Union puts own desires ahead of children

I would like to thank Superintendent Paulette Baz for her article in the February issue of the Bulldog Bulletin. I really appreciate that it was written with the intent of informing the people of this school district of what's really happening; rather than an article that's all "hearts and flowers." Ms. Baz has earned my respect for writing it.

After reading the article, however, I am outraged that the SEA (teacher's union) has potentially cost our school system a minimum of $68,000 in grant money. Everyone in the Swanton school district should be outraged. This money would've been used to implement a plan towards Excellence.

I believe that bringing our school district to Excellence should be the number one goal for anyone employed by the Swanton School System. Instead, our teacher's union has once again put their own desires ahead of the children and the taxpayers of our district.

It is unconscionable that our teacher's union would jeopardize our school system while trying to make the school board enter into an additional agreement, before they would sign the MOU, which was needed before the grant application could be turned in.

What makes this even more unscrupulous, is that our teacher's union held out for and received one of the most lucrative contracts in the State of Ohio just a few short years ago, even though they knew our budget wouldn't be able to sustain the terms of that contract.

Julie Tippie

Swanton