Columbus teacher's union files intent to strike, catching up with Ohio State's president
Good morning Columbus!
As you all read in last week's newsletter, it's now back-to-school season as some Greater Columbus districts already started classes. But it's not over just yet, since there are so many more starting this week (Looking at you Dublin, Hilliard and others). Plus, it's about time for students heading to colleges and universities to start prepping for moving-in, classes, and enjoying that campus life. You know, I actually sort of miss being back in school, at least the first day of classes — meeting classmates, exploring campus, all of it.
I also wanted to alert you all that Megan Henry, Sheridan Hendrix and I have been working on some more back-to-school stories and projects, and so keep an eye out for those in the coming days. (No spoilers of course!)
But let's not get too hasty, as even though many schools have yet to begin and there's so much more to come, there's already been a lot going on in education. So here's some coverage you may have missed last week, or have yet to catch up on.
Review Session: In our continuous coverage of the Columbus Education Association and Columbus City School's teacher contract negotiations, the union officially filed its 10-day notice of its intent to strike on Thursday.
The filing came after a federal mediator asked both parties to return to the bargaining table on Wednesday, with negotiations coming to a standstill once again. It was the first time the parties had met since the end of July, when the district gave its "final offer" to the teacher's union.
Board president Jennifer Adair said after the session that they were disappointed about the session and that they were ready to consider a counter from the union to the district's offer at the end of July. However, she said the district believes the union did not respond in good faith.
"It takes two willing parties to successfully negotiate — it is impossible to bargain when the other side is not contributing to the conversation," Adair said.
However, union president John Coneglio said they had brought a "comprehensive counter-proposal on all remaining non-economic issues," but that the district did not offer any counter-proposals and offered "absolutely no movement on any kind from its so-called 'final offer.'"
With the union officially filing its intent to strike the next day, the district announced its plan for remote learning using non-union substitute teachers if the union followed through. A strike could begin on Aug. 22 if no agreement is reached on a contract.
And if a strike did happen, students would be required to attend classes remotely on Aug. 24.
"The District already has many capable full-time substitutes who will be supplied with the curriculum, which has already been prepared, so that students may smoothly enter into the remote learning experience," according to the district. "In addition to our substitutes, the District’s own administrators and those teachers who choose not to strike may provide remote instruction to their students."
To continue following news about the strike, be sure to keep an eye out on the Dispatch's website.
Extra Credit:
Sheridan Hendrix met with Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson to talk about research, college affordability, and more before the start of the fall semester.
As cases of COVID-19 and monkeypox continue to rise, Greater Columbus school districts talk about how they are preparing.
Ohio University researchers are studying ways to turn waste from the coal industry into renewable building materials, Styrofoam alternatives and more.
Thanks for reading this week's education newsletter! No matter if you're a parent sending your kids to their first day of classes or still stocking up on school supplies, or a college student deciding how you want to decorate your dorm room, I just want to wish everyone starting the school year soon the best of luck!
And if you aren't already a subscriber, please consider doing so to continue getting top-notch reporting from our staff. And if someone sent you this week's newsletter and you think to yourself, "This is news I can use," then we encourage you to subscribe so you don't miss the next one.
Until next time,
Michael Lee
Email: mylee@dispatch.com
Twitter: @leem386
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: CEA files intent to strike, catching up with OSU president
