Senate Bill 5 Causes Mixed Feelings in Twinsburg

As Senate Bill 5 makes its way through the Ohio House these next few weeks, the emotions and feelings about the issue that have been publicized throughout the state are evident in Twinsburg as well.

As teachers and other public workers formed by the Twinsburg Education Association (TEA), people begin to look to the future, wondering how this bill could affect the relationship between teachers, administrators and the school board.

Senate Bill 5, if passed, would diminish more than 350,000 Ohio public workers’ rights to collective bargaining. It passed through the State Senate by a 17-16 margin last week and is expected to be reviewed by the Ohio House this week.

“Everyone that belongs to a union, even a public sector union, is at risk here,” TEA President Marti Franks said. “Everybody that believes in public education, everyone who believes in collective bargaining for anyone, anywhere, and anyone who believes in the economic future of Ohio is at risk here.”

Franks said her group has had some informal conversations with administration in the district but hasn’t heard much from the Board of Education. Board President Ron Stuver attributes most of that to a cloudy future.

“We haven’t really talked to them about it because it’s still quite an unknown and we don’t know what the end result will be,” Stuver said.

He noted that the share of health-care costs for school employees is usually less than that of the private sector and they also receive a guaranteed salary increase over time. In his experience he is more inclined to favor a performance-based arrangement, a topic of discussion in SB5.

“I understand the teachers would be a little leery of that because it’s unknown to them, it’s not something they’ve lived with,” Stuver said. “And there are certainly a lot of details the state hasn’t worked out yet.”

The hard part may be finding the right balance to keep educators happy while making smart decisions for the district’s future.

“I think we have a great staff in Twinsburg and we want to be able to pay a competitive wage to attract the best teachers and the best staff that we can get,” Stuver said. “On one hand, I don’t think we’re looking at this as an opportunity to run out there and slash everybody’s wages. What this does is it gives the board more flexibility when it comes to negotiations and how contracts are established.”

While the financial issues are a major part of these rallies and discussions, Franks believes there is more to the story.

“Certainly there are economic issues that have to be discussed,” Franks said. “But that’s not what’s at the heart of this bill. What’s at the heart is that no one who works for the public sector will have the right to organize.”

Regardless of the outcome, Stuver wants to continue working alongside the teachers to improve the district and continue its success.

“Quite honestly whether this bill passes or doesn’t pass, I am still gong to communicate with our teachers and staff and include them and their input in decisions we have to make,” Stuver said. “I do not want to see what’s going on in Columbus driving a wedge between us in any way.”