COLUMBUS – The Columbus City Schools and the union representing its striking teachers reached a tentative contract agreement, ending a three-day-old strike.
Students will continue to attend classes online Thursday and Friday as teachers prepare to return to school on Monday.
The “comprehensive conceptual agreement” on a new contract came at 2:38 a.m. Thursday, after almost 14 hours of negotiations, and covers nearly 4,500 teachers, librarians, nurses, counselors, psychologists and other workers in Ohio’s largest school district.
“While the details cannot yet be disclosed, the contract recognizes the Board’s commitment to improving our student outcomes, the essential work of the CEA members, and strengthening our learning environments,” Board of Education president Jennifer Adair said in a statement.
We look forward to welcoming our students, teachers, and staff back to the classroom on Monday. ”
This was the district’s first teacher strike since 1975.
Members of the Columbus Education Association and the school board are scheduled to vote on the agreement this weekend.
“Let the history books reflect that this strike was about students who deserved a commitment to modern schools with heating and air conditioning, smaller class sizes, and a well-rounded curriculum that includes art, music and P.E.,” CEA spokesperson Regina Fuentes said,
Picketers blasted music on the sidewalks outside Whetstone High School Wednesday as teachers walked picket lines for the third day and waved to honking drivers. Some held up signs reading, “Columbus schools deserve working air,” “a history lesson in progress” and “my feet hurt but I’ll walk as long as it takes.”
The school district and the union resumed bargaining Wednesday afternoon.