COLUMBUS, Ohio – June 21, 2022 – Frustrated by the District’s unilateral decision to remove its members in the Project Connect program from the union against a backdrop of attacks on teachers and students at the bargaining table, the Columbus Education Association will rally at 4:30 p.m. outside of today’s Board of Education meeting.

Authorized under Federal law through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, the dedicated educators in the Project Connect Program provide services to ensure that children experiencing homelessness have access to a free and appropriate public education by removing barriers due to homelessness. The District’s decision to unilaterally remove the CEA bargaining unit members in the Project Connect Program would strip those educators of their union status and contract protections after decades of union membership.

Amy Bradley, a Youth Academic Advocate with Project Connect since 2014 said, “Losing our union status would make Project Connect a less desirable career and weaken our community relationships that help feed, clothe, and educate our most vulnerable youth.”

An internal Columbus City Schools email provided in response to CEA’s public records request proves that the District discussed a transition timeline and unilaterally rewrote these bargaining unit members’ job descriptions prior to any conversation with CEA, a violation of the collective bargaining agreement and state law.  The email goes on to say that the reclassified liaison positions will pay “significantly less money than [the current position holders] are currently making.”

“Our students who are experiencing homelessness are not second-class citizens and deserve the same access to CEA professionals as all of our other students” said CEA President John Coneglio.  He added, “The District’s unilateral decision to outsource these jobs shines a bright light on the lengths the District is willing to go to deprioritize the resources our vulnerable students need.”

Teachers, their families, and community members will begin filling the public sidewalks outside of the District’s south administrative building (3700 S. High St.) at 4:30 p.m. today.  CEA Spokesperson Regina Fuentes will be available for comment during the rally.

For the latest information, like the CEA page on Facebook at ColumbusEA, follow @ColumbusEA on Twitter, or keep up with the conversation on social media with #ColumbusStudentsDeserve.

The Columbus Education Association is the union representing nearly 4,500 teachers, librarians, nurses, counselors, psychologists, and other education professionals in Columbus City Schools. The CEA-CCS Master Agreement expires at midnight on August 21.  With negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement underway, members of the Columbus Education Association are fighting for the schools Columbus students deserve: safe, properly maintained, and fully resourced schools in every neighborhood.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – June 16, 2022 – During a public hearing at City Hall last evening, Columbus Education Association (CEA) member Greg Mild urged City Councilmember Shayla Favor to reconsider policy revisions to the Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) residential tax abatement policy, which allows wealthy developers to continue draining much needed funding from our schools.

“With the majority of revenue for school districts still coming from property taxes, the abatements cost the Columbus Schools over 51 million dollars in 2021 alone. And the increased practice of awarding abatements is out of control – outpacing the growth of real property within the school district over the past eight years,” Mild said.

Mild’s full testimony is attached to this message.

CEA President John Coneglio added, “For years, the Columbus City Schools administration has pursued policies of disinvestment, school closings, and the transfer of our public resources to private interests to satisfy the desires of powerful developers, corporate interests, and politicians.  Columbus students deserve safe, properly maintained, fully resourced schools, and it’s time these developers pay their fair share.”

The CEA-CCS Master Agreement expires at midnight on August 21.  With negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement underway, members of the Columbus Education Association are fighting for the schools Columbus students deserve.

For the latest information, like the CEA page on Facebook at ColumbusEA, follow @ColumbusEA on Twitter, or keep up with the conversation on social media with #ColumbusStudentsDeserve.

The Columbus Education Association is the union representing nearly 4,500 teachers, librarians, nurses, counselors, psychologists, and other education professionals in Columbus City Schools. The Columbus Education Association is a proud affiliate of the Ohio Education Association and the National Education Association.

Remarks Regarding Tax Abatements for Developers

Greg Mild – Member, Columbus Education Association

Columbus City Council Hearing

June 15, 2022

Good evening. My name is Greg Mild and I am speaking to you on behalf of the Columbus Education Association. As you may be aware, the Columbus Education Association is vehemently opposed to the continued practice of City Council awarding tax abatements to wealthy developers which results in a drastic loss of tax dollars received by the Columbus City School District. With the majority of revenue for school districts still coming from property taxes, the abatements cost the Columbus Schools over 51 million dollars in 2021 alone. And the increased practice of awarding abatements is out of control – outpacing the growth of real property within the school district over the past eight years.

In the interest of time, I’ll be direct and lay out our three key asks.

First and foremost, stop awarding tax abatements to wealthy developers and companies that clearly do not need them so that the tax burden ceases to be put on the back of Columbus residents. We believe that companies should pay their fair share just like your ordinary citizen.

Second, and since we do not believe you will listen to our first request, we ask that you at the bare minimum require developers receiving abatements to hold to the requirement of providing affordable housing and not let them throw more money at the issue and avoid this direct investment in the Columbus community. The ability to pay a fee to avoid such direct community involvement seems to contradict their need for an abatement in the first place.

Finally, we would recommend that every member of City Council take a deep look into those contributing to their campaigns and take a few simple actions. First, return all donations from individuals and entities connected to those companies who are receiving or have received a tax abatement. Second, refuse to accept any donations in the future from these entities. And third, recuse yourself from any discussion of tax abatements from these entities in the future to avoid any question of a quid pro quo agreement. We certainly don’t need another political scandal in the city.

Our bottom line is this – focus on what actions YOU can take to invest in the children and families of our city. What can YOU do to help Ohio’s largest public school district THRIVE? If you want to attract investment in Columbus, then start talking about your investment as city leaders in creating a successful and growing urban school district.

The Columbus Education Association is fighting for the schools that Columbus Students Deserve and we need to know that you are, too.

Columbus Teachers Blast ‘Unconscionable, Illegal’ Decision to Strip Homeless Youth Advocates of Union Status and Contract Protections

COLUMBUS, Ohio – June 13, 2022 – The Columbus Education Association, the Union representing nearly 4,500 educators in Columbus City Schools, reacted today to an internal announcement that the District will attempt to unilaterally remove from the CEA bargaining unit members in the Project Connect program who advocate for students experiencing homelessness, thereby stripping these educators of their union status and contract protections after decades of union membership.

“Our team ensures the educational rights of more than 2,000 children who live in shelters, hotels, and other transitional housing situations every year” said Amy Bradley, a Youth Academic Advocate who started with Project Connect in 2014. “Losing our union status would make Project Connect a less desirable career and weaken our community relationships that help feed, clothe, and educate our most vulnerable youth.”

“Our students who are experiencing homelessness are not second-class citizens and deserve the same access to CEA professionals as all of our other students” said CEA President John Coneglio. “We have filed a grievance regarding this unconscionable, illegal decision and will pursue Unfair Labor Practice charges with the State Employment Relations Board as well.”

The CEA-CCS Master Agreement expires at midnight on August 21.  With negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement underway, members of the Columbus Education Association are fighting for the schools Columbus students deserve: safe, properly maintained, and fully resourced schools in every neighborhood.  Coneglio added, “The District’s unilateral decision to outsource these jobs shines a bright light on the lengths the District is willing to go to deprioritize the resources our vulnerable students need.”

For the latest information on negotiations, follow CEA on social media:

Facebook: facebook.com/ColumbusEA

Twitter: twitter.com/ColumbusEA

The Columbus Education Association is the union representing nearly 4,500 teachers, librarians, nurses, counselors, psychologists, and other education professionals in Columbus City Schools. The Columbus Education Association is a proud affiliate of the Ohio Education Association and the National Education Association.