WE are in the wrong line of work

Journal story....

District approves new hire for hybrid position
School board also accepts $1.6M in donations and staff reductions

MIDDLETOWN —
An outside hire will fill a new position to manage human resources and instructional leadership in Middletown City Schools.

The school board on Monday approved hiring Eric Gearhart — current principal at Tecumseh High School in New Carlisle, Ohio — to fill the role of senior director of leadership and human resources, effective July 1 and contingent on certification and background check.

A two-year contract for Gearhart includes an annual salary of $105,459 and 25 days off work each year, according to documents. The school board also approved a daily rate of $468 for transition pay.

After the resignation of Lisa Lowery as human resources director in September 2012, the district hired Stephen Bartalo in a part-time, interim role, according to Sam Ison, Middletown’s incoming superintendent. Bartalo’s contract — for about $1,125 per week or $450 per day — expires June 30.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME! LOOK AT THOSE SALARIES! MERCY! AND $468 PER DAY "TRANSITION PAY". AND PRAY TELL, WHAT IS "TRANSITION PAY"? HAS ANYONE EVER HEARD OF THIS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR? AND HOW ABOUT BARTOLO'S CONTRACT OF $450 PER DAY? FOR A HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR ON AN INTERIM BASIS? PAY'S A TAD BIT HIGH FOR THIS JOB, ISN'T IT? YOU FOLKS WORKING OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC SECTOR MAKE $450 BUCKS A DAY? HELL, MANY PEOPLE DON'T MAKE THAT IN A WEEK.

AND WHEN DO YOU WANT US TO APPROVE YOUR OPERATING LEVY AGAIN SCHOOL BOARD? WITH SALARIES LIKE THIS AND NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS LIKE THIS. IT'S NO WONDER THEY'RE ALWAYS IN OUR WALLETS. REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU GO TO THE POLLS NEXT TIME FOLKS. THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS IN A FAR DIFFERENT WORLD THAN THE REST OF US.

SO....WE'RE LOOKING AT "CUTTING COSTS" WHILE WE'RE ADDING ANOTHER JOB WITH A MEGA SALARY? HOW'S THAT WORK?

Reduction in force

A new reduction in force was approved by board members on Monday, including three music teacher positions, one art teacher, two special education teachers and data manager.

The school board also approved to recall four women into different jobs after their previous positions were eliminated in late April. Those recalled are Kathleen Jones and Kathleen Jonas as academic support specialists, Cora Kash as high school secretary and Stephanie Thompson as administrative finance clerk

BEING RECALLED AFTER BEING DOWNSIZED USUALLY DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR EITHER. ONCE YOU'RE GONE, YOU'RE GONE. ARE THESE FOUR WOMAN QUALIFIED FOR THESE DIFFERENT POSITIONS OR ARE THEY BEING "FORCE-FITTED" INTO THEM? ANOTHER QUESTION....WHAT DOES AN "ACADEMIC SUPPORT SPECIALIST" DO TO EARN THEIR MONEY? ALOT OF LAYERS OF PEOPLE, ALL DOING EXACTLY WHAT?

It is always easier to spend other people’s money, when it is not your own. This is a major problem with not only schools and city governments, but on a national level. We as a society have gone complacent and has allowed our government to go uncheck when it comes to spending. In their eyes, the tax payers are a never ending supply of money, and all they got to do is ask for more, and if you don't comply YOU WILL SUFFER!!!

Look at Cincinnati and the Streetcar, and the Police and Firefighters getting laid off because the city didn't get their way.

Look at the US Federal Government and how Tax hikes that Obama wanted didn't happen, now the Government is punishing the Tax payers by cutting off programs and events people enjoy, instead of cutting back on their own salaries and expenses.

And now you criticize Vet, because he is questioning the pay salary of a school official. I personally applaud Vet for raising these questions and giving a voice to the rest of the tax payers, and making sure that OUR tax dollars are not wasted. Because we all now in a few years the schools will be asking for more Tax dollars from an Operating Levy because of the excess pay they are giving to this individual, and other employees.

I agree with Irisner that yes companies should be paying their employees more, but in this current climate of constant change, it is not possible.

Given that WHY should PUBLIC employees be paid more than other people in the similar fields???

And yes we are doomed to 3^rd world life style because all the government spending is going to bankrupt the Middle Class.

lrisner wrote: Jesus Viet, give it a break!. The pay rates are not unreasonable.The $450/day reference is not based on a weeks work, it is about special situation where one normally wouldn' t be on the payroll. Kinda like working a day when you are on Vacation for an emergency. Also, 105k is not too much given the education and training needed. Hell, factored for inflation AK hourly should be making more than that. That is why i defend City workers so much. The arbitrator system, which was originally put in place to SUPPRESS wages, has protected  those covered by the system from the "attack" on wages that most people have suffered. Your constant bitching about it is like someone wanting their neighbors house to burn down because their house burnt down. Wha...it's not fair, their house didn't burn down. The need for better wages is essential to saving the American Dream for common Americans. You think things are bad now, if we don't stop the partisan bickering, we are doomed to a third World life style. We will be living like those in the Communist block during the 80's. Sadly, people like yourself who are whipped up into a frenzy are serving the purposes of those wishing to move us to the oligarchical structure and you don't realize it.

FOR THE SAKE OF GETTING INTO A FULL BLOWN PISS--- MATCH IRISNER, WE WILL AGREE TO DISAGREE.

If I'm looking at the correctly it appears that the school board actually reduced one administrtive position by combining the instructional leadership position with the HR Manager position.  When Sam Ison moves to the Supt' position this will leave the instructional leadership position open.  When the interim HR manager leaves this will leave this position open.  They will fill two postions with one person.  Looks like a good use of funds to me as this is actually a reduction in admin staff and not an increase.

itsamee, you obviously do not have a professional job or a higher education. You don't just elevate a teacher to a position they may not be qualified for just because they might work cheaper. What about the idea that they may not have the training or education to do the job in the first place? This isn't some job at a factory where any person could do a task.

Eric Gearhardt has been hired to do 2 administrative jobs (director of instructional leadership and director of Human Resources) for less than the salary of 1 (the current director of instructional leadership, Sam Ison, who has been promoted to superintendent starting July 1). The separate HR position was eliminated. And yes, the job and the person are worth 105,000 per year. Similar positions in the private sector would pay more, not less.  Gearhardt and Ison are both examples of administrators who have worked their way up from teaching positions, principal positions, to central administration, through advanced degrees and experience. We are lucky to have them on our team.

Ms.Andrew:

"And yes, the job and the person are worth 105,000 per year. Similar positions in the private sector would pay more, not less"

MS. ANDREW, I HAVE WORKED FOR 8 PRIVATE COMPANIES FROM MEGA CORPORATIONS LIKE P&G TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER TO SMALLER COMPANIES LIKE MOBAY CHEMICAL AND CRANE PLASTICS, AND IN 45 YEARS, HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP. FURTHERMORE, UNLESS THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES WORKS FOR A VERY LARGE CORPORATION, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PULL IN 105 GRAND IN SALARY PLUS THE OTHER PAYOUTS MENTIONED IN THE STORY. I WOULD THINK 105 GRAND FOR A HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR IS EXTREMELY RARE.

MS. ANDREW:

"Gearhardt and Ison are both examples of administrators who have worked their way up from teaching positions, principal positions, to central administration, through advanced degrees"

DOES THE "ADVANCED DEGREE" GET YOU THE HIGH SALARY, OR DOES HIGH PERFORMANCE/RESULTS BASED CRITERIA ALONG THE WAY MEAN MORE IN THE ACADEMIC FIELD? IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE ACADEMIC PEOPLE ARE REWARDED MORE FOR GETTING MORE SCHOOLING THAN THEY ARE IN THEIR PERFORMANCE IN THE CLASSROOM OR AS AN ADMIN. MORE SCHOOLING DOESN'T NECESSARILY TRANSLATE TO BETTER PERFORMANCE.

MS. ANDREW:

"We are lucky to have them on our team"

MIGHT BE TRUE ABOUT ISON, BUT GEARHARDT HASN'T STARTED YET. HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW HE WILL PERFORM?

MS. ANDREW:

The RIF's and recalls from Monday nights meeting are part of a larger set of cost cutting measures made necessary due to losing 1.2 million in federal funds due to sequestration. Many administrative positions paid for out of those federal grants have been cut. Others we felt were too important to cut have been moved to the general fund, but that requires a corresponding savings as the board directed the district to bring a balanced budget and not ask the voters for additional general operating funds through a levy. We asked the voters for a small increase in operating levy in 2010 and when it was rejected, we have since made do by making additional cuts every year to the budget. This year, we have cut administrators, support staff, and a few teachers (music, art, middle school) but are also adding 8 new K-3 teachers to address larger numbers of students in those grades and to respond to Governor Kasich's third grade reading guarantee. We are balancing the budget despite reduction in federal funds, while adding teachers to focus on early literacy.


WHY IS IT JUST TAKEN FOR GRANTED (NO BIG DEAL) WHEN CORPORATIONS DOWNSIZE AND SHED POSITIONS (HAPPENS ALL THE TIME), BUT IT IS SUCH A "TRAVESTY" WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT THE SCHOOLS OR THE PUBLIC SECTOR SHEDDING JOBS? CONTRARY TO POPULAR OPINION, THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND THE SCHOOL PEOPLE ARE NOT OFF LIMITS WHEN CUTS ARE NEEDED.

MS. ANDREW:

"We are balancing the budget despite reduction in federal funds"...

MS. ANDREW, EVERY COMPANY MUST "BALANCE THE BUDGET" AND TAKES A HIT DURING A PERIOD OF TIME AND MUST WORK WITH WHAT THEY HAVE FROM REDUCED PROFIT MARGINS. THAT MEANS CUTS ARE MADE WITH MANPOWER AND POSITIONS ELIMINATED, AND PERHAPS, ASKING LESS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. THEY DON'T GET THE ADDED EXTRAS LIKE FEDERAL FUNDS. THE MONEY COMES FROM PROFITS MADE......SINK OR SWIM/ON YOUR OWN EACH YEAR. AGAIN, WHY ARE WE PRESENTING A PICTURE ABOUT HOW ROUGH THE SCHOOLS HAVE IT? ALL ARE WORKING WITH REDUCED FUNDS.

MS. ANDREW:

"Funny how no one commented on the great news in this article that we have secured commitments for $1.6 million from just 4 companies to start the upgrade work on Barnitz Stadium (Middletown Community Foundation $500,000; Atrium Medical Center $750,000; Sodexho $300,000; Cohen Brothers $50,000). No public money will be used on this project, which will benefit the whole community. I am very thankful of this support"

THE FOUR REVENUE SOURCES FREELY AND WILLFULLY VOLUNTEERED THE MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT. IT WAS NOT A FORCED MONEY COMITTAL IN THE FORM OF NEW TAXES ON THE PEOPLE. THEREFORE, NO COMMENT WAS NECESSARY AS IT DIDN'T AFFECT OUR WALLETS AS YOUR LEVIES DO AT TIMES. BY THE WAY, FOR CLARITY, THE STORY STATED COHEN DONATED 30 GRAND, NOT 50 GRAND.

How predictable that IRISNER would now bad-mouth Viet Vet.  He appears to be saturated with vitriolic feelings toward many of us Middletonians.  Please find it in your heart to disagree without condemning those with opinions not consistent with yours.  Like the late '60's song, "try a little tenderness."

I see no contradictions to the points I made.

As to Mr Lib, I am a bit overbearing and I am usually right. Regardless how fair minded you may see yourself, you are , quite honestly a typical contemporary American. The 60's reference brings to mind that the era is part of the problem in it's self. Dr. Spock's ideas seem to have taken hold as most on here, including you, can not help but to let their emotions and what is best for them to guide their thinking. i have a history, and a upbringing, that seldom let's what is personally best for me to enter the argument. Pure logic and reason is all that matters. the average American today simply votes and argues politics from the position of what is good for them or what makes them feel good even if the comfort they feel is false. Generally, they don't know any better.

I caught hell on a number of occasions when my peers berated for voting my mind rather than my pocket book. Personally I think voting one's pocket book is no different than being a con artist or a scum bag in matters of money. What is good for John Doe the individual could very well be terrible for the general good. If John Doe votes for his benefit, then what is he other than a con artist? Do voters have a civic responsibility to use their vote intelligently or is it up for sale? Do you think it should be up for sale?

Irisner, 

Mr Lib, thank you for telling me Dr Spock was a Liberal. Gosh darn, i didn't know that. As to political affiliation, I too am a conservative but I am a conservative with a brain an I am sane.I have been forced to vote a different way than I normally would due to the stupidity of the GOP lately. Mitt Romney was such a lousy candidate that I would have voted for Gorge McGovern over him. John Mc Cain was  a good man before running for Prez, but the Nation Organization succeeded in making him smuck too early in "08 in order to get their support.

As to "try a little Kindness", I feel like one of the few people not brain washed by partisanship and am fighting a tough battle with many people, like yourself, who are unknowingly helping to destroy this Country. I am trying to save the American Dream, Forgive me for being blunt!

itsamee...i think you have me confused with some other poster. I agree with your analysis of pay for such levels of education. Hell, skilled Trades should make that.

Irisner, 

ok risner--can't disagree with the above--we are on the same page here