Ohio school teachers strike before school starts

More than 94 percent of the Columbus Education Association's 4,000 members went on strike Monday, two days before classes were supposed to start. The union includes teachers, librarians, nurses, and other employees who also agreed to the strike. Columbus City Schools has about 47,000 students. Its school board said classes will resume but will be led by substitutes or administrators online. Since teachers coach many of the schools’ sports, those events may also be canceled or rescheduled. 

What are they striking for? The union said in their Notice of Intent to Strike that they are picketing for smaller class sizes and functional heating and cooling. They are also asking for full-time music, art, and P.E. teachers. On Saturday, the School District of Philadelphia in Ohio, which represents about 2,000 members, also authorized a strike the week before classes are scheduled to start in their district. They are seeking higher wages and training programs.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Dunn’s report in Schooled on experts warning about a teacher shortage in special education.