Label
Council President Steel
Title
Opposing 2015 Ohio Am Sub HB 70 that, in part, suspends parts of collective bargaining agreements to varying degrees, depending on how long a district has been subject to an academic distress commission, and grants the CEO the authority to limit, suspend, or alter contracts.
Summary
WHEREAS, public schools have been the hallmark of the American education system and the foundation of the nation's democracy; and
WHEREAS, Ohio's schools have traditionally been governed by an elected Board of Education whose members have been chosen by their fellow community members to make sound decisions about educating their community's children and to determine the most effective use of local tax dollars in pursuit of that goal; and
WHEREAS, employees of local Boards of Education have the right to collectively bargain for the terms and conditions of their employment and have those terms and conditions of employment reduced to writing in the form of a collective bargaining agreement which binds the employees and local Board of Education; and
WHEREAS, these collective bargaining agreements provide the framework and structure within which all parties are allowed to educate children; and
WHEREAS, 2015 Ohio HB 70 (HB 70) mandates substantial and significant changes to the very structure under which affected Ohio school's are operated; and
WHEREAS, HB 70 requires reorganization of the board of education of a district that has been subject to an academic distress commission for four or more years and subjects that board to mayoral appointment rather than election; and
WHEREAS, HB 70 suspends parts of collective bargaining agreements to varying degrees, depending on how long a district has been subject to an academic distress commission, and grants the CEO the authority to limit, suspend, or alter contracts; and
WHEREAS, HB 70 gives the CEO the authority to exempt employees of a conversion community school sponsored by a school district for which an academic distress commission has been established from future collective bargaining; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio General Assembly passed HB 70 without any serious input from the affected and potentially Board(s) of Education, their employees, or members of the communities; and
WHEREAS, this Bill was adopted by Columbus-based legislators with little or no connection to the affected and potentially affected community and without any genuine effort to engage those affected by HB 70; NOW, THEREFORE,
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That, on behalf of the children and community we serve, we do object and protest the manner in which this legislation was passed and question how school district reforms and improvements can be achieved without involving and engaging the elected Board of Education and the affected community members.
SECTION 2. That we ask the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, as the manager of the academic distress commission process, to take appropriate steps to engage the elected Board of Education and community in the school improvement process prior to appointment of the new CEO.
SECTION 3. That we ask that in any event in which a CEO 15 appointed that he or she recognize and give full legal effect to any applicable collective bargaining agreement entered into before any such time as a CEO is appointed.
SECTION 4. That we implore members of the Ohio General Assembly, the State Board of Education, and Governor John R. Kasich to seek amendments to HB 70 and the academic distress commission procedures that will preserve and enhance democracy and local control.
SECTION 5. That such amendments should embrace the original intent of HB 70 to foster community engagement and collaboration and to create community learning- centers to better serve any affected school's children-and families.
SECTION 6. That until any such amendments are adopted, we condemn HB 70 in its current form.
SECTION 7. That it is ordered and directed that, once adopted, the Clerk of Council shall send a copy of this Resolution to all Governor, members of the Ohio General Assembly that represent the citizens of Toledo, the State Board of Education, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
SECTION 8. That this Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after the earliest date allowed by law.
Adopted: _________________: yeas ______, nays ______.
Attest: _________________________ __________________________________
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: ______________________ _________________________________
Mayor