State of the Union
May 26, 2023
Dear Members of the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union,
In accordance with the requirements of our Local 795 Constitution, I am reporting to you on the state of our Union.
Another school year is rapidly coming to a close, and based on the conversations I have had with so many of our members, summer recess cannot come fast enough.
To say that the 2022-2023 school year was challenging would be putting it mildly. This has been a year like no other. We have witnessed escalation of dangerous behaviors by some of our students, an increase in teacher assaults, and the lack of administrative support, especially in matters of student discipline, all of which are beyond troubling. We have had a record number of fact-findings for the purpose of disciplining our members this year, and as a result, we have filed a record number of grievances. Add to all of that the amount of tasks added to our already overflowing plates.
Despite all of the negatives we have had to deal with this year, we have had our fair share of positive experiences too. We had a well-attended fall Teacher Union Social Hour at Boss Dog Brewery, and a great time celebrating at our Spring Social, which was held at the CLE Urban Winery. We won a grievance filed over professional development that was in violation of our Collective Bargaining Agreement, and came to a resolution that will save some of our members thousands of dollars in unwarranted charges for damaged district computers. In addition, we finally have progressive lens coverage included in our contract due to a Letter of Understanding (LOU) that was approved by our Executive Board last fall. Moreover, we began this school year under an extended three year contract, which means we still have two more years of raises ahead, and more than a year before we resume contract negotiations.
On the political front, teachers and support staff are under attack unlike ever before by the Ohio General Assembly. Current legislation that is on our radar:
House Bill 33 (The Ohio 2024-2025 Biennium Budget) would unnecessarily expand the income based EdChoice voucher program by raising eligibility from the current 250% of poverty level to 450%. If every family that could qualify for a voucher under this new higher threshold utilized the program, the estimated cost to the state is in excess of $1 Billion over the biennium. Ohio tax dollars should not be used to finance private education.
Senate Bill 83 (The Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act) represents a drastic overreach by this legislature into the policies, composition, and curriculum of Ohio’s public and private institutions of higher education. It would eliminate the ability of union workers in higher education to strike, would put restrictions on speech, actions and advocacy, and would threaten the academic freedom of students and faculty by forcing the avoidance of “sensitive subjects.”
Senate Bill 47 (Prohibiting Public Sector Release Time) would prohibit public sector workers from being granted “Release Time for “political” or “lobbying” activities.
House Bill 103 (Ohio Social Studies Task Force) would develop statewide academic standards in social studies for grades K-12 based on the standards in “American Birthright: The Civics Alliance’s Model K-12 Social Studies Standards. This would overhaul public K-12 curricula to align with extremist viewpoints that advocate against multiculturalism, diversity policies, and against courses focused on race and gender issues.
Our membership stood strong this year. We wrote postcards in support of OFT endorsed candidates for the November general election, showed up to a Board of Education meeting in April to speak about school safety concerns, and answered a call-to-action for a member facing termination (who is no longer being terminated).
As we say goodbye to this school year, we must look to what lies ahead this summer and for the upcoming school year. Last week we sent out an update regarding district planned summer training, as well as a survey asking members if they were planning on attending. The school year is long enough without also giving up the time that is set aside for our rest and re-energizing. Our jobs in this district, as well as dealing with the state of public education today are difficult enough without having to give up summer family time to work for much less than we are truly worth.
It is my sincere hope that you are able to pack up your belongings at the end of this year, and focus not on your job, but on what matters most until you return in August. Vice-President Underhile and I will be in the office this summer working with administration with the hope that the climate you return to will be vastly different from the one you left. Our district needs to examine the strain our members are under, and truly do something meaningful to fix it. Should they neglect to do so, our membership will continue to show up, stand up, and speak up.
Thank you for your ongoing support. Have a relaxing and enjoyable summer break.
In Solidarity,
Karen Rego
CHTU President