UPDATED JULY 8, 2022 AT 4:55 PM EST
The Columbus Education Association (CEA) with the State Employment Relations Board alleging that the Columbus City School district has illegally reassigned educators whose primary job assignment is to advocate for homeless youth from their union positions to non-union positions and has effectively stripped these educators of their contractual rights and protections.
Amy Bradley, a Project Connect educator affected by the Board鈥檚 decision, said that de-professionalizing her department, "tells her students they deserve less: less professionalism, less stability, and less oversight." She asks, 鈥渨hy would the District destabilize a department that seeks to stabilize education for our most vulnerable youth? How is that equitable? How does that serve the whole child?鈥�
The CEA said they believe that this decision violates Ohio Revised Code Sections 4417.11(A)(1) and (A)(5) and serves as another example of the Board鈥檚 refusal to prioritize safe, properly maintained, fully resourced schools for students.
NEWSFLASH: CEA filed an unfair labor practice charge today to protest the District鈥檚 illegal move to de-professionalize Project Connect educators. Visit to learn more about how CEA is fighting for the resources !
— Columbus Education Association (@ColumbusEA)
Columbus City SchoolS responded in an email, saying in part, "All of our students, including our homeless students, receive instruction from our dedicated, licensed teachers. Non-instructional support for our homeless students can be appropriately provided by District non-teaching employees. The District has created new employment classifications within the classified civil service, an Academic Youth Support Advocate and a Student Services Program Coordinator, to provide these necessary supports to our students and families experiencing homelessness. No student will receive any lesser services than provided in the past.鈥�
