Letter to the Editor: Errors Mar Ohio Treasurer Mandel's Public Employee Website

To The Editor:
 
Our State Treasurer: Web-Based Incompetence
 
Having searched State Treasurer , I was struck by two glaring realities:
 
First, I discovered incredible errors among the salaries posted for teachers I represent in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools.  Several teachers’ salaries are incorrectly reported as being well over $100,000.

In fact, one teacher is listed as having earned $174,000 in 2010, $30,000 more than the superintendent (Douglas Heuer) of the district. Beyond the old adage “figures don’t lie, but liars figure,” these numbers are totally wrong and display the incompetence of our state treasurer and his supporters at the Buckeye Institute who are trying to scam the public.

Our teacher starting salary is $40,500. After 14 years and a Master's degree, teachers max out at $82,100, unless they complete additional coursework. We have a few Ph.D.s earning $87,400.  
 
Second, if you search the database by salary level, you will find pages and pages of lists of public employees whose salaries are below $25,000 per year. These salaries appear to be accurate, at least for the CH-UH district.
 
I urge your readers not to rush to judgment regarding the salaries posted on Mandel/Buckeye Institute website. Verify before you vilify.  I believe voters are smart enough to see the “transparent” phoniness of the Mandel/Buckeye Institute agenda against Ohio’s public employees.
 
Tom Schmida, President of the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union