Teachers union suing Columbus City Schools over substitute contracts

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The union representing Columbus City School teachers is suing the board of education, alleging that Ohio code was violated when contracts were not renewed for some substitute teachers. 

The Columbus Education Association filed the lawsuit last week, saying the district’s decision affected 28 substitute teachers. All were notified around June 25 that their contracts were not being renewed, which CEA claims violates the timelines set by the state.

According to Ohio Revised Code, teachers employed under limited contracts are automatically considered reemployed unless they receive notice on or before June 1. However, the Working Agreement for Building Substitution between CEA and the school board says substitute teachers are automatically reemployed unless they receive notice on or before June 25.

The CEA said although the notifications were respectful of the date presented in the working agreement, they did not comply with the timeline laid out in state law. 

According to the complaint, CEA mentioned the discrepancy to the board around June 28. The board allegedly responded that it would only comply with the working agreement. Representatives from both CEA and the school board both signed the agreement in 2023.

District Media Relations Coordinator Tyler Carter said the complaint is a misinterpretation of Ohio code and that the district’s actions may not be applicable to the law CEA is citing. 

Carter said the decision to not renew substitute contracts came when federal funding expired at the end of the 2023-2024 school year for a program to strengthen substitute teachers’ roles in the district. Thus, Carter said, the district had to adjust staffing.

NBC4 reached out to CEA leaders for comment, but they have not responded.

According to the complaint, CEA is requesting the board declare the working agreement as invalid and reinstate the contracts of all 28 substitutes and reimburse them for any lost wages. 

Building substitutes joined the CEA collective bargaining unit in the same working agreement in April 2023. The agreement was originally intended to last through the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

This is the second lawsuit filed against the district this week after parents are alleging a teacher physically assaulted their 5-year-old.