+ I knew I should have printed those reports in three-hole binder format... Having completed the corrections to the Pennsylvania State Education Association data (how did I miss the fact that there were no "S" or "T" names?), I now have an additional state affiliate to include. The pay and benefits information I have procured for the state of Washington is as good as the California data — though I can only provide a "Top 11" list of salaries, with 37 people tied for 12th. I’ll be happy to fax or e-mail the two pages to anyone who wants them. (I know, I know, your report is starting to resemble the Winchester Mystery House.)

+ That’s the messy news. The neat news is that I now have in my possession a list of average salaries for both professional staff (UniServ reps, specialists, et al.) and support staff (secretaries, research assistants, et al.) for 1993, 1994 and 1995, for each and every state affiliate. These two groups make up the vast majority of teacher union employees. It leaves out only a handful of (the most highly paid) managers and executives. This means that all of you who have been calling for information about your state will now be able to receive extremely useful and accurate data (it’s from an NEA survey) — though not as comprehensive as what is in the EIA report (and a year further out-of-date). If you can provide me with the IRS Form 990 for your state NEA affiliate, I can put together a reasonable facsimile of an EIA report page. If that’s too complicated, just let me know which state you’re interested in and I’ll send along the numbers I have.

+ The Ohio Education Association’s striking staff held a rally this evening in Columbus, and will hold another tomorrow morning. The phone number for strike headquarters is (614) 228-6653 if you want to pledge your support.

Meanwhile, the 18 striking members of the Louisiana Association of Educators staff remain on the picket line. LAE President Mary Washington bad-mouthed the staff in a letter to board members, local presidents and "selected leaders." I may be able to get a copy of the letter and a few strike bulletins.

+ Christine Bradley will earn $37,000 next year from the Saranac (Michigan) School District for not teaching math. Bradley pleaded no contest to stealing batteries from a local store. It was her third conviction for stealing in her 12 years as a teacher. She was also suspended for 10 days in 1994 after being accused of buying a rifle from a student on school property. The school board approved the $37,000 settlement in return for her resignation, noting that it would cost at least $20,000 in legal fees, plus Bradley’s full salary over the time of her "due process," to get rid of her. Superintendent Bruce Chadwick considered the deal a bargain. "Your hands are somewhat tied," he told the board.

Not every member of the board agreed. "To pay an employee for being a crook is nuts," said board member Donald Leslie.