January 16, 2011
No new talks set with SWCS unions By TOM SHEEHAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Unions representing teachers and classified employees have gone more than six months without reaching new contracts with South-Western City Schools, a situation district officials don’t think has happened before. Both the South-Western Edu-
cation Association and the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, which represents nonteaching personnel, have been without contracts since June 30. Federal mediators are handling negotiations, but district negotiators have not met with SWEA since Dec. 20 or OAPSE since mid-November. The mediators in the separate
talks set the meetings and no new talks have been set for either union. Prior to the Jan. 10 school board meeting, superintendent Bill Wise said he did not know how long talks would continue with the unions without any significant breakthroughs. Regarding the Dec. 20 meeting with teachers, Wise said he
could not discuss what issues are on the table. “I don’t feel we are significantly closer together but at least we are addressing the issues,” he said. This is the first time district officials can remember talks with either union going into January, he said. SWEA president Rolla Beach said after the Jan. 10 meeting that
teachers are continuing to negotiate in good faith. After “the two bargaining sessions in December, I was more hopeful” some movement was beginning, he said. Teachers last fall began performing only duties required in their contracts, and basically not working beyond the school day. Beach said on Jan. 10 that teach-
Altomare COMETS COACH hired as Prairie’s first fire marshal
See NO NEW TALKS, page A2
Detroit pastor to speak at MLK Jr. breakfast
By CARLA SMITH ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Prairie Township Board of Trustees agreed unanimously Jan. 12 to hire Michael Altomare as the township’s first fire marshal. Altomare will receive an annual base salary of $71,829. His total compensation package, including all benefits, is $119,244.76, according to information from the township. Fire Chief Steve Feustel said the position has been needed for a long time in order to have consistency when it comes to fire inspections throughout the township. “The formation of this position was a part of our levy campaign,” Feustel said. “We needed someone who could dedicate the time to fire prevention and serve the business community in a consistent way.” As fire marshal, Altomare will have many duties, Feustel said. Among those are conducting all fire investigations, fire inspections and overseeing the public education component of fire prevention, he said. Feustel said Altomare was the perfect candidate for the newly created position. “Mike has been instrumental in creating a fire investigation program within the department,” Feustel said. “He is consistent and effective in processing arson cases within the township.” Feustel said what the department really needed was someone who could devote the time needed for the business community when conducting inspections. “Businesses will see consistency and the same individual from the fire department,” he said. “They will always deal with the same person and that should make them more comfortable.” Past practice has been for the fire deSee PRAIRIE , page A2
ers are discussing other methods that might help speed talks along. OAPSE representatives, who didn’t attend the Jan. 10 meeting, previously have said the school board needs to treat classified workers fairly. Last summer, an administrators’ union reached a one-year
Several events set to commemorate birthday of famous civil-rights leader By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Tim Norman/ThisWeek
Central Crossing head coach Jamie Ramirez yells to Central Crossing’s Brooks Gilmore (right) as he battles Thomas Worthington’s Hunter Blevins in the 215-pound class during a recent four-team meet at Worthington Kilbourne High School.
Series hopes to strike a chord with music lovers By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Schiller Park will be one of three destinations for a summer concert series. German Village resident Aaron Leventhal plans to produce the free series of shows, called Jammin’ in the Park, as a way to raise money for several nonprofit organizations, including the German Village Society, Directions for Youth, the Short North Business Association and the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center. “Basically, this is a pilot project,” he said. “Our goal is to roll out 10 to 12 of them for the bicentennial festival (in 2012).” The entertainment will feature a gospel concert held in May at Fort Hayes Career Center, a pop
“I wanted to do something that’s really exciting and new for the community,” Leventhal said. A closer look Leventhal is the founder of High Street Magazine, which was recently sold to Outlook Media Inc. He has maintained the High Street NeighborThe entertainment will feature a gospel conhood Fund, a permanent endowment that has awardcert held in May at Fort Hayes Career Center, a pop rock show in June at Schiller Park and a ed more than $80,000 in grants since it was foundjazz and electric bluegrass performance in July ed in 2001. Most of the recipients have been along at Goodale Park. All shows, to take place from the High Street corridor. A portion of advertising and sponsorship dollars from the shows goes dinoon to 7 p.m., will feature at least three rectly into the fund, part of the Aaron Leventhal bands. Specific dates have not been set. Foundation administered through the Columbus rock show in June at Schiller Park and a jazz and Jewish Foundation. Money from the fund has gone toward children’s electric bluegrass performance in July at Goodale Park. All shows, to take place from noon to 7 p.m., programming at the Columbus Recreation and will feature at least three bands. Specific dates have See MUSIC LOVERS, page A2 not been set.
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The Rev. James C. Perkins will deliver the keynote address at the 26th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, slated for 7:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 17, at the Greater Columbus Convention Rev. James C. Center, 400 N. High St. Perkins Perkins, pastor of the Greater Christ Baptist Church in Detroit, describes his speech as “positive and uplifting,” but also challenging to the audience. “The reason we need to continue to celebrate his life and legacy is because it brings us back to face the fact that, as a nation, we are not where we need to be and should be,” Perkins said. Doors open at 7 a.m. Tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance by calling (614) 252-0868. The event will adjourn at 10 a.m. The theme of Perkins’ speech is “Keep on Dreaming,” which is drawn from the Bible’s account of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 37:5: “Joseph dreamed a dream and he told it to his brethren, and they hated him yet the more.” “The point is that, for whatever the reason, dreamers build an atmosphere of hate,” Perkins said. Perkins, 59, graduated from high school in 1968 and went to college four months after King was assassinated. He said he always planned to go into the ministry but felt motivated by King’s words and actions. “It did inspire me,” Perkins said. “I felt a sense of responsibility to try and challenge others to perpetuate the dreams that he talked about.” Perkins will be preceded by several other speakers, including Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman. “Dr. King said, ‘Everybody can be great because anybody can serve.’ To keep Dr. King’s dream alive, we must rise to meet the needs of our community,” Coleman said in a prepared statement. “We remember how Dr. King inspired people to give what they could of their time and talent. He provided opportunities for them to learn and grow. And as a result, they were able to change our world.” The breakfast is part of a daylong tribute to King. Residents are invited to gather at City Hall in preparation of the “Celebrate the Legacy” march, which will begin at 4:45 p.m. See DETRIOT PASTOR, page A2
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