Teachers union sues Columbus City Schools over substitute teacher contracts, state law

The union representing Columbus City Schools teachers sued the district Tuesday after it says the district violated state law to not renew the contracts of nearly 30 substitute teachers.

The Columbus Education Association, which represents more than 4,500 teachers and other educational professionals in the district, filed a lawsuit in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday, alleging that the district was violating state law when it issued nonrenewal notices to 28 building substitutes, and that the language in the union contract contradicted state law.

The union is seeking a reinstatement of the building substitutes under new, one-year contracts, back pay and to void the portions of the contract that conflict with state law. CEA President John Coneglio said in a statement to The Dispatch that the union "takes its obligation to enforce member rights under our contract and state laws very seriously."

"Our preference is always to work toward solutions collaboratively with the district, however when that is not possible, we will not hesitate to pursue all available avenues to protect our members," Coneglio said.

Columbus City Schools could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.

Building substitutes are full-time CCS employees assigned to one of the district's over 110 school buildings and provide education to students during short and long-term teacher absences. Building substitutes voted to join the CEA in April 2023, The Dispatch previously reported.

The contract signed by the CEA and district said that building substitutes should be hired under limited one-year contracts, and that the district should provide notice to employees if they are not being renewed by June 25.

The state law, however, says employees under limited contracts need to be notified on the first day of June. If not, the contract is considered reemployed under the same contract and salary for another year.

According to the lawsuit, 28 building substitutes were notified on the nonrenewal of their contracts on June 25. The district refused to comply with the state law and said it would only operate under the union contract, the lawsuit alleges.

In August 2022, CEA teachers and other professional staff members went on strike for three days — their first since 1975 — after rejecting a contract proposal from the district, The Dispatch previously reported. The strike ended after the CEA and the district's Board of Education reached an agreement that guaranteed pay raises, fixing and installing air conditioning systems in every school and reducing class sizes.

The current three-year CEA contract is set to expire in 2025.

Cbehrens@dispatch.com

@Colebehr_report