COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s getting down to the wire for the Columbus Education Association and the Columbus City Schools Board of Education to come to an agreement to avoid a strike in Ohio’s largest school district.
What You Need To Know
- The Columbus Education Association and Columbus City Schools Board of Education met for negotiations Thursday
- It was the final schedule meeting between the two before the Sunday deadline
- If both sides cannot agree, the Columbus Education Association plans to go on strike at 11:59 p.m. Sunday night
What may have been the final round of contract talks before the start of the school year finished Thursday afternoon, days away from a possible vote to allow a strike.
Thursday was the final scheduled time the union and board would meet before the vote Sunday. The CEA confirmed that there will be no more meetings or protests ahead of Sunday’s vote, which could delay the start of school, with students scheduled to return Wednesday.
Teachers protest for the Columbus Board of Education a deal with the Columbus Education Association. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)
The school board has attempted to negotiate salaries as early as May and June. It said the average teacher salary is nearly $75,000 and they’ve offered guaranteed raises of 9% over a three-year period, and a $2,000 recruitment and retention bonus.
But, the CEA said other things, like better learning environments for the students, are more important than higher salaries.
But compared to other large school districts in the state, Columbus City Schools comes in around the middle.
Comparing teachers with a Master’s degree and 10 years of experience, Columbus teachers make nearly $72,000 while Cincinnati Public Schools teachers make more than $79,000 and Cleveland Metropolitan Schools teachers make just $55,000.
If both sides cannot agree, the Columbus Education Association plans to go on strike at 11:59 p.m. Sunday night, the day before they are expected to report to the schools.
