COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Columbus Education Association, the Union representing nearly 4,500 educators in Columbus City Schools, issued the following statement today in response to Columbus City Council’s planned vote tonight on an agreement related to a bid for a new National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team that has been submitted by investors including the Haslam Sports Group, Drs. Pete and Chris Edwards, and Nationwide Realty Investors LLC:
“445 Columbus City Schools educator and support staff positions are being eliminated this year due to budget cuts while the billionaire Haslams demand $25 million more of city taxpayers’ money” said John Coneglio, CEA President. “It’s outrageous, and it should be unanimously rejected, City Council should not be in the business of starving our kids of public resources to pad billionaires’ bank accounts.”
As if extracting millions in additional taxpayer money wasn’t bad enough, the City Council legislation to be voted on tonight includes handing over to the investment group McCoy park, one of the few city parks on the South Side.
Previously, Columbus taxpayers contributed more than $50 million for improvements related to a new Columbus Crew stadium. In 2025, the Haslams were given $600 million in state taxpayer funds for a new Cleveland Browns stadium. Shortly thereafter, the Haslams purchased a new $25 million mansion in Florida. The building of a new Columbus Crew stadium came with the promise of a new sports facility in the Linden area that would be open to the community. That promise was not kept.
Enough is enough.
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.
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