A Message From the President

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Hello WETA,
Please take the time to read this!!!
I have sent a lot of information regarding the Legislation in Columbus which has a tremendous impact in the classroom. I have also been following the events in the district and have received information that I need to pass on to you as well. This will have a great deal to say about the future of the district and our jobs.

There is a group that has formed and is very active. “CONCERNED CITIZENS of the WILLOUGHBY-EASTLAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT.” It is a political action group whose goal is to defeat any and all levies that the district puts on the ballot – new or renewal.. it is the brainchild of TIM O’KEEFFE and his friends. He worked to defeat the last two levies.

In addition, there are three School Board positions open this year and that group is likely going to run three candidates including O”KEEFE. they are anti-teacher and anti-levy. We must keep members of the board who are friendly to the teachers and staff or the students will lose and negotiations will be even more difficult.!!

In addition to working to defeat our levies, some of the goals of CONCERNED CITIZENS are to tell the public:

- That renewals are unnecessary;
- Willoughby-Eastlake is overstaffed – money should go into the classroom like the Governor wants -more cuts!!!
- Compare administrative costs to other districts – more cuts;
- Compare W-E salaries and benefits with average income of residents (non-teachers);
- District performance is dismal – remediation help is needed just to go to Lakeland;
AND:
- Go to absentee voters and give them literature – target apartment residents;
- Stand at the polls on Election Day and urge people to vote “NO”;
- Go after voters who have not voted and get them to the polls

Quote from them:
“We all know if we went to college, a teaching degree is one of the easiest to get. It’s not that difficult so don’t tell me they should be put on a huge pedestal. That is the issue that will be relevant, that we can use”.

We have the renewal in May. This is by no means a slam dunk for us. IF THIS LEVY DOES NOT PASS – WE ARE BACK TO THE BARGAINING TABLE – $7.5 million dollars will continue to be generated by this renewal if it passes.

We must be ready to fight this as early voting begins on April 2nd. They are out to bring you and this district down to its knees. Unfortunately this will not end and we must work to keep our dignity and professional standards in our classrooms. We can’t afford not to get involved with this as our future and the excellence of this district is at stake!!

Please make sure you are registered and vote in the upcoming elections. If you live in this district it is imperative that you get out and support the students and teachers. Plan to work the polls, make phone calls, write letters, and anything else to move Willoughby-Eastlake forward. Monetary support is always needed and welcome. This is our career and our future!!!

Thank you very much.

Tom

From the Legislative Chair

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Hello WETA!

As Legislative Chair, I have been paying close attention to what is going on at all levels with legislation, as well as, the Strongsville Strike. I know that we have all seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Strongsville Teacher’s Strike. The reality is that these teachers are facing many of the adversities that we have faced with legislation and budgets. They are not striking strictly for pay and health benefits. They are striking for classroom environmental issues, teacher observations, and harsh interpretations of recent legislation. These teachers are much like us. They have families and a deep care for their students. They are a movement to ensure that we still have a voice in what goes on in our classrooms.

I am writing to ask each member to bring in a canned or non-perishable food item to donate to these teachers who have given up their salaries and soon their health benefits for this cause. Please give them to your building reps. These items will be collected at our next Executive Committee meeting on March 12.

We are also working on how we can be actively involved to have a voice in this education reform movement. More information will be coming on how you can be involved. We are all in this together. Our careers, students, and families depend on us being actively involved.

Thank you,
Colleen Metz