Columbus teachers’ union leader leaves task force looking at which schools may close

Daniel Griffin
·2 min read

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The leader of the Columbus City Schools teachers’ union has stepped down from the group planning the future of the district’s buildings.

In a letter released on Monday, Columbus Education Association President John Coneglio wrote that the direction the district’s Community Facilities Task Force is taking does not align with the goals of the union.

“I anticipated that our discussions would include transformation and growth of our District to meet these needs,” Coneglio wrote. “Instead, through the course of six full meetings, it has become apparent that the focus of the committee is solely on the mass closure of neighborhood schools and the further managed decline of our District.”

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Among the complaints levied in Coneglio’s letter are:

  • The totality of community input has consisted of a short, multiple choice, online survey that did not even have the option of providing comments.

  • Members of the task force have been instructed not to submit questions for upcoming meetings.

  • Data provided to the task force was incomplete and failed to account for factors such as state caseload requirements, and building use by community partners.

  • There have been no discussions regarding Columbus’ recently announced plan to add tens of thousands of new housing units within the city’s urban core.

  • There have been no discussions regarding two years of increasing enrollment in Columbus City Schools, or any plans to restore trust with families who have left the district.

  • There have been no discussions about the litany of research showing the disproportionate impact of school closures on disadvantaged neighborhoods and communities of color, in direct contrast to the district’s publicly stated equity goals.

The task force will recommend which of the district’s school and administrative buildings could be closed or consolidated as part of the district’s plan to address growth in Columbus.

In response to Coneglio’s letter, a district spokesperson said that despite the passage of a $99 million levy last November, CCS must consider some schools for consolidation and/or closure.

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“We were transparent in the CCS board’s adopted statement of facts for the recent levy, stating that, regardless of the levy outcomes, the district must focus on consolidating buildings to reduce overall building cost,” a district statement read.

The task force, made up of district and community leaders, is expected to release a report of its recommendations in June. Meetings are scheduled for:

  • Tuesday, April 30, Linden Recreation Center, 1:30 p.m.

  • Tuesday, May 14, Marion Franklin High School, 5:30 p.m.

  • Tuesday, May 28, Whetstone High School, 1:30 p.m.

  • Tuesday, June 11, Barnett Library, 1:30 p.m.

  • Tuesday, June 25, East High School, 1:30 p.m.

Conligo’s full letter can be read below.

Coneglio-Task-Force-Resignation-4.29.24Download

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