in on why you continue to bite the hand that will eventually feed you.

Tell us why you so vehemently oppose the very school system that will one day educate your children.

By Proud Pickerington Parent

Call me

Dear Proud Pickerington Parent,

If you'd like to have a personal conversation, I'd be happy to. Just give me a call sometime.

If you want to paint me with broad strokes on a public message board, I'd prefer to know who you are. Can I assume you're the same person who made personal comments about me on this website on October 16?