Teachers at a Columbus Charter High School, Franklinton Preparatory Academy, narrowly voted to 5 to 4 to join the state’s largest teachers union, the Ohio Education Association. If the vote withstands a challenge, Franklinton Prep would become the first of Ohio’s 370 charter schools to unionize.
School attorney, Adam Schira, says the administration actively opposed formation of a union.
“We sought to inform the voters of a lot of things, but we did oppose the idea of unionizing in general,” says Schira.
Teacher Ryan Marchese headed the organizing effort. He says the union gives a “collective” voice to teachers that will also benefit students. Franklinton Preparatory Academy enrolls about 130 students.