FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 21, 2021

COLUMBUS OH — Governor DeWine announced this week that 96% of public school districts have signed a form committing to a return to in-person learning by March 1st, even though the timeline for vaccine distribution means that no educators and staff will be fully vaccinated by that date. The Governor didn’t mention that this commitment form was presented as a prerequisite for educators and school staff to receive vaccines during Phase 1B.

The following joint statement is signed by: Patricia Shipe, President of Akron Education Association (Independent union); Paul Palomba, President of Canton Professional Educators’ Association (OEA); Julie Sellers, President of Cincinnati Federation of Teachers (OFT); Shari Obrenski, President of Cleveland Teachers Union (OFT); John Coneglio, President of Columbus Education Association (OEA); David Romick, President of Dayton Education Association (OEA); Kevin Dalton, President of Toledo Federation of Teachers (OFT); and Larry Ellis, President of Youngstown Education Association (OEA).

“Our school districts include some of the communities in Ohio that have been hit hardest by the deadly effects of COVID-19. Our members, our students and their families, and our cities will face dire consequences if schools are pressured to reopen before it is safe to do so.

We are disappointed that Governor DeWine has decided to use the distribution of a life-saving vaccine as a bargaining chip, holding this precious commodity hostage while pitting parents, administrators, teachers, other school workers, and students against each other. While we expect there will be no consequences for schools that fail to meet this commitment, that doesn’t mean the Governor isn’t harming communities with this action. Parents across the state now have unrealistic expectations for a March 1 reopening that simply will not be possible in many school districts. In some districts, these expectations are already pushing superintendents to announce and plan for reopening before it is safe.

No one wants a safe reopening of schools more than the educators and staff who have dedicated their careers to public education. We miss our students and we know that remote education can never fully replace the experience of in-person learning. However, we should not rush to reopen before it is safe, especially when adding mere weeks beyond March 1 could allow for full vaccinations of school employees. Luckily, schools don’t open up just because a Superintendent signs a letter; schools open up when teachers, staff, and parents collectively decide it is safe to do so.

Governor DeWine should make good on his pledge to prioritize pre-K to 12 school employees, and he should do so without any coerced preconditions. School districts should plan for safe reopenings based on objective public health criteria, which would include, but not be limited to, vaccine availability for educators and staff.

Most importantly, Governor DeWine needs to stop playing games with the health and lives of our school communities.”

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Contact | Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo — Neil Bhaerman, Ohio Federation of Teachers Communications Director, 412-266-4899, nbhaerman@oft-aft.org. Canton, Columbus, Dayton, Youngstown — Katie Olmsted, Ohio Education Association Media Relations Consultant, 614-560-6299, olmstedk@ohea.org. Akron —  Patricia Shipe, President of Akron Education Association, 330-434-2181, pshipe@akronteach.org.

COLUMBUS, OH – The Columbus Education Association, the Union representing more than 4,000 teachers, librarians, nurses, counselors, psychologists, and other education professionals in Columbus City Schools, called today upon the Superintendent of Columbus City Schools to ensure that the initial round of COVID-19 Vaccination is available to all Columbus City Schools employees prior to a return to blended learning. A date of February 1, 2021 was announced by the CCS Superintendent today for a return to the blended learning model.

“Our members want nothing more than to return to in-person instruction as soon as safely possible. This means that the first round of COVID-19 vaccinations must be available to each returning Columbus City Schools employee prior to our students returning to blended learning,” said CEA President John Coneglio. “The news of the discovery of a more infectious variant of COVID-19 here in Ohio on the very same day that a return to blended learning was announced only underscores the need to vaccinate first. Lives are at stake.”

Prior to emergency approval of the current COVID-19 vaccines, CEA negotiated a comprehensive 2020-2021 School Year Memorandum of Understanding with the District which includes specific, contractually enforceable health and safety protocols that must be in place during various models of instruction, including blended learning. CEA’s number one priority throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been, and will continue to be, the health and safety of our entire school community.

The Columbus Education Association is the Union representing more than 4,000 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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COLUMBUS, OH – The Columbus Education Association, the Union representing more than 4,000 teachers, librarians, nurses, counselors, psychologists, and other education professionals in Columbus City Schools, announced today that it has reached a groundbreaking agreement with the district to extend COVID-19 paid leave benefits to all CEA members through March 23, 2021. The Letter of Understanding (LOU) remains in effect regardless of a federal extension of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which expires on December 31, 2020.

“We have become accustomed to failed leadership from all levels of government throughout this pandemic, so we didn’t want to wait and hope for a legislative extension,” said CEA President John Coneglio. “We applaud Columbus City Schools leadership for this agreement to keep our students, staff, and school community safe by allowing those who are experiencing symptoms, have no childcare, or are subject to quarantine to remain safely at home. We encourage all employers in our city to follow this example.”

In an additional positive development, the district has expressed to CEA its intent to extend the terms of this Letter of Understanding to all eligible CCS employees. Consistent with current agreements and practice, CEA members who are subject to a quarantine order but wish to continue working remotely in lieu of leave will have the option to do so, allowing educators to continue serving students safely.

The Columbus Education Association is the Union representing more than 4,000 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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