From my understanding the BOE has already contracted Huffmaster's, a strike replacement service. This is an interesting move on the Board's part.

Dave Tyron is the entire cause of this problem. He has not been truthful with the public. The people of Brecksville should be cautious of everything that he said, they have not even attempted to negotiate the agreement. He puts his spin on everything.

As the Board member who is on the negotiating team for the Board, I can assure everyone that we ARE trying to negotiate to reach a new agreement. We are not 'spinning' anything, we are trying to reach an agreement that works for our students, our teachers, and our taxpayers.
Mike Ziegler, BBHCSD Board Member

Hi everyone—a healthy discussion is appreciated on Patch, but we ask that people use their real names. Here's our Terms of Use: http://brecksville.patch.com/terms

Just a note to say I and many other families support the teachers, and we remain appalled by the behavior of the school board.

I'm incredibly sick & tired of reading about the "third highest average teacher salary" in Ohio comment. Through levy failures and educational cutbacks, we have lost our young teachers. What happens to an average of a group of data when the lowest numbers are removed? Of course, it shoots up. If you really want to look at the BBH situation fairly, consider that we have teachers in my department (high school math) who have had over 170 students on their rosters. My personal high has been 178. Show me a high school another district that even comes close to that. We teach 6 classes at the high school level, while most HS teachers in Northeast Ohio only have 5. Research the numbers. A few years ago, I did a comparison of workloads with Solon. Our average load at the high school level in math was 158 students per teacher. Solon's was 99. I picked their district randomly because we were being compared with them frequently. Other districts could have been used to make my point even more effectively.
So--in summary--we have been losing colleagues we care about, taking pay freezes and insurance concessions, and working so hard that many of us don't even eat lunch at work anymore or even socialize with each other. All the while, we watch our state ranking in average pay climb the charts and get to listen to people complain about how overpaid we are and how unreasonable we're being. A 3-year pay freeze with a 5% increase in medical is unreasonable? Take a look around!

1. To the anonymous posters: If you are going to insult me, at least have the courage to identify yourself. 2. The District will run out of money in less than two years. The Board values the teachers, but pure economics means that changes have to be made. 3. Facts: >Before school ended at least one teacher told her entire class that they were going to strike. >A school bus driver told his passengers that they are going to strike. >At the end of the school year, many of the teachers took all their personal belongings from classrooms for the first time ever, suggesting that they would not be returning because of a strike. >The Union's crisis manager, whom I personally respect, stated that they may be "forced" to strike. (Of course the Board cannot force the Union to strike or prevent it from striking, but that statement suggests at least the possibility of a strike.) Accordingly, the Board believes that it is prudent to prepare for what the Union's own members are telling the community. Nevertheless, the Board will continue to negotiate in good faith with the Unions in hopes that an agreement can be reached and that the Union will not choose to strike. The Board appreciates all the feedback, even if some is critical. Dave Tryon, Board President.

Oops--that $312,000 figure is a bit off. It should be $313,973. My bad...

I am extremely disappointed at how the Board is handling the "negotiations". I agree with the Breck teacher that says taking the Special Ed teacher out of inclusion classrooms will hurt both regular & special ed students. Why is this in the contract Mr. Tryon? Mr. Luce is absolutely correct in saying that we have lost our lowest paid teachers because of expense reductions and levy failures. Just to emphasize his point, when we lose the less experienced & lower paid teachers the average teacher salary goes up. AND SO WHAT? I want my child to have an EXPERIENCED well paid professional with a Masters degree. I don't want a B/C, middle of the road graduate to teach my child. I want a teacher that graduated at the top of their class. WHY? Because I live in Brecksville and graduated from BBHHS. Our motto is..."where fine education is a heritage". I have heard that some have commented that if a teacher can afford to live in our district they are making too much money. Who are these people? Who are they to say that a teacher should not be able to afford to live in Brecksville. This needs to end now. I want to see both sides willing to negotiate. The teachers are willing to give, why isn't the Board? It is time for a new money levy. Negotiate a settlement and work together to pass a levy - if the Board would support a new money levy Mr. Tryon, Mr. Dosen, Mr. Ziegler, it would pass. Other communities value their teachers, why doesn't ours? GBED Get Busy END Disagreement!

Here is where Mr. Tryon and the rest of the Board mislead the public. He keeps insisting that the Board cannot force a strike. What he fails to tell you, however, is that the Board can implement a contract. This is the Board's plan, watch it unfold and then when a strike happens the Board will place the blame on the teachers. When the Board implements a contract they end negotiations and force the teachers to work under their imposed terms. This would force a strike, and although the Board will blame this on the teachers it will essentially be the Board's blame for forcing the union in a corner. This has been the Board's MO from day one. 1. The publish a Web site with the bargaining proposals linked. 2. They hire a Board attorney who they have already paid over $200,000 (about 4 teachers salaries). This attorney is known in creating similar labor chaos all across the state. The $200,000 they have paid him in four months would equal close to a million if spread out over a year. 3. They declare impasse on contract negotiations early in the process. This is the first step in implementing a contract (remember this would force a strike). 4. They begin to advertise for replacement services for teachers because they know they are going to implement a contract which would force a strike. Their plan is playing out perfectly. Nice try Mr. Tryon, your aren't fooling everyone.

As a parent and resident of Broadview Hts., I attended my first board meeting last week and was appalled by the condescending and unprofessional manner demonstrated by the board. The eye rolling, the smirking and superior attitude from the board president and his minions makes me wonder what the voters who put these people in there were thinking. Talking down to the public, especially when the former and current board is responsible for this mess, isn't going to lead to an effective resolution to this impasse. As things progress, it is becoming apparent that the board has engineered this crisis and despite the comments about valuing quality, students, and employees, nothing could be further from the truth.

Great comments, Jim, Tom, and Matt.
For those of you who want to directly contact the Board members, here are their emails:
tryond@bbhcsd.org
jantzenm@bbhcsd.org
mackk@bbhcsd.org
dosenm@bbhcsd.org
zielgerm@bbhcsd.org

To those that say our teachers are “overpaid” because other “Excellent” districts across the state pay their teachers significantly less. This is trying to pass this off as an Apples-to-Apples comparison when it really is an Apples-to-Oranges comparison. The person never acknowledged or tried to compensate for market value and cost of living factors. District comparisons across the state are fair only when what is being compared is standardized. (i.e. ACT scores, PSI rankings, expense costs as a percentage of overall expenses). The reality is that Cuyahoga County, as a whole, is the highest paying county in the state. When BBHCSD competes for resources, we’re competing against Orange City SD, Beachwood City SD, Solon City SD, Westlake City SD, not Tri-Valley Local in Muskingum County, or Lincolnview Local in Van Wert County, or Hicksville Exempted in Defiance County. The salary structure in BBHCSD has enabled the district to put the best and the brightest talent in the classroom. Personally, I find it comforting to know that the teacher teaching my child came out of college with academic accolades and not the “C” student who bumped along. “Excellence” is not free.

Until the State of Ohio comes up with a plan to fund the schools in a way that is CONSTITUTIONAL, these problems will continue for every school district. What are the reasons why the State has not come up with a plan in the past 10-15+ yrs? Something drastic needs to happen. Here is a potential solution. ALL public teachers in the State should threaten to go on strike this fall - before schools start. This would FORCE the State to do something. Do you really think the State would not react if they knew there was a REAL threat of a statewide teachers strike? The State cannot replace every teacher and would be forced to finally comply with the Ohio Supreme Court and find a way to properly fund the schools. Teachers and their Boards need to band together STATEWIDE against the State. Unless something that drastic happens, this problem will NEVER get solved and we, the taxpayers, will be asked every year to fund a new tax increasing levy that will never go away. I understand that school boards can only do so much with what they have, but in these types of situations where teachers may or may not strike, in the end, the only ones getting hurt are the students.

Mr. Tryon, frankly I was surprised you made a comment on a public forum such as this, but since you did I feel it is within my right as a resident to respond.
To your points:
#1. Anonymous posters. As you can see, I have the courage to identify myself but I can appreciate those who might fear retribution from either the BOE or the Administration for comments they may make and wishing to remain anonymous.

Please continue reading....

@Charles and Nancy Hanti and like minded>>>Your support of the BBH BOE is certainly your prerogative. I come to the Patch to learn some things about both sides of this important community issue and to that end I wish that your note would have included some information that would serve to substantiate your opinion that the compensation earned by teachers is not sustainable or (and I am not sure why the quotation marks, but I’ll play too) “FAIR”. Further, I do not understand what the “super abundant amount of unemployed qualified teachers” exactly means. I could also use a precise definition of “reasonable compensation” for any particular career.

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First, the compensation package for which teachers have fairly negotiated is indeed sustainable as long as the public values the service enough to pay for it. I can only conclude that the opinion that it is not sustainable has its roots in a value proposition that has been deemed to be an unbalanced equation where value does not equal the benefits less the cost. The normal course for any organization that wishes to succeed is to advance a business strategy that works to balance the equation of a value proposition for its prospective clients with whom the proposition is not fully embraced. I find the BBH school system to be well worth paying for as it has consistently delivered a high percentage of graduated product that garners big numbers in scholarship and moves to the next step of higher education. This record of success lends itself well to the perceived value of the BBH communities. Perception of value adds dollars to the bottom line of any sale. Home values are certainly not excluded. I see the value. I do not understand why others do not and I am baffled beyond any level of understanding why the BBH BOE has not advanced a strategy that will balance the value proposition equation of its product. My perception is that the collective message of the board has been to do the exact opposite, that is that its product is overpriced and not worth the purchase price.

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The traditional value proposition has been replaced by a strategy that delivers a sub-standard product that will fit in the same place. Just because it fits…doesn’t mean it works. You need to think of generic lap top computer batteries that fit but also burst into flames.

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The judgment of “FAIR” is strictly subjective. For me, “FAIR” is the simple notion that you get what you get. There will always be those that have more and those that have less. The previous contract at issue was not executed by its beneficiary’s unilaterally. It is the result of a negotiation. When the negotiation was done, each side got what they got. That’s fair to me. The job of each side in the contract is simply to fulfill it. I would argue that the true definition of fair or reasonable compensation is the amount on which two parties agree. Nobody wants to give back the things they have acquired. I challenge anyone to find that small part of their income (let alone a large portion) or resources that they simple wish to give up because somebody else would like to have it. That sounds like you get what you take. That is not “FAIR” or reasonable in my understanding.

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The market presences of a large number of unemployed teachers would seem to lend itself favorably to a solution to the issue of our unbalanced value proposition equation. I will tell you that it does not. Anyone that has been charged with the job of staffing and managing a group within any organization will tell you that the presence of bodies is not an instant solution. People posses all varying degrees of skill, experience, ability to work independently and in groups as well as multiple other attributes that creates the perfect team of success. While I would not argue that the BBH schools are perfect, I would point you to its rankings, its success in both academic and athletic competitions and the high number of college bound graduates as sure signs of its near perfect status. I believe that this is the direct result of a top level administration that has put together a very well qualified team. You have to have the right people and build a team if you are going to find success. Again, bodies don’t solve problems.

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While schools and businesses are not the same kind of thing, you can look to private industry for some level of comparative proof. Ask anyone in the tek sector or search some news articles on the challenges of filling holes in corporate engineering staffs and you will find the complaint of many candidates that simply don’t have the skill and experience that is truly needed. They can’t find the right people in an environment with an unemployment rate of 8.2%. How is the BOE going to fill 400 holes and still deliver a quality product?

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This all said I would paint myself as blind to reality if I did not acknowledge both the current economic environment and the so called “false economy” from which we emerged in 2008. It would serve us all well today if those that executed the contract that created the current compensation standard could have foreseen the condition that has strangled the school’s tax revenue stream but they did not. If they had, they would have likely been told that their ability to predict this condition was shear madness. The reduced revenue of the system must now be considered by the systems employees. That’s not a prediction. It is now a clear fact.

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So we are where we are. We have product with a cost that finds itself for sale with too many customers who find its value proposition to be unfavorable. In the open market the product (like video rentals and pay phones) could simply go away. It is important to stop comparing this contract negotiation, its product (our kids!), its employees, their compensation package and its funding to private business or any other public service. This is different. This is a school. Its product is the quality education of our kids. The BBH School District will not go away. When this apparently contentious situation is all done and no matter who gets what we will still have the BBH School District. The question of its quality as an institution, employer and community asset is what now hangs in the balance. The current Board and like minded members of the BBH communities should indeed be intimidated by this current contentious situation. The legacy of an institution rests uncomfortably in their hands.

I'll try this again...must not have done it correctly the first time.

As a former teacher AND a former board member, this situation distresses me greatly. I have had the opportunity to be involved in 4+ negotiations as a teacher and then later as a board member; never have I seen such negativity.

We were taught, as board members, to make each decision by asking, "what is best for the kids?" I implore both sides to keep the benefit of the students at the forefront of their decisions.

I may be "mushy," but this situation just breaks my heart.

Terri Neff

Teacher, 1980-1986, and recently re-licensed
BBH BOE 2000-2010
Proud parent of 3 BBHCSD graduates, Classes of '04, '06 and '09

I have read through all of these comments and I believe that there is always 2 sides to every story. However, in this instance, there is a 3rd side. That side is for the students of BBHCSD. I agree with Terri Neff that everyone should be asking themselves, "What is best for the kids?" These kids are the future of our communities and country. We need them to have the best educational opportunities possible. It is the reason the many of us moved to this school district. I cannot believe that this is where we are at right now. Please everyone, get this worked out so that our children can start the school year out right.

What other school board has seen an improving voter trend toward passage of a levy only to stop trying? How many other districts in Northeast Ohio were able to pass levies during the last election cycle? Where is our board in using all the tools available to them rather than limiting themselves to the dangerous gamble in trying to pin fiscal responsibility on staff salary reductions alone? Statements from current board members that teacher salaries are too high for "second incomes" show their true intentions. Regardless, a cooling off period for both sides might be in everyone's interest at this point and maybe there is at least one board member willing to think outside the box as things continue to degrade. What if the current contract was extended for another year without change, while the board actively supports a new money levy appropriate in size to avoid the coming storm? Negotiations could continue on non money issues pending the success/failure of the levy. At the moment, the public that voted in this board and has consistently voted no for new money are on the sidelines. Let's get them involved now, not after the board tries to ram a take it or leave it offer to the staff following mediation. We've seen what happens when the board campaigns against a levy, let's see what happens when they actively support one. Mr. Dosen says "we wouldn't know how much to ask for" but I think we've now answered that question for him.

As a graduate years ago of the BBHHS district, it is rather disappointing to see what's going on.

And it's also as disappointing to see people complaining about teachers, "they make too much"/"they should take pay cuts" and the typical ignorance/stupidity coming from those too damn lazy to educate themselves.

Let me remind you that the BBH District has been considered in high standing and high quality for many, many years (going back decades). People MOVE into a community like B-BH because of the schools. If you refuse to support the district (using pathetic AND HYPOCRITICAL excuses like "I don't have kids in the schools"), then pack up your crap and move to a community that doesn't care about their schools. Like Garfield Hts.
And you're a hypocrite because while you pathetically shoot down every single levy because you don't have kids in the district (for example), if you were selling your house, one of the FIRST THINGS you'd mention would be the quality of the district. THAT makes you a hypocrite.

A school district like B-BH costs money to maintain its' quality. And people (those w/common sense) realize it. People do not get into teaching to get rich (which makes those who think they "make too much" look like (bigger) fools). And quite frankly, if someone has been teaching for 20-30 years, they SHOULD get paid accordingly. After all, you'd expect the same in YOUR career (making you a possibly bigger hypocrite).

I applaud Scott Nolan for his intelligent and informed point by point rebuttal to Mr. Tryon's post. In addition, I very much agree with Tom Tucker. Quality teaching personnel (and by quality, I mean educated, experienced, and passionate) come with commensurate salary requirements. Anyone who has done any hiring in any profession knows this to be true. As Mr. Tucker accurately pointed out, there is another factor in this equation that has not been mentioned very frequently and that is the residents of B-BH. My husband and I moved to this district for the schools. I assure you, had we not cared about schools, we could have gotten a much larger home with a lower tax bill in an alternate community. We supported the tax levies years before we had our own children and will support the schools years after our daughters matriculate. You do that when you care about your community, its children, your home values, and resale possibilities. As a community we must come together to support our school district because we all shoulder the responsibility of maintaining the tradition of excellent education. If a levy is required to sustain our district, the BOE must take a leadership role in its passage; that means standing WITH our district personnel and ending this combative posturing.

Thank you Jill, for stating that last piece of the puzzle. The fact that we could have bought a much larger home in a different community hasn't been said yet. So much of how I feel has already been said so I won't belabor those points again. I keep checking back to see if any of our Board Members have chosen to respond again. I do hope they are checking back as well. Our kids deserve the best, I don't want just any teacher that answers an add in a newspaper, I want what I came here for, excellence in education. I hope this makes me sound greedy because I am. Get our kids back to school with what they deserve, it's what you were elected to do.

Excellence in education also has to do with the participation of devoted tax paying, tapped out parents in this community. I work for a Fortune 500 company and recently endured increased out of pocket expenses, no yearly salary increases and fewer resources with less time. I pay over $275 a month for medical insurance and dental with high deductibles, high co-pays and high prescriptions costs; and no guarantee on my retirement purse and pay $150 a month just to park downtown. The law firm in the building cut their employee’s lunch hour to one half hour. It is more work with less people. In the corporate world we do not choices on the cuts they devise to make ends meet. If you grumble then you would be told to find another employer. Times are different, more difficult and complex. Education is more important than ever before but at some point everyone has to suck it up and take a hit where it hurts and be relieved to have a career, maybe even in a great community with parents that are concerned, volunteer and engage in homework assignments. Do not get me wrong, I adore our teachers but some things have to give. Last year I paid over $8,300 in property taxes and the price tag for all-day public school kindergarten just to live in this community. The half-day, at no cost, Kindergarten option is not conducive to a family of 2 fulltime working parents that make as much as one median BBH teacher but we had to suck it up! How bad is it really!?

Brecksville-Broadview Hts. taxes are higher because we live in a safe community with great schools and services. It is all where you put your value. My son just graduated from BBHHS. He received an outstanding academic scholarship from the University of Dayton - way more than expected. This four year scholarship will significantly decrease the cost of his college education. Sometimes you have to make a choice, less disposable income in a higher tax community with great schools; a smaller house with lower taxes in the same community (so you have more disposable income); or a larger/same house in a lower tax community with fair/average schools. My son received a quality education K thru 12 in the district. I hope your children get the same experience. His experience at BBHHS in the past four years has really prepared him for his next step and apparently UD and other colleges (where he received scholarships) believe that too. He couldn't have done it without the teachers he had, they were top-notch.

First of all, thank you, Scott Nolan, Tom Tucker, Kelly Sedivy and everyone else who has contributed to the conversation about our current school dilemma. A couple of things have come about for me since this whole mess began. I have been teaching in this district for sixteen years, and never would I have thought things would come to what is happening today—a school board that concentrates on a “bottom line” business mentality instead of thinking about what is best for the students we (and they) serve—very sad.

Yes, I have all of my sixteen years of personal belongings at home. It’s chaotic, leaves me with a lot less space to enjoy my home, and is unnerving that I had to leave my classroom this year feeling like I may not be welcomed back. The Board may say that the teachers were sending signals that we were going to strike by clearing our materials out. Quite frankly what was going through my mind was that my Board was not negotiating by the time I left, so I was left hanging with what my future held. With what I have invested (financially, physically and mentally) in building quality lessons that strengthen and develop concepts and understandings for my students, I was not willing to leave these materials behind for someone else to come into the classroom and do what they wanted with them.

On the flip side, having all of my things at home has allowed me to go through materials and remind myself of what great lessons I have developed and what materials have gone by the wayside and should be purged. Along with this I came across a folder with my name on it. This folder was given to me by Dr. Calevich, as she was principal of Chippewa when I began teaching. She told me to use that folder to keep notes in from students, families, and colleagues that I could go back and look at when things got rough and I needed a reality check on what truly mattered to me in my profession. I have taken a long walk down memory lane these past few days, reading letters from students who still come to see me now, even though they are in high school or have graduated, and from families who appreciated the time and effort I put into reaching their children and helping them to achieve. I have also spent time looking at DVD’s I have put together for my students over the years to remind them of what their third grade experience was like. This is what education and being part of a school district is supposed to be about.

So, I have purged; I have cried; I have been angry; and yes, I am still in disbelief that negotiations have stalled. But I am now ready to start preparing to change, tweak, and enhance my materials for a new group of third graders coming to me this fall. I have new curriculum for which I will develop lessons, and old curriculum that I can enhance with new best practices. Yes, those of you who still believe teachers have all that time off in the summer. I am working, even though you don’t see me in the classroom! You want me to have a defined eight hour day, members of the school board? The last time I averaged my working hours during the week, it was 10:40/day, and that did not include Saturdays or Sundays. I love what I do. I am an excellent teacher. And I’ve only gotten better over the years that I have invested in my profession, because I CARE! So what price do you put on that bottom line?

Cont'd...Lunch hour, what lunch hour? I have not had lunch all year in the staff lunchroom because I am either working or attending meetings while eating lunch. We also have had staffing cuts, supply reductions requiring teacher out-of-pocket expense, no pay increases, paying higher deducibles and more for our health insurance. All of these things are items that have been implemented prior to this contract. Unfortunately, what was given up yesterday is forgotten today. Please understand, I am not complaining, just stating the facts. I love what I do and am grateful to be teaching in the same district that gave my children such a great start!

I am a resident of Broadview Heights. I am also an employee of the schools and a proud parent of two children that have graduated through the schools. I feel that my children have received an awesome education. My daughter has her teaching degree and my son will be starting his second year at Cleveland State studying for his BBA. If it had not been for dedicated teachers they have had, they would not been where their at today. We moved to this disrict because of the great schools. I would like Cathy McKelvey to know that I actually cried reading her statements. I can't believe that we have gotten to this point. I see what these teachers go through and how their days do not stop at the end of the school day. You have a lot of dedicated teachers and staff that only want the best for your children. I know that times are tough in the economy, but we need to get these problems figured out so that our children do not suffer. I know that both of my children are out of the schools, but if there needs to be a money levy on the ballot, I will support it all the way. I want to see that EVERY CHILD in the school system has the chance to receive the outstanding educational experience that my two children were given.

I understand that people do not like to pay taxes and therefore vote against property taxes because they can. I have an alternative view. Instead of making property taxes a referendum on your feelings about taxes in general, consider it a referendum on where you want your tax dollars spent. Property taxes are dollars that benefit your community directly, and when itemized, reduce your federal income tax liability. I know that I am much happier to know my tax dollars will be used to support my community's schools, libraries, and city services like police and fire than flowing into the black hole known as the federal budget. I am at a loss to name any examples of federal dollars that provide as much benefit to my community.

The stewardship of our past school boards is reflected in our district's rank of 22nd out of 31 Cuyahoga County districts for average expenditures per pupil, and yet our communities rank in the bottom third in voted and effective property tax rates in the county. We have done a good job of holding the schools accountable for spending, but apparently not as well at making sure our tax dollars directly benefit our communities.

This is taken from Huffmaster site. This is scary!!! As a teacher in this district for 20 plus years, I cannot believe it has come to this.
Our uniformed strike security officers are predominantly ex-military personnel with extensive experience on the picket line. They undergo specialized training for each deployment. We position our strike security officers in highly visible locations. And using strategically placed video cameras, we thoroughly document picket line behavior to support any restraining orders, injunctions or NLRB hearings related to the strike. These measures, combined with our thorough understanding of picket line behavior and dynamics, allow us to prevent most problems from ever occurring.

Lyn: Seriously? Do you find fault with the fact in some previous strikes that some of these folks were working with criminal records?

Here is the list of property taxes for all cities in Cuyahoga County (http://tinyurl.com/7cjj34u). Brecksville and Broadview Heights come in at 2.14% and 2.09% respectively. Why do people think the taxes are so high? What am I missing?

These negotiations are a business, plain and simple. In this economy, I have taken a 15% pay cut to keep my company afloat. My staff has not had a raise in 6 years. They pay 25% of their insurance premiums. I have had to let staff go to maintain payroll for others. My home value and taxes have gone up despite the real home value dropping. I have dozens of friends in the same position. I now pay close $750 per varsity sport, per child with no cap. I have had to pay a local learning center over $5,000/year/child for the last 6 years to supplement my children's lacking Brecksville Broadview Heights education (I am told they fall through the cracks - too smart to get more help, not smart enough to get an accelerated/smaller class size). I have given and given more. What have the teachers given in this negotiation? I won't vote for a levy until I see the teachers pay more for insurance premiums and take a cut in pay, just as most in this community has done in this economy.

I recommend that everyone read Dan Ariely's "The Upside of Irrationality." I think Chapter 10: "The Long-term Effects of Short-term Emotions -Why We Shouldn't Act on Our Negative Feelings" would be especially beneficial. Dr. Ariely is a behavioral economist at Duke University

Kids today are very computer oriented. I would like to see more math and reading/literature labs that are monitored by aids. These programs are well documented and adjust to the individual child's answers. It moves them through the course objectives. Kids can go to a teacher lecture once or twice a week. Kids can access the teacher for questions during their study hall. The teachers that remain can get what the union is asking for, the others would loose their jobs and move on. The budget could be met. Block scheduling will work with this system quite well. We need to think outside of the box. We need to meet the budget. We need to start allowing kids to be taught to their own needs. Too many parents are having to hire tutors and pay learning centers to make up for the bad teachers in the district (which is more than a few but clearly not all).

For all of those so sure of their thoughts, convictions, and skills take time to read "The Black Swan" by Nassim Taleb.

As a recent graduate of BBHHS (June 2011), I am incredibly disturbed and disappointed by the way the staff, community members, and board members are handling the situation in Brecksville. It's disheartening to see that my peers' educations are being jeopardized because YOU—our mentors, role-models, parents, etc.— can't come together and negotiate. The Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District is a place where I have been given so many great opportunities and experiences, and it is a shame that my peers may not be given the same because of the stubbornness, selfishness, and pride surrounding these issues. I have never seen so much negativity and immaturity coming from the "leaders" in our community before.

And where are the students in this? The seniors heading off to college that so heavily rely on the opinions, guidance, and advice from their teachers. The freshmen that come into the HS with hardly a clue as to what it will be like. The soccer players, football players, basketball players who want to play sports in college and need every chance they can get to play better. THIS ISSUE RIGHT NOW is affecting the futures of the students, my PEERS, and you all can't set aside your differences and come together and negotiate for the futures of your children? I am truly embarrassed for you.

—Alexandra Flower, '11 graduate

I will be the first to admit that I am not "knowledgeable enough to propose a real solution." And I agree with your statement "...until someone poses a real solution nothing is going to change." That is exactly my point. I am disappointed by the way our community is dealing with this situation. The arguing, name-calling, throwing figures here and there, defensiveness, negativity.... it's all pointless and immature.

Honestly, I propose we find a middle-man. If both sides are being too stubborn to negotiate, then fine. Find someone that will do it for them. But like I said, I am not knowledgeable enough to propose a real solution. I don't know how feasible that idea really is or what means it would take to make that happen.

I am just here to voice the opinions of many of the students when I say its about time everyone cleaned up their act and handled this professionally. Every day is a day closer to the beginning of the school year, and we're not getting anywhere by yelling at each other about it.

As a graduate of BBHHS, and a teacher, I am appalled at what the BOE is doing. To be honest, the entire reason I chose to become a teacher falls on the shoulders of some of the incredible teachers I had while at the high school. I know first hand the time and effort they dedicated to helping me succeed when I struggled. Ms. Crow, you are the main reason I chose to become a teacher. You put in so much time trying to help me both before and after school, and I cannot thank you enough for that. Furthermore, it was examples such as this, that led to my current beliefs in teaching. I constantly put my students before myself, not because I'm hoping that I'll get a pat on the back, but rather because I want my students to be successful and I want them to feel accomplished. I work in an urban district, where families often times live well below the poverty line. Some of my students are homeless. Yet the school is consistently supported by the community. I would urge those residents of Brecksville (and yes I am a resident here) to please support the teachers, and support the educational system that has long made this community what it is. I understand that tempers flare, that each of us has our own personal motives, emotions, etc., to contend with. However, the reality is that this is not about a simple pay cut, or taxes or anything of that nature. It is about what seems to be a lack of willingness by the BOE to negotiate, to give credit where it is due.

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I would urge the community to attend any meetings they can, and I would urge everyone to look at this from an objective standpoint. Stop with the attacks on teachers, on staff, etc., and start looking at what this truly means for the community at hand. It is sad to see that Mr. Tryon does not seems to be as transparent as he claims, it is sad to see that the issue is being skewed, and that we are pitting one side against another when the reality is that both sides should be working together, both sides should be WILLING to negotiate, instead of trying to strong arm a specific idea or point. I truly hope this issue gets resolved. And to all of the teachers in the BBHCSD, I would like to thank you for all that you have done for me, and countless other students over the years. You may not always realize just how positively you are affecting our lives, but you are. I owe so much to all of you for your hard work and dedication.

I have had good experience with teachers Donald. You should come to some meetings and meet them. You might see how good they are if you talk to them. Maybe you can convince them to give some more back and you will feel good to vote for a levy. I think it does help the community. I have neighbors that have been angry with me and I will not have them over for coffee anymore.

K don't lose your friends have them over for coffeee and take the high road. I do speak to teachers most tell me the party line. Some tell me they are afraid to speak up. Our community will do just fine it is time to purge the dead wood. Simple fact pay your fair share nothing more nothing less

Seriously, Donald? I am a teacher that is sick of taking it up the wazoo for community members that refuse to realize the value of a good education. I am making $3,000 less this year than I did last year, and I am paying more for insurance. Please, until you walk a mile in a teacher's shoes, don't pretend to know what sacrafices we have gone through. We have families to feed, cars to pay off, and children to put through college. Get off your high horse.

Oh my gosh Donald - not even worth debating. Really, it isn't even debating. Good luck finding someone that will talk to you with an attitude like that. You own the stable? Wow....Donald needs removed.

Donald - learn the art of debate. Insulting someone that has devoted their lives to helping children makes you look like a bully. When you grow up, let me know. Until then...adios.

Ann,
I thnk you are a latent disciple of Frank....my goodness Ann do you dream about Frank....not good.... I am not Frank but I am starting to dig the guy. Rant Ann read some of the comments from our fine teachers attacking the children of our school board. How pathetic is that? Further Ann don't try to intimidate our residents when it comes to voting.
Lastly Ann you never mention your girl Mrs Mack..... only Mr Tyron and Mr Dosen? Why is that Ann? She's your girl isn't she of course she is. How stupid do you think we are... my oh my... I would hate to have her in my fox hole...
Thank you Ann I like my name but growing up Donald Duck was what we watched it was crazy going to school sometimes... but I learned to like it....