‘Wasteful spending’

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9:49 AM Friday, May 14, 2010

For those who think only tax increases can rescue our public schools, think again. There is more than enough wasteful spending written into local teachers’ union contracts to keep schools going for awhile. The trick will be to convince local unions to make a few contract concessions, even for a short period of time, to help our schools avoid layoffs and program cuts.

The Education Action Group Foundation recently studied a sampling of teacher contracts in southwest Ohio and found many examples of spending that could be temporarily canceled or cut during the current financial crisis. The report can be accessed online at eagfdn.org.

Every contract we researched guarantees most teachers an automatic “step” salary increase every year. The Cincinnati district expects to pay an extra $3 million next year in payroll, largely due to the step increase.

Most of the districts we researched also pay between 85-100 percent of teacher health insurance premiums. The Lakota district covers between 88-90 percent and paid out $8.9 million in 2008-09.

The state of Ohio drives up costs by guaranteeing teachers 15 paid sick days for a 185-day work year. Many districts also offer three or four paid personal days. The Oak Hills district paid out more than $1.6 million for sick and personal days in 2008-09, and $851,118 for substitute teachers.

Severance pay for unused sick days is also costly. In the West Clermont district, teachers can claim up to one-fourth of their unused days — up to 62 — at the rate they’re making at retirement. The district paid out $380,705 in this category in 2008-09.

Some teachers get extra money for having a few extra students. The Cincinnati district paid out $115,935 in “overage pay” in 2008-09. Many schools reimburse teachers for travel to various conferences and seminars. The Forest Hills district paid out $166,029 in reimbursements last year.

These examples, as well as many more in the report, prove there are labor costs that could be eliminated to help schools survive. We hope local teachers’ unions will step up and volunteer to make some concessions, for the good of everyone involved.

Steve Gunn

Communications director

Education Action Group Foundation

Muskegon, Mich.

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