Tentative deal reached to end Columbus teachers strike: Here's what you need to know
A tentative deal was reached early Thursday morning to end the first strike by Columbus teachers since 1975.
The deal, announced around 3 a.m., came after more than 12 hours of negotiation between the Columbus Education Association and Columbus City Schools, with help from a federal mediator.
Exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, and will likely remain unknown publicly until union members meet to vote.
Columbus teachers strike:Columbus City Schools and Columbus Education Association reach conceptual agreement
Union leadership have said its members plan to meet this weekend and their bargaining team will recommend ratification.
Should union members vote to ratify the deal, the strike, which entered its third day Wednesday, would end and in-person classes would resume Monday.
The Columbus Board of Education would then vote on the agreement following the union's ratification.
Here's what you need to know about the tentative deal and what it means for parents and students.
When exactly will the contract be approved?
Sometime this weekend. The exact day is unclear.
The Columbus Education Association is trying to find a venue that will accommodate nearly 4,500 members, said union spokesperson Regina Fuentes during a Thursday press conference.
The vote on Aug. 21 to go on strike was taken at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Are teachers picketing today?
Columbus Education Association members have been instructed not to report to picket lines Thursday morning.
When are Columbus City Schools students going back to school?
Remote learning will continue Thursday and Friday so teachers have adequate time "to prepare for a return to school Monday," the district said.
Does my child need to log in to virtual learning?
The district has said that attendance is still being taken for the next two school days.
Jacqueline Bryant, the school district's spokesperson, encouraged parents with questions to call the Columbus City Schools help desk at 614-365-8425.
Are student support centers still open?
Yes, student support centers will be open Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the recreation centers staying open until 9 p.m. The locations are:
Glenwood Community Center, 1888 Fairmont Ave.
Sullivant Gardens Community Center, 755 Renick St.
Barnett Community Center, 1184 Barnett Road
Blackburn Community Center, 263 Carpenter St.
Driving Park Community Center, 1100 Rhoads Ave.
Barack Community Center, 580 E Woodrow Ave.
Schiller Community Center, 1069 Jaeger St.
Linden Community Center, 1350 Briarwood Ave.
Howard Community Center, 2505 N. Cassady Ave.
Columbus teachers strike:Video: Scenes from Day three of the Columbus City Schools teacher strike
Are meals still being handed out?
Families and students can still pick up “grab-and-go” meals at 25 designated school sites across the city. The sites will be open Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The sites are:
Beechcroft High School, 6100 Beechcroft Road
Berwick Alternative Pre-K-8, 2655 Scottwood Road
Briggs High School, 2555 Briggs Road
Buckeye Middle School, 2950 Parsons Ave.
Centennial High School, 1441 Bethel Road
Columbus Africentric Early College Pre-K-12, 3223 Allegheny Ave.
Columbus Scioto 6-12, 2951 S. High St.
Columbus North International School/Columbus Global Academy, 4077 Karl Road
Dominion Middle School, 100 E. Arcadia Ave.
Eastmoor Academy, 417 S Weyant Ave.
East High School, 1500 E Broad St.
Independence High School, 5175 Refugee Road
Linden-McKinley STEM Academy, 1320 Duxberry Ave.
Marion-Franklin High School, 1265 Koebel Road
Medina Middle School, 1425 Huy Road
Mifflin High School, 3245 Oak Spring St.
Northland High School, 1919 Northcliff Dr.
Sherwood Middle School, 1400 Shady Lane Road
South High School, 1160 Ann St.
Starling Pre-K-8, 145 S. Central Ave.
Wedgewood Middle School, 3800 Briggs Road
West High School, 179 S. Powell Ave.
Westmoor Middle School, 3001 Valleyview Drive
Whetstone High School, 4405 Scenic Drive
Woodward Park Middle School, 5151 Karl Road
What are Columbus City Schools Board of Education members saying about the deal?
On Thursday morning, the Columbus Board of Education's Neighborhood School Development Partnership committee met for their monthly meeting.
The panel, made up of volunteers, oversees the district's construction projects that fall within the Facilities Master Plan and makes recommendations to the school board.
Committee members did not discuss the teachers' strike, but Columbus City Schools board member Eric Brown, who joined the meeting remotely, shared some brief remarks.
"Thank you all for your continued good work," he told the committee. "Today is exciting, not just with the projects you're recommending ... but also we have a conceptual agreement with our teachers, and we're wrapping things up in the next few days with that negotiation process. I appreciate the support from the community for helping us get to that point."
When will Columbus City Schools athletics resume?
“Columbus City Schools will resume all athletic, band and drill team practices on Friday, Aug. 26,” according to a statement provided by Columbus City Schools communications director Jacqueline Bryant. “All activities are canceled for this week. School athletic directors will provide updated information on upcoming game schedules in the coming days.”
Dispatch reporters Sheridan Hendrix, Megan Henry and ThisWeek reporter Jarrod Ulrey contributed to this report.
Monroe Trombly covers breaking and trending news.
mtrombly@dispatch.com
@MonroeTrombly
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus teachers strike nears end. What to know on Thursday
