Step up, TPS employees

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THE threatened layoffs of more than 300 teachers, including 147 elementary school specialists, surely would harm the Toledo Public Schools' quality of instruction. How could they not?

But if the union that represents city teachers truly wants to mitigate the impact of the proposed job cuts, it can agree now to accept reasonable wage and benefit concessions. Since employee compensation accounts for more than four-fifths of the district budget, the school system's fiscal crisis not only warrants but demands such sacrifice.

Emergency givebacks should be borne not just by union-represented workers but by all district employees, from the superintendent's office down. Without such a showing, the district's plea to voters for a new income tax doesn't have a chance.

A Toledo Federation of Teachers newsletter says the district is looking at eliminating art, music, and physical-education teaching jobs in elementary schools, as a possible option to help erase a projected $30 million budget deficit next school year. In negotiations with the union, district officials also are seeking unspecified concessions on pay and health-insurance benefits, the newsletter says.

Union officials, teachers, and parents who object to the potential elementary layoffs say that the instruction the targeted teachers provide, while not mandated by the state, is essential to student learning and development. They reject district officials' suggestions that classroom teachers can provide such specialized instruction adequately. They argue that the cutbacks would encourage parents to enroll their children elsewhere. And they're right.

Still, when Toledoans talk about whether a particular measure is justified to address the school district's budget miseries, as well as the city's, the question always must be asked: Compared to what?

Even if Toledoans vote in May to adopt the 0.75 percent tax on earned income that the school district wants — and that is hardly assured — district officials say they still will have to cut spending by $17.5 million in the budget that takes effect July 1. This year's budget is about $290 million.

And if voters reject the tax, the entire $30 million deficit would have to be met with spending cuts. Among the other potential reductions the district proposes: eliminating school sports, closing three high schools, slashing pupil transportation, and reducing the school day by 30 minutes. None of those options is appealing, either.

It's tough to argue that anyone should have to take a cut in pay or benefits, especially in this dismal economy. The typical Toledo teacher earns less than $53,000 a year — the sixth lowest average among Ohio's eight big urban school districts.

Nevertheless, many district taxpayers would gladly accept that salary — even with a modest reduction — in a city where income per person is less than $19,000 a year, median household income is barely $34,000, and a household income of more than $66,000 puts you in the top 20 percent, according to Census data.

Like the city, the school district must show — not just tell — taxpayers, voters, and parents that it is operating as efficiently as it can. But if it expects taxpayers to shell out even more, it also must demonstrate that its own employees are willing to bear the pain needed to maintain fiscal solvency.

In the critical battle for public opinion, it doesn't help that district officials remain silent while opponents of the tax increase and budget cuts make their case loudly. Even as union officials mobilize support for their position, school executives refuse to discuss exactly what they want from employees in contract talks, citing a secrecy agreement with union leaders.

That's information voters and taxpayers should have in advance of this week's public hearings on the district's tax and budget proposals. They represent a crucial constituency, even if they aren't sitting at the bargaining table with union and district negotiators.

In the absence of such specifics, how can citizens be expected to evaluate the district's recommendations and offer the guidance that Board of Education members claim to want before they vote on the budget plan next week? It's time to take the people who pay the bills into the schools' confidence.