What passing the buck looks like

We were alerted to a meeting last night in Solon, whereby the superintendent addressed over 1,100 concerned parents regarding the Governors Budget. The Plain Dealer had an article about it this morning

Regano delivered the bad news to more than 1,100 parents, community members and teachers at a community meeting at Solon High School that was part pep rally and part financial lesson.

"The governor's proposal picked certain districts to suffer, and we are one of those," Regano said. "We knew the state had some issues and there were problems, but this is one of the most serious issues I've ever seen . . . and I can't believe we got only a three-month notice."

The district posted up the powerpoint they gave parents. The effects of the Kasich budget proposal were captured in a series of 3 slides, that speak for themselves.

This is what passing the buck on the budget looks like for public education.

Top 3 Today

Your top 3 news stories for today

1. Kasich Budget Could Destroy Over 51,000 Jobs
   
   Innovation Ohio conservatively estimates that in the absence of large local tax increases to offset the Administration’s proposed cuts to K-12 education, higher education, state personnel, and local governments, 51,052 direct jobs are likely to be lost.
2. BUDGET BILL MIRRORS SB5 ATTACKS ON TEACHERS
   The fight opens up on multiple fronts.
3. Will upset race in Wisconsin energize SB5 referendum race in Ohio?
   What do you think?

Join us at facebook.com/JointheFuture or leave a comment (click on the post title).

Wisconsin election bodes ill for anti worker forces

We briefly discussed the ramification of the Wisconsin Supreme Court election a few days ago. We indicated a few things to look for

It would have been a stunning upset for Kloppenburg to win, so that's the first test of how organized and angry pro-middle class voters are. But also keep an eye on the votes cast for each - that will give us a rough indication of the effects these labor busting moves are having on real voters, in real elections.

So how did that turn out ?

As of right now, Kloppenburg has declared victory after finishing a few hundred votes ahead in a huge upset.

Nearly 1.5 million people turned out to vote, representing 33.5 percent of voting-age adults -- 68 percent higher than the 20 percent turnout officials had expected. That ought to scare most anti-worker elected officials, but this map below is the real friegthener

This map shows county after county that Scott Walker won in the recent 2010 election now going against him - and in a lot of cases significantly.

This is the result of real people casting real votes and the message is loud and clear. If you attack the middle class they will fight back and they will defeat you.

Budget bill mirrors SB5 attacks on teachers

As we reported last week in our budget analysis, the budget bill contained stealth provisions that mirror some anti-teacher provisions in S.B.5. The Dispatch reports on this move

A movement might be brewing among top Republicans that could thwart a referendum on Senate Bill 5 well before Ohioans have a chance to vote on the controversial issue.

Gov. John Kasich and House Speaker William G. Batchelder are exploring a plan to include at least some of the just-passed law's provisions in the state budget, which probably won't be passed until late June.

It's notable that Republicans played all manner of legislative shenanigans to pass S.B.5 before April 6th in order to avoid a referendum on the 2012 ballot, when not only their attacks could be thrown out, but them too. Now it seems they may be inviting just such a challenge by placing S.B.5 language in the budget bill.

This might explain some of the rather cagey responses the Governor and Speaker gave

"I don't want to get into what I want to do, what I don't want to do, because then I might have to retract," Kasich said. "I think Senate Bill 5 passed; obviously, there is going to be a referendum. The House and the Senate has to work its way.

"I've submitted my budget, there will be some language on the teacher assessment, and outside of that, we'll see what the legislature does."

Asked about putting pieces of Senate Bill 5 in the budget, Batchelder, R-Medina, said on Tuesday that "these things happen."

"I don't want to make a guesstimate about it at this point. There are a number of things we are looking at, that being one."

Asked again today, the speaker said: "I guess the direct answer would be yes, but I don't know why that would happen. I think it has enough budgetary implications ... on the other hand, I don't think the governor has thought about it."

That's a lot of words and not much clarity. Almostl ike they have just been caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook or Twitter to keep up to date as this situation develops.

Chillicothe educator named Foreign Language Teacher of the Year

Some good news, and congratulations!

Debbie McCorkle has been recognized by the Ohio Foreign Language Association (OFLA) as Ohio’s 2011 World Language Teacher of the Year. McCorkle is a national board certified teacher of French at Unioto High School in Chillicothe, and she is a former recipient of OFLA’s Leona Glenn Award for Outstanding High School World Language Teacher. Last month, McCorkle represented Ohio in Indianapolis at the regional World Language Teacher of the Year competition. The contest was part of the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

Top 3 Today

Your top 3 news stories for today

1. EDUCATION CUTS SHOULD BE A WAKE UP CALL
   We discuss the impacts reckless budget cuts are having on school districts around the state
2. Kasich appoints anti-union lobbyist to State Board of Ed
   Plunderbund highlights the news of anti-union lobbyist Bryan Williams being appointed to the State board of Education, at the same time his organization holds a massive fundraiser for SB5 supporters, a fundraiser that also includes a lecture by an anti-union extremist.
3. Governor Wants Parts Of Disputed Union Bill Placed In State Budget
   Debate over a new state law that restricts public employee unions took a new twist Tuesday when Gov. John Kasich said he wanted to insert parts of it related to teachers into the pending state budget. Inclusion of the language in the budget could prevent a referendum such as the one opponents of the collective bargaining statute want to conduct at the Nov. 8 election.

   Mr. Kasich told reporters Tuesday that he wanted to incorporate into the budget "the criteria to reward teachers for good effort," apparently referring to a section of the public employee collective bargaining law dealing with performance-based pay for educators.

   "That wording that's in five, there'll be some part of it put into the budget. I'm not exactly sure ... how all that language will play, but I'm very concerned about getting that going, so that schools have an opportunity to develop criteria for assessing good performance," the governor said.

   More on this development tomorrow.