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Mathews schools unions agree to pay freeze
By RAYMOND L. SMITH Tribune Chronicle
POSTED: November 1, 2009
VIENNA - The Mathews Local Schools Board of Education and two of the district's unions signed two-year contracts that freeze the salaries and benefits for union members in the first year and provides 2 percent wage increases the second year.
"We settled with the OAPSE (Ohio Association of Public School Employees) union last week and the Mathews Education Association about a month ago," Mathews School Board President Kenneth Wallace II said.
OAPSE is the district's nonclassified union, which includes its maintenance and custodial workers.
"They agreed to the wage freeze to show their support to passing the bond issue," Wallace said.
Both unions continued to work under contracts that expired earlier this summer while negotiations were completed. There are approximately 60 members in the OAPSE union and more than 100 in the MEA.
The school district is hosting a unity caravan that will begin at 2 p.m. today at Neal Middle School near Fowler Center and travel along state Route 193 to Mathews High School in Vienna for a 3 p.m. rally. U.S. Rep. Timothy J. Ryan, D-Niles, and possibly State Sen. Capri Cafaro, D-Hubbard, are scheduled to speak at the event.
"Today's rally is to reiterate the unity among residents living in Fowler and Vienna townships," Wendy Thompson, a member of the bond issue committee.
The district is attempting convince voters to pass a 8.1-mill bond issue that will raise approximately $22.5 million to pay for a new K-12 grade school building. District officials argue that two of the district's buildings that could be replaced are nearly 100 years old and the other buildings are nearly 50 years old.
"We are attempting to do this without waiting for Ohio Schools Facilities Commission funds, because we are not scheduled to be considered for the state money until 2015," Thompson said. "We don't know if OSFC funds will still be available."
Even if state money is available, supporters of the bond issue believe the district will receive about 20 percent of the total funding needed to build the school.
"When you build a school under OSFC guidelines, you must build to their specifications, which could push up the price of the work," Thompson said.
The district may be able to use $3.25 million of the federal stimulus funds allotted to Ohio for school construction projects on the new building.
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View Comments: | 1-25 |26-40 | Post a comment
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luvmykids
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11-06-09 9:40 PM
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sweet pea sure has alot of time to type away.WOW. The bottom line here in Mathews is our teachers are wonderful, the BOE does a fine job. I do not agree with each and everything that is done. But the most important thing is to keep our school together and solid--hopefully someday with new buildings. We have a good thing here. My children go to school with people I have gone to school with. Close knit communities in these time are priceless. I hope we who live here in Fowler/Vienna never forget how priceless that is. Consolidation is not the answer. If I wanted a different type of school I would have moved long ago. We have a good thing going here. Let's keep it that way.
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SweetPea
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11-04-09 7:31 PM
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no no no, that wouldn't effect the students at all. the idea the tribune was trying to say was something like having one fire chief per two fire departements, or in this case one administration per 2 or 3 school districts.
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MathewsStudent
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11-04-09 5:42 PM
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SweetPea... what if the STUDENTS at MHS dont want to consolidate and colaborate administrations with neighboring school districts. have you ever thought of that?... not to be rude. dont you remeber being in high school making friendship that last forever? so why should we have to miss out on things like that?
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SweetPea
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11-04-09 4:58 PM
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IMO THAT SHOULD BE the first item on the table during the first or second board meeting. Saving a few hundred thousand dollars a years is a good idea.
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SweetPea
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11-04-09 4:50 PM
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also I would like to close this out by reminding the NEW SCHOOL BOARD, that the TRIBUNE is recommending that we consolidate and colaborate administrations with neighboring school districts.
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SweetPea
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11-04-09 2:37 PM
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Your are so right mspacer, people are hurting, our job outlook and lob loss in our area have serious problems, thank God the tribune had enough intelligence and compassion to see that, and explain it in their editorials. Mathews have good teachers and good people that care, but need to understand that not everyone can afford a new school, especially when neighboring districts are getting theirs paid for by the state. I just hope that the members of the school board respects the opinions of the voters. The main objective of the levy committee was to hear what the community had to say and to gauge what was wanted, now we will see if they can respect it, as I would have respected the outcome if it passed.
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MsPacer
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11-04-09 2:20 PM
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Although many would like to see a new school building for the Mathews students, I just don't see how it could have worked in these economic times. So, I have to say "Thank You!!" to all who voted NO on the levy. You may have just saved your neighbor's house or even your own from foreclosure. Our children's education does not come from a new building. Our students can still get a good education with the right teachers. So again, THANK YOU!!
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SweetPea
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11-03-09 1:42 PM
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we are all going to rally around the save our schools vote today, in the land of the mighty mustangs colors red and black we raise! Proudly stands our Alma Mater Mathews High We Shout Your Praise In the land of the Mathews Mustangs Never yielding is our vow A victory is Ours NOW!!!
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SweetPea
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11-03-09 1:22 PM
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country bumkin, lol, this comming from some build me a new school because the paint is peelin city slickers. Hey there city slicker wannabes, better luck next time on your build be a new school when we don't really need one school levy. lol.
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Lotterydreamer
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11-03-09 12:43 PM
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Pleeeazzzzz...A student can only get a good education if the levy passes?Private schools only?OMG Alert!Alert!All you public school graduates-you are illiterate and cannot function in today's world.Your teachers were not paid enough!You had paint chipping.Each of you didn't have your own computer or enough field trips.
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coralcar
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11-03-09 12:27 PM
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90Alum aka country bumpkin, are you aware that because of our open enrollment we have a great number of students from "new school" districts attending our school because theirs could not afford many activities due to paying for their school and "school pride" Pride comes from within. Don't be disillusioned by the many of us that have it and promote it
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90sAlum
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11-03-09 10:23 AM
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I hope that all of you that VOTE no will be sending your children to private schools! That is the only way they will get a GOOD education. Vote yes for the levy to encourage our youth to become prosperous, hard working, educated inviduals who can be proud of where they came from! Voting NO will deteriorate the pride in our youth and discourage them or force them to take pride in another school system somewhere else. Keep your country bumpkin spirit alive and your community will fail!
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MsPacer
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11-02-09 9:17 PM
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The Tribune's editorial (Endorsements recapped for Tuesday’s vote) says they do not endorse this levy either
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SweetPea
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11-02-09 7:40 PM
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From GM to Delphi, to Steel Mills, to Our Local Hospitals, to even banks themselves, all in financial crisis. Even our country is in two wars. These are very questionable times to try to ask voters to pass such a large bond issue, that really isn't needed, but more of a novelty, then a necessity. 2015 is only 5 years from now, which will give the levy committee more then enough time to better educate themselves, and the community about what the options are and if building new schools are really needed.
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SweetPea
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11-02-09 7:18 PM
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when the levy fails, I hope that people involved with trying to pass it don't take anything too hard. they are good people, who are trying to do the right thing, and for that I have respect for them. Having said that, I REMAIN AGAINST it and will vote no on it because of what I think are some very real concerns like skyrocketing property taxes, and more of a spend MORE and save LESS mentality. I would much rather like to see only problem areas treated, and resolved, then if our economy actually recovers by 2015, then we can have another levy at that time. People are out of work and the unemployment rate is close to what is was during the great depression, now is not the time to dig ourselves into a 37 year debt!
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coralcar
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11-02-09 5:26 PM
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90Alum,pepsi2 When you broadcast ignorant negativity and resentment,it assures me that you clearly don't understand all of the facts.Our schools have had minimal upkeep for several years, Our superintendant and treasurer are getting a retirement pay and are both getting a regular pay as well. I think they also got a recent raise. Neither lives in my district. You will seldom if ever see them at any school function unless it is to bang the drum for a new school again. UPKEEP! (which is minimal)to what we have is much better than taking out a 37 year loan for something we clearly can not afford. As for pride,look around ! This district has a lot of pride ! again look around! Take a stand? We are! Who has $20 for PIZZA? New isn't always better ,especially if it isn't necessary or affordable !
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MsPacer
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11-02-09 3:39 PM
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rbanie - I totally agree with you. I think people need to take a look around and see that the people in this district along with many other areas are struggling to make ends meet. How would they feel if the levy did pass and their neighbor lost their house because of the extra "$20 a month" Which I believe will be much higher and go up & up over the 37 year period! Call the Auditors office and you'll see!
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MsPacer
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11-02-09 3:35 PM
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pepsi2- There are plenty of houses in the district over 100 years old, including mine. We do not tear down and rebuild- We do the best to maintain them using the finances we have. And as someone commented in a different article-"I had talked to a community leader today and his comment was people better wake up and take free money when it becomes available"- I'm sorry there is no FREE money!!! You still have to pay it back!
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MsPacer
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11-02-09 3:31 PM
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90sAlum- Take a look NO other school is crazy enough to ask for an ESTIMATED 37 year levy! How about looking into the lottery $ schools are susposed to get. Does Mathews get any of that money of are officials tooooo lazy to do the paper work.
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rbanie
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11-02-09 2:01 PM
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i believe the students are getting a great education. pride doesn't come with a new building. if you can't afford a new anything you have to fix what you have. if people choose to buy pizza, medicine, pay bills , etc . it's there choice they earned the money !!!! the levy has nothing to do with a childs worth but why leave this debt to our kids and grandkids
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rbanie
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11-02-09 1:52 PM
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what's sad is the way this levy came about !!!We are all entitled to an opinion but if you disagree with the levy you're negative . i for one like the small town i live in and am concerned with how this 37 yr. tax with effect alot of people in this community. you are right about the way schools are funded being a problem. but i disagree by voting yes i will be hurting myself. save the community by voting NO so people can afford to stay here . There is other choices besides a 22million-37 yr. levy. i
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pepsi2
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11-02-09 1:37 PM
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As a Gentlemen said yesterday at the Rally for the Levy " Someone Voted yes for you to have a school" It is just a shame That some of you Feel these schools are Good enough for our kids.. They don't have Pride in these schools. They have pride in Mathews but not the schools. How long do you think "fixing" a problem will last that is like throwing Money away. Should we keep fixing our 1915 Car.. NO Do we Keep "fixing" our 1915 house? NO So why should we Keep Throwing Money way covering up a problem when we can get a new all in one school. I say Vote Yes.. Take a Stand for the Next Generation. What is $20 a month PIZZA?, BEER? Come one I know my kids are worth it, I'm sure your kids or Grandkids are worth it..
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90sAlum
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11-02-09 1:28 PM
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It is very sad to see such resentment toward the school levy. We are all entitled to our own opinions but the ignorant negativity is pathetic. 100's of school across our state are asking for Levies to be passed tomorrow - get out of the small town you live in and read other newspapers or flip a channel and you will see that the way Ohio schools are funded is the problem - NOT the individual districts! By not VOTING YES, you are only hurting yourself. Your property value will decrease and you will pay for it in the end. Save your community and VOTE yes for the school levy because until our State changes the way it funds schools there is no other choice.
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MsPacer
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11-01-09 9:41 PM
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I've had quite a few people ask me if I knew where they could get a "VOTE NO" sign.
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MsPacer
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11-01-09 9:39 PM
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sorry for the repeat posting. I guess I was just doing my job to tell 2 people
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