COLUMBUS, Ohio —  A federal mediator has called the Columbus Education Association and Columbus City Schools back to negotiations, possibly averting a strike from educators.

What You Need To Know

  • The call to come to the bargaining table comes as the Columbus Education Association voted to issue a 10-day strike notice

  • Columbus City School board members met in a closed-door session Monday night to review negotiations and bargaining sessions

  • This also follows an unfair labor charge filed against the union by CCS

On Wednesday, Columbus City Schools and the Columbus Education Association will meet to hash out a contract agreement. While the board of education submitted an offer for the teachers’ union to sign off on, the CEA rejected it.

The CEA is calling for several items, including smaller class sizes, full-time teachers for art, music and physical education, proper heating and air-conditioning in classrooms and necessary planning time. 

The school board has indicated that what they’re asking for and more is being given. 

The last time the CEA went on strike was in 1975. Both sides have expressed that they don’t want a strike and hope that something can be worked out before the contract agreement expires. If they cannot reach an agreement, the union has indicated that they’ll meet again to officially decide on issuing a 10-day strike notice.

In that case, the teachers would strike on Aug. 22, the first day which teachers come back to school.