Negotiations FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
updated 9/24/2019
Are the teachers working without a contract?
No. The teachers are working with a contract. The Negotiated Agreement between the Ottawa-Glandorf Local School District (“District”) Board of Education (“Board”) and the Ottawa- Glandorf Classroom Teachers Association (“Association”) has expired. However, under Ohio law, the terms of the Negotiated Agreement continue after expiration until a new agreement is reached.
Is the Board negotiating in good faith?
Yes. Both Ohio law and the Negotiated Agreement require the parties to negotiate in good faith. The Board would uphold that obligation, regardless of whether it was required by law or the Negotiated Agreement.
Why is the Board unable to give raises similar other local school districts?
The District’s state funding has increased by an average of .78% per year since 2014. That is three consecutive state budget cycles without a substantial increase in state funding, so while funding to the District has gone up less than 1% each year, the District’s health insurance costs have gone up by an average of 15.5% per year for the last five years. As stated in the latest edition of the Titan Tradition, and in articles on the District’s website, other school districts in Putnam County are also receiving substantially more money in their budgets in the form of Capacity Aid and Transitional Aid.
Another difference between the District and its neighboring districts is the employee contribution to insurance premiums paid by the staff at some of those neighboring districts. The employees in those districts agreed to pay 5% more of the premium toward their High Deductible Healthcare Plan (HDHP) than the Ottawa-Glandorf teachers. Applied to Ottawa-Glandorf, this difference in premium would free-up approximately $80,000. The District’s teachers contribute 7% of the premium toward the family plan HDHP offered by the Board. This means that teachers pay approximately $130 per month for their health plan, and the Board of Education contributes $3,000 per year toward an HSA account for each employee with a family plan, and $2,000 toward an HSA for an employee with a single plan.
When you combine the funding difference between our neighboring districts, and the employee contributions toward their health insurance premiums, it becomes very easy to see why the Ottawa- Glandorf Local School District is not able to offer similar pay increases.
Are teachers telling students that they will not be grading homework or submitting grades?
Some teachers have told students that they will not receive grades for homework and they will not receive other grades. This tactic is sometimes used by teachers’ unions to sway the students and parents to pressure the Board to settle the negotiations and agree to the Association’s demands. Teachers are expected to perform their job duties. Part of those duties is the grading of homework and the submission of student grades. Even if it was not part of their duties, it is wrong to use the students as a means of trying to pressure the Board to agree to the Association’s proposals.
Is it acceptable for the teachers to involve students in the negotiations process?
No. Teachers are to teach the students in the classroom, according to the curriculum and standards approved by the Board. While District residents, students, and staff are certainly impacted by and interested in the outcome of negotiations, is not appropriate for the teachers to involve the students in the negotiations process. Therefore, it is not appropriate for teachers to use precious class time to discuss the negotiations, rather than teaching children.
Is it acceptable for teachers to be distributing literature or any other items at school events asking for the public to support the Association during negotiations?
No. While teachers retain their free speech rights, those rights must be exercised in accordance with District Board Policy while on the job and while at District events. Board Policy 9700.01expressly states: “students, staff members and District facilities shall not be used for any commercial advertising or otherwise promoting the interests of any commercial, political, nonprofit or other non-school agency or organization, public or private, without the approval of the Board or its designee.” The Board of Education has not authorized the teachers to promote theAssociation or its collective bargaining interests by issuing flyers or literature to students or members of the public on District property. Violations of Board Policy can result in the implementation of disciplinary action.
When is the next meeting?
Collective bargaining between the Board and the Association is under the jurisdiction of a Federal Mediator. The Board cannot compel the Association to come to the bargaining table, and instead must rely on the Association to cooperate with the Federal Mediator in scheduling dates to bargain. Following the September 17, 2019 negotiations, the Board offered three dates of October 7, 14, and 16 to meet with the Association and the Federal Mediator again. Those dates were rejected by the Association, and the Board was not offered alternative dates.
The Board will attend any mediation session scheduled by the Federal Mediator and will continue bargaining in good faith. The Board hopes that the Association will do the same.
The Board received notice on 9/23/19 that the OGCTA had made a request to meet with the Federal Mediator on October 17, 2019. The Board agreed to this date immediately.
Is money an issue in the negotiations?
Yes. It is an issue on both sides of the negotiating table. One of the common tactics used byteachers’ unions is to claim that money is not an issue in the negotiations. Money is definitely an issue in these negotiations.
Has the Board committed an “Unfair Labor Practice” against the Association?
No. The Association filed an unfair labor practice (“ULP”) with the State Employment RelationsBoard in January, 2019. SERB has not issued a definitive ruling on the matter, and it is presently under the jurisdiction of a SERB Mediator. The Association filed another ULP against the Board in June, 2019. SERB dismissed that ULP with prejudice for lack of probable cause to believe that ULP had been committed.
Has the Association committed a ULP against the Board?
The Board filed a ULP against the Association on July 23, 2019, in response to comments about collective bargaining made by Association President Nicole Ruhe, which were published in thePutnam County Sentinel. The Board alleges that Ms. Ruhe’s comments amount to “direct dealing”and bad faith bargaining in violation of R.C. 4117.11.(B)(3). The ULP Charge is currently pending before SERB.
What is “work-to-rule” and why are teachers doing it?
When teachers engage in “work-to-rule,” they are performing the absolute bare minimum of workthat is required of them under the terms of the Negotiated Agreement. For example, as soon as the contractual work day ends, teachers leave the premises in unison, rather than stick-around for a few extra minutes to help students, talk to parents, or plan with their administrators for the following school day. Some teachers do this to try to put additional pressure on the District’sadministration during collective bargaining. It is unfortunate that some District teachers have resorted to this tactic. However, the Board will not let the lack of cooperation from teachers harm the educational experience of the District’s students.
Where can I find a copy of the current Negotiated Agreement?
The Board’s current Negotiated Agreement with the Association is available on SERB’s website at: https://serb.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/serb/documents-and-decisions/collective-bargaining- agreements/collective-bargaining-agreements
Negotiations Update
OTTAWA-GLANDORF LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Ottawa-Glandorf Local School District ("District") Board of Education ("Board") and Administration values its employees with the highest regard possible. To that end, the Board and Administration believe the teachers deserve to be compensated fairly, but any compensation package must take into account the financial status of the district, so that it remains responsible to the taxpayers and the community.
The Board and its Administration believe it is necessary to provide the community with facts in response to comments made by the Ottawa-Glandorf Classroom Teachers Association ("OGCTA") leadership in the Putnam County Sentinel and The Lima News over the past few months, and to answer questions the public may have about the Negotiated Agreement currently in effect between the Board and the OGCTA.
• The District's teachers are not working without a contract. Under Ohio law, the terms of the Negotiated Agreement continue after expiration until a new agreement is reached. As a result, many of the District's teachers have continued to receive pay increases due to the built-in index increases which are a part of the current Negotiated Agreement's salary schedule. These increases in pay are in addition to the base pay raise the Board is currently negotiating with the OGCTA.
• The District will be placing a copy of the current salary schedule on its website.
• In the Putnam County Sentinel and The Lima News, OGCTA Representatives asked the public to believe that the current stall in negotiations is not about money. The Board appreciates knowing that the Board's offer to the OGCTA is acceptable and looks forward to concentrating on the language issues that need to be agreed upon when the parties meet again.
• Collective bargaining between the Board and the OGCTA is under the jurisdiction of a Federal Mediator. The Board cannot compel the OGCTA to come to the bargaining table, and instead must rely on the OGCTA to cooperate with the Federal Mediator in scheduling dates to bargain. Following the September 17, 2019 negotiations, the Board offered three dates of October 7, 14, and 16 to meet with the OGCTA and the Federal Mediator again. Those dates were rejected by the OGCTA, and the Board was not offered alternative dates. The Board will attend any mediation session scheduled by the Federal Mediator and will continue bargaining in good faith. The Board hopes that the Association will do the same.
• The Board is proud of its long history of providing equal salary/benefit increases to all of the District's employees, including teachers, non-teachers, and the Administration. It is a fact that the District's Administrators pay the same amount of insurance premiums as the teaching staff.
• Under the current Negotiated Agreement, most teachers continue to receive annual increases in their salaries based on their years of experience, and/or educational attainment. For example, during the 2018-2019 school year, a teacher with one year of experience who held a bachelor's degree and had completed 150 semester hours towards a master's degree, earned a salary of $36,796.00. That teacher completed her master's degree over the summer. As such, she would receive a salary of $40,692.00 during the 2019-2020 school under the current Negotiated Agreement. That amounts to a base salary increase of approximately 9.5% over the course of one year. Increases like that far outpace the cost of living, and generously reward individual investment in education and loyalty to the District. Any changes to the salary schedule achieved through negotiations will be in addition to the already competitive wages the District offers.
Final Forms Instructions
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Final Forms - Email Address Update Form
Ottawa-Glandorf High School, Ottawa Elementary, and Glandorf Elementary Parents,
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Financial Information
Regarding our ongoing teacher negotiations. While the Board and administration would like to share additional details on current negotiations, because of an unfair labor practice filed by the teachers' union we are refraining from doing so. However, we are continuing to work hard to settle a fair contract for both sides while being sensible with taxpayer money.
Comparison of Fiscal Year 2019 to 2018
Senior Photos
Attention all OGHS Seniors and Parents: Your senior photos that were taken by Michael Osborne are ready to be viewed and purchased. Please go to Osborne.orderschoolpix.com and enter your personal ID. (Your personal ID was given to you the day the photos were taken.) Select OG Seniors Fall 2018 in the gallery and enter your ID to view/order your photo. If you have misplaced the ID that was given to you, please contact Mrs. Von Sossan at vonsosk@ottawaglandorf.org or call Michael Osborne at 419-348-2022.
Negotiations Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Ottawa-Glandorf Board of Education (“Board”) met on October 2, 2018 for their regular monthly meeting. At that meeting, the Board adopted and approved the most recent Five-Year Forecast, which outlines the revenue and expense trends for the district over the next five years. The Board would like to thank the voters of the district for their support of the income tax levy in May, and while this levy allowed the Board to avoid massive cuts in staff and programs, the district will not collect any of the money from the new levy until April of 2019. In addition, the district will not see a full collection until 18 months after the levy takes effect on January 1, 2019. These two things, in conjunction with deficit spending project to be approximately $1.5 million continues to negatively impact the district financially. At our community levy meetings last spring the Board and Administration promised the taxpayers the district would live within its means if the district residents supported the new income tax. The Board and Administration fully plan to keep that promise.
The Board will be posting the Five Year Forecast on the district website to allow the public to carefully review the financial status of the district.
The Board’s goal for collective bargaining negotiations has always been to reach an agreement that helps to attract high quality teaching candidates, protects the fiscal health of the District by negotiating an agreement that is revenue neutral for the district, ensures that our teachers maintain high standards of professional conduct, and, most importantly, that takes the needs of our students into account. The Board is hopeful that the parties’ interests are aligned in this regard. Since we have received questions regarding the negotiations proposals, the Board will be publishing on the District’s website the Board’s last three (3) contract proposals, and the OGCTA’s response to the Board proposals from September 12, 2018.
OGCTA Neg - Bd Counter 7-18-18
OGCTA Neg - Bd Counter 8-21-18
OGCTA Neg - Bd Counter 9-19-18
Kindergarten Screening
Kindergarten Screening is quickly approaching! If you have not registered your 5 year old, please do so ASAP, as this will secure an appointment time for your child. Your child must attend Kindergarten Screening, which includes multiple assessments in a variety of areas to measure kindergarten readiness. Thank you for supporting your child's future education at Ottawa-Glandorf!
Schoology Parent Account Information
Schoology information and resources for parents are available on the Schoology Parent Help page. You can access this resource by clicking the following link.
Ottawa-Glandorf Local Schools
630 Glendale Ave.,
Ottawa, OH 45875
419-523-5261
Ottawa-Glandorf High School
630 Glendale Ave.
Ottawa, OH 45875
419-523-5702
Glandorf Elementary School
140 Church St.
Glandorf, OH 45848
419-538-6880
Ottawa Elementary School
123 Putnam Parkway
Ottawa, OH 45875
419-523-4290
