RSS | Comments | Tell a Friend | Larger Text | Smaller Text | Bookmark and Share

Local News

Monday, March 10, 2008

License fees for teachers skyrocket

Morey's Gourmet Coffee & Cigars
By JOHN GRABER

STAFF WRITER

The cost of being a teacher just went up and local educators aren't happy about it.

Starting this month, the state Department of Education increased five-year license fees from $60 to $200.

Teachers are also required to pay a $24 fee for a background check from the FBI, plus a $22 fee for a background check from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI). Add it all together and the cost jumps from $60 every five years to $246.

“That's over 300 percent,” said state Rep. Cliff Hite of Findlay, a retired teacher and coach.

It's even more expensive for teachers who want to coach after-school sports. The three-year pupil activity supervisory permit fee recently went from $21 to $45.

That will probably deter some people from coaching, said Hite, who received more than 180 e-mails from teachers around the state on the fee issue in a single day.

“You start thinking, well, I don't really get paid a lot to be a middle school coach, do I really want to spend all the extra money?” Hite said.

The fee increases were necessary to pay for extra administrative costs put on the state Department of Education by legislation requiring the new background checks, department spokesman Scott Blake said.

“Really, for the length of the license, it is comparable or often less than license fees for other professions with comparable salaries,” Blake said.

He said the state's two teachers unions were involved in the decision to hike the fees.

“Throughout the process the Ohio Education Association and the Ohio Federation of Teachers had representatives present,” he said.

The FBI and BCI checks aren't new to all teachers.

In the past, Ohio teachers who had lived out of state within the past five years were required to get an FBI background check.

The BCI background check used to be required the first time a teacher sought certification. Now it's required every time he or she applies for recertification.

Hite doesn't disagree with the new fees as much as the fact they were created unilaterally by the education department without any oversight from the Legislature or Gov. Ted Strickland's office.

“It came without any major announcement and caught everybody off guard,” he said.

Peter Zaras, a fifth grade teacher at Bigelow Hill Intermediate School and chairman of the professional development committee for Findlay City Schools, found out about the increase in January, then organized 74 local teachers to get their recertification before the rates went up.

“Nobody was thrilled about it,” Zaras said about the fee hikes.

“When I first started teaching, my license cost me $2,” Zaras said.

Contact staff writer John Graber at: (419) 427-8417

Comment on This Story
NOTE: Comment moderation has been enabled. If you see a comment that violates our Electronic User Agreement, please e-mail rebeccaconklin@thecourier.com. Thank you. If you are having problems viewing this Web page, please contact our Internet Department to help us diagnose and correct the problem. We may contact you for more information. Thanks in advance.
Your e-mail address will not be displayed on this website or shared with anyone. It is used by our online editor for contacting purposes.
Comments are moderated by The Courier according to its Electronic User Agreement within one business day. Comments that slander others or include language that violates the agreement will be rejected. All comments that impart opinion and information are welcome.
   SPECIAL SECTIONS
BRIDAL TAB

WINTER BRIDAL TAB: Dove releases, prenuptial agreements, bridesmaid advice, budget tips and more to plan your big day.


Brought to you by


ARY DJ
   STAY IN TOUCH
The Courier on Facebook

   PHOTO GALLERY
Randy's Seen

IMAGE BLOG: Go behind the scenes with Courier photographer Randy Roberts.


You can purchase photographs from The Courier through our easy-to-use online system. Get prints, mousepads, T-shirts and more!

  LATEST COMMENTS Last 10 comments submitted by our readers...
Barbara Hughes wrote in article "Findlay man found guilty of six rapes":
Child Rape/Sexual Molestation
“ Hang him that's the best way taxpapers won't have to support him. How did he have access to this child the paper didn't say. T... ” Read More...
Protest
“ I will be paying my bill to Hancock Wood in pennies until this problem is fixed. ” Read More...
My Union Brother and Sisters
“ Just want to say that I am a strong and proud union member of IBEW Local 245. Although I do not work for Hancock-Wood, I want to... ” Read More...
bob the builder wrote in article "Findlay man found guilty of six rapes":
baby raper
“ DEATH to all that commit sexual crimes against children. dont waste my tax money on their worthless lives. either death or sente... ” Read More...
comments
“ pray and hope that time will heal this young little girl..
it is a horrific that any child has to go through this.

keep your...
” Read More...
Job
“ So my electric bill has gone up too. But so has everything else. Word I hear is employees were laid off not terminated and the... ” Read More...
Questioining What Happenned Here
“ Knowing Andrew, there had to be a contract with the school. If he provided computer technician service to the school, wouldn't t... ” Read More...
to reality
“ Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but maybe when you have no idea what youre talking about its best to keep it to yours... ” Read More...
sex offeners
“ I cant belive we as taxpayers have to pay for their free housing and meals! There is no rehab for these animals. People never ch... ” Read More...
Conviction of rapist
“ I certainly dont envy the job of a defense attorney! Sometimes they have the unenviable task of defending someone that they, th... ” Read More...
  U.S. Headlines
  World News
  Ohio News
Lauger's Carpet One
News Briefs Findlay woman injured in Main Street accident
A Findlay woman was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital on Thursday night after she drove a vehicle into a parked car on South Main Street, according to city police.

Lisa Wolsfeld-Anderson, 39, was traveling northbound on South Main Street in a 2004 Nissan Murano when the vehicle struck the left rear bumper of a 2001 Honda Civic parked in the 1200 block of South Main about 8:15 p.m., police said.

The impact caused the parked car to travel about 25 feet into the yard of a nearby residence.

Wolsfeld-Anderson was taken to the hospital by MedCorp for treatment of minor injuries. Her car was "totaled" and the Honda sustained heavy damage, police said.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Wolsfeld-Anderson was cited for making a lane change without due regard.


Join Courier editor for coffee Saturday
Courier Editor Peter Mattiace will be available for "Coffee with the Editor" from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at Coffee Amici, 328 S. Main St., Findlay.


Planners favor zoning change
The Findlay Planning Commission voted Thursday to recommend that City Council change the zoning of a University of Findlay property on Defiance Avenue.

The university is seeking to change the zoning of 312 Defiance Ave. from B-Residential to University District.

City Council will review the request and make the final decision.


Library hosting book discussions
The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library, in conjunction with the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation's 2010 Community Read program, is offering book discussions this month.

This year's book selection is "Teach with Your Heart" by Erin Gruwell. Book discussions will be held at 1 p.m. Monday and 5:30 p.m. March 31.

A limited number of copies of "Teach with Your Heart" are available at the reference desk for book discussions.

All book discussion events are free and open to the public.

Registration is required by calling 419-422-1712 or visiting www.findlaylibrary.org.


Author to speak Saturday at library
Local author Larry Kreps will speak at the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Kreps will talk about his book, "Cancer is a Four Letter Word," with book signings to follow.

No registration is required.


Screenwriter speaking at ONU
ADA -- Bob Peterson, an award-winning director and screenwriter for Pixar, will speak at 7 p.m. Monday in the Ohio Northern University Sports Center Gym.

The event is free and open to the public.

Peterson received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio Northern in 1983 and has been a key player at Pixar Animation Studios since 1994.

His first assignment was that of layout artist and animator on "Toy Story." He later served as story artist on "A Bug's Life" and "Toy Story 2," story supervisor on "Monsters Inc.," and one of the screenwriters for the Academy Award-winning feature "Finding Nemo."

The movie "Up," which he co-wrote and directed, recently collected two Oscars including "Best Animated Feature."


Riverdale plans school screening
MOUNT BLANCHARD -- Riverdale School District will hold its kindergarten screening on March 26, 29 and 30.

Screening will take place at the Riverdale Elementary School in the kindergarten classrooms.

Parents or guardians who have children who will be 5 years old on or before Aug. 1 are being asked to call the elementary office at 419-694-2211 and register the child by today.

Once registered, parents or guardians will receive an information packet with a self-addressed envelope. Papers should be filled out and returned to the elementary office by March 19.

A copy of the child's birth certificate, shot records, Social Security number, proof of residency and custody papers, if applicable, should be provided.

Parents or guardians who reside in the Riverdale School District need to register their child, even if considering open enrollment to another district.


Vanlue offering open enrollment
VANLUE -- Vanlue School District is accepting open enrollment applications for the 2010-11 school year, and scheduling kindergarten screening.

Applications for open enrollment can be found on the school Web site at http://vanlueschool.org.

Students from any school district in Ohio may apply and enroll in Vanlue School District, tuition-free. Students will be admitted on a full-time basis only.

Students registering for the kindergarten screening, to be held April 13, must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 1. Registrations must be submitted to the main office by Monday.

A residential parent or guardian must accompany the child to the registration. Original birth certificate, Social Security card, current shot record and any custody papers must be presented at the screening.


Fostoria board meeting changed
FOSTORIA -- Fostoria school board will meet in regular session at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the community room at Fostoria Middle School.

The meeting was changed from Monday.