By Jennifer Smith Richards

The Columbus Dispatch

3/12/2008

The state’s largest teachers union urged its members to speak out against a hike that more than tripled the cost of a five-year teaching license.

Thousands of teachers e-mailed State Board of Education members, either by filling out a form or crafting their own, cramming members’ inboxes and crippling some computers. Some of the e-mails were abusive, threatening and profane.

Many school-board members were outraged and said so today just before they rejected pleas to reverse the board’s February decision that raised the cost of a five-year license to $200.

In an 11-6 vote, the board decided not to return to a $60 fee. Then, in a 10-7 vote, the board rejected a bid to delay the new fees four months, which would have started them July 1.

About 11,000 teachers submitted applications before the fees changed March 1. Typically, 1,000 apply at this time of year.

Reversing the February decision “would send an unfortunate message that this board will turn its decision by a high volume of form letters,” said board member Robin C. Hovis, who is from Millersburg.

“I received many, many, many, many cruel e-mails,” said Lou Ann Harrold, a former teacher and superintendent from Ada.

“I hope you never use that technique again,” she told the teachers and officers of the Ohio Education Association who testified at today’s board meeting.

Member Michael H. Cochran, who is from Blacklick and received about 1,200 e-mails from teachers, said: “I found that method of lobbying to be offensive. It was juvenile. I would expect the OEA to know better.”

One of the e-mails to board members said: “It’s politicians like you that make me sick to my stomach! I have no idea where you get off pulling some stunt like this … and I hope your children and their children’s children get screwed over by the educational policies you and your ignorant cornies (sic) develop.”

Teachers licenses cost more because the department now has to review more background checks before it issues them, said Lou Staffilino, associate superintendent for the Center for the Teaching Profession.

Before a couple of changes in state law last year, background checks were required only when teachers first received a license. Now, teachers must have both a state and federal background check every time they get a new license or renew an old one.

Teachers directly pay for the background checks, but the Department of Education reviews them to look for problems that would prevent someone from teaching.

Also, the department is buying a new computer system to better track educators accused of wrongdoing. The new state law also requires the department to start telling school districts when teachers are arrested. The price tag to do all that is about $2.3 million.

The fee increase was the first significant one in the last 14 years. Eight years ago, the department raised rates by $2.

The new fees are “a real hardship,” said Rhonda Johnson, president of the Columbus teachers union, which is affiliated with the state one. “It’s like, ‘Let’s make the good teachers pay for the crooks we’re trying to catch.’ ”

The Ohio Education Association argued that the rate hike was too large and a surprise to teachers. Because it’s a fee that relates to public safety, taxpayers should foot the bill, the union said.

“These dramatic increases feel unreasonable and unfair,” said the union’s vice president, Bill Leibensperger.

Board members countered that talks about the changes began in December, and the union was present for many, if not all, of them.

“To now stand up and say members didn’t know it was coming is more of an indictment of OEA,” Cochran said.

The union says it will keep fighting the increases and will continue to lobby by e-mail. Leibensperger apologized for the e-mails that were “unprofessional in tone.”

“But part of being a public official is being able to take it,” he said after the meeting. “I’m sorry that the board has chosen to not partner with us on this issue.”

jsmithrichards@dispatch.com