COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus School Board meeting was packed on Tuesday night with a number of full time CCS substitutes.
Many of them spoke out about issues surrounding receiving support from the district, saying they are a key part of keeping CCS moving forward.
Nearly 300 eligible full time subs formally requested recognition of their union by the Columbus Education Association, which already represents CCS teachers.
The substitutes span across more than 100 CCS school buildings, filing a number of positions traditionally held by full time teachers. A number of those full time subs spoke out at the school board meeting about why they are banding together, saying they are basically full time teachers in the district but don't get the same support.
“Our hope is that we are considered a valuable resource, allowing us to provide the best education we can for our students” said one substitute.
The CCS school board says they plan to move forward with this process in the same way they treat safety and security employees.
Columbus Board of Education President Jennifer Adair said in a statement, "Columbus City Schools and the Columbus Board of Education believe in the power of collective bargaining and unions. We look forward to a collaborative, respectful dialogue and working together to ensure the best outcomes for our staff and students."