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Press Release
Parent Group Alarmed about Loss of Staff Parent Group Airs Concerns Reynoldsburg, Ohio, April 21, 2015: Members of Raider Strong, a local parent advisory group advocating for students and families, are concerned about staffing levels for the 2015-2016 school year. Members of Raider Strong have met with the district’s superintendent in the past, concerned about the expected number of teachers leaving local classrooms come spring. It is of great concern to Raider Strong the manner in which some of our educators are leaving, and we fear that many will not be replaced. During a Parent Advisory Group meeting in March, Superintendent Tina Thomas-Manning presented those in attendance with data indicating that Reynoldsburg is 46 teachers over district requirements for the upcoming school year. Raider Strong feels that while this may look to be the case on paper preliminarily, the reality is that classrooms are very close to negotiated class sizes and are currently at the best levels in order to serve all children. In light of the high number of resignations on the April Board of Education agenda, coupled with the district’s recent unsolicited report of staffing levels, Raider Strong is concerned that positions will not be filled come the start of the 2015-2016 school year. In addition, it is Raider Strong’s belief that some of those resigning are being forced out (through non-renewal of contracts despite past positive performance). To date, 14 teachers contracts have not been renewed, as compared to a total of six last year. Raider Strong anticipates the number of teachers leaving Reynoldsburg to climb before July 10, a deadline required by the state. In the district’s most recent contract negotiated with the Reynoldsburg Education Association. “The parties agree to aspirational goals of 25 students per (core) class in grades K-4 and 32 students per (core) class in grades 5-8 and 35 students in grades 9-12.” “Every effort will be made to keep the number of pupils in a classroom consistent with the space, equipment, and subject matter.” These numbers were meant to be limits -- sensitive to class structure, demographic, scheduling and substance. Raider Strong is anticipating more resignations in May and June. But April was an important month for Reynoldsburg. Teachers with limited contracts which expire in the current year must be observed at least three times and must be notified in writing no later than April 30 of the board of education’s nonrenewal action based on the superintendent’s written recommendation not to re-employ. Failure of a board to provide such notice automatically results in re-employment. Each nonrenewed teacher is entitled to a written statement of circumstances surrounding the nonrenewal and to a board of education hearing, should they choose to challenge the nonrenewal.. “Continually cutting teaching positions – or failing to refill them -- only weakens the quality of our students’ education,” said Margaret Mary Luzny, president of Raider Strong. “Many teachers have left the district in part due to the strain of not enough teachers in the district. Some we fear are being forced out. “It is our hope that our district’s leadership will consider last year’s high rate of turnover, and do everything in its power to retain our quality educators this spring, thus ensuring a solid foundation upon which we continue to build solid programming,” added Luzny. Raider Strong is a non-profit Political Action Group that was created to support excellence and high quality education in the Reynoldsburg City School District. Our vision is to foster an open relationship between the community, teachers, the administration, and the Board of Education in Reynoldsburg in support of our mission in the hopes of creating a high quality educational system in which all children achieve their educational goals. Raider Strong meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m., at Messiah Lutheran Church in Reynoldsburg. For more information, contact Debbie Dunlap, Communications Chair, at (614) 581-2870, or Luzny at (614) 5703173. As many of you know, Raider Strong began calling for the superintendent's personal goals last November. We issued a position statement and a press release, putting pressure on our administration to devise those goals in accordance with her contract. Last month, just prior to the school board meeting, Superintendent Tina Thomas-Manning submitted her DRAFT goals to the board, which we learned from local media. Here are her DRAFT goals -- as nothing has been formally approved. It is our expectation that permanent goals are adopted as soon as possible.
Parents want goals for superintendent By Elizabeth Goussetis Staff Writer A group of parents asked the Reynoldsburg Board of Education for the performance measures used to evaluate Reynoldsburg Schools Superintendent Tina Thomas-Manning. Marking the one-year anniversary of her hiring, the Raider Strong group released a statement alleging the lack of goals is a breach of contract between Thomas-Manning and the board. Raider Strong is a group of parents that was active during the teacher strike and has formally organized as a political action committee. According to the contract beginning Aug. 1, “The board shall evaluate the superintendent at least once each year and in accordance with board policy. The board and superintendent shall mutually adopt goals consistent with the job description of the superintendent,” as quoted in a Raider Strong news release. Thomas-Manning was hired Jan. 27, 2014 and began working May 1 as superintendent-elect and on Aug.1 as superintendent. When asked about the goals, district administrators referred to the district website, where district-wide goals are published. The district goals fall into three categories of academic achievement, safety, and fiscal responsibility. Raider Strong president Margaret Mary Lunzy said the goals on the website are not what the parents are looking for. “That is not sufficient,” Lunzy said. Lunzy said the goals Raider Strong seeks are called for in the superintendent’s contract with the board, and she said the public cannot hold her accountable without knowing what her goals are. She said teachers, students and others have goals set formally, and the district’s top leader should be held to the same standard. “The superintendent has spent some time articulating goals for herself and, by extension her team, for the rest of the year. They address current realities and reflect current needs and current strengths,” said Tricia Moore, director of partnerships and shared services for the district. “The superintendent is interested in communicating with the board and the community the focus of her work.” But Raider Strong leaders say they are looking for something more like performance measures that could be used to evaluate the superintendent. “The central office thinks the superintendent is the CEO of the district, but that’s not correct. The residents are the CEOs,” Lunzy said. Both sides acknowledge that former superintendent Steve Dackin did not have goals in writing either, despite the contract language that outlines it. According to Moore, the assumption has always been that the superintendent’s goals are the district’s goals, since the superintendent leads the district. In response to questions about the goals, the administration released a draft document with specific personal goals. Board members did not discuss the draft document at the board’s last meeting. Members of Raider Strong said they have not seen the draft and cannot comment on it, but are glad to see progress on the issue. Leave a Reply Name * Email * Website Raider strong PAC meeting - february , 2015
meeting called to order at 7:00pm by Louis Salvati Reading of Agenda l motion to approve agenda for february , 2015 moved by Sabrina Gray seconded by Denise Shook Approval of minutes l review of minutes by Sabrina Gray Buisness l getting a draft of superintendant goals l website updated regarding testing n not just a reynoldsburg issue its a state issue n estem principal hoping to get out of PARCC (only 10 schools are eligable) l Election update n Rea members survey in march n send out questionaire in april n hold screening in may n have endorsment chosen by end of school year l we need to remind the community that the board made promises they didnt keep. ie bringing back the arts l candidate visibility in the summer is important Communications Committee Report l presented preliminary logos l update on tomato festival booth l plans to participate in community clean up l fundraising l flyers New Buisness Finaces discussed by Jim Rodenmyer l 5 year forecast n drastic change in operational transfers balloon to 6.2 mil n new catergory - All other financiary uses 1.2 mill n we spent 1.5 mil more then we were bringing in last year u 7 mil over 3 years to pupils and associates l Where is the 3.5 Mil from open enrollment? Revisiting IEP/504 Committee l need personal info from people getting pushback from administration to get students tested Superintendant Mannning did not sign the safe harbor agreement for teachers Jim Rodenmyer offers to head finance committee We have prepared a page full of PARCC info, district testing schedules and links to practice tests. Our intent is to provide information for families to research the PARCC and make informed decisions about PARCC testing. We are not endorsing for or against PARCC testing but merely providing information for families to make their own decisions.
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