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Public employees (namely teachers) salaries are lower

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To the editor:

I am not usually a political person, but there are some things that I feel have been misrepresented to the general public that I would like to address at this time.

First of all, I would like to clarify some issues about the salaries of public employees that were published recently in the paper. I know that compared to the average salary of a Highland County resident, these salaries might look like a lot. However, when you compare these salaries to people in the private sector with the same educational qualifications, you will find public employees (namely teachers) salaries are much lower.  

What some people might not realize is that teachers are required to renew their license every five years now.  To renew their license, they must take at least 6 semesters of graduate level classes or obtain 18 CEUs (continuing education units). To earn one CEU, you must have 10 contact hours (or ten hours of a workshop).  Most of these classes or workshops are paid for by the employees out of their own pocket. At the end of the five years, the teachers must pay $200 to renew their license.  

They must also pay to be fingerprinted every time they renew. Why do I need to be fingerprinted every five years when my fingerprints don't change??

Another point I would like to make is that most of the names on that list were the names of administrators who have invested a lot of hours in continuing education. To be a principal, you must have a Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree, and a principal's certificate. To be a superintendent, you must have all that plus a superintendent's certificate.  All of those degrees and certificates cost a lot of money. Just ask anyone who is paying for a child in college right now.

I also would like to respond to Senator Daniels's quotes that were in the paper about Senate Bill 5. He stated that the unions were unwilling to come to the table and talk about the issues. To the best of my knowledge, no invitation was ever issued to the unions. What I do know is that the Ohio Senate took a 500 page bill and passed it in two weeks.  

They moved committee members around so that it would be sent to the Senate for a vote.

They also had a 99 page amendment that was added to the bill the night before the vote. Did they really have time to discuss all the issues presented in such a short time?  If they wanted to discuss this bill with union members, there were thousands of them around the courthouse during this whole process. Unions members from every job being affected were right outside their doors. Why not talk to them?  

I also know of plenty of public employees that e-mailed Senator Daniels and asked him not to support this bill. Isn't his job to represent what the people of his district want?
The last thing I would like to accomplish with this letter is to ask Senator Daniels and his fellow Senators this question: If we all need to make sacrifices, what exactly have the legislators given up? Have you taken a pay cut? What percentage of your insurance and retirement are you paying? Have your expense accounts been cut? If we all need to make sacrifices, maybe you should start doing what you are asking your constituents to do.
Sincerely,
Christa Carr
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