Parma - The first-ever strike by charter school teachers in Ohio has been settled, and they'll be back in the classroom on Monday.
Parma's Summit Academy teachers ratified their first contract this past week, after striking for nine days over staffing levels, among other concerns.
A news release issued by the Ohio Federation of Teachers states that the new contract does not include any economic gains for teachers, but there will be an "economic re-opener in the fall".
“Our collective action on the picket line paid off. We were able to win contract language on staffing expectations and ongoing updates on filling our open staff positions,” said Kelly Granda, an art teacher at the school. “This contract is a step in the right direction in holding Summit Academy Management accountable. And we know we’ll be able to take even bigger steps forward when our colleagues at Summit Academy in Painesville join us at the bargaining table for our next contract.”
Also this past week, the faculty at Summit Academy's Painesville location filed a petition for union recognition, seeking to join the Cleveland Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff.
The union says this was the first charter school strike in Ohio, and the fourth nationwide, following one in Los Angeles and two in Chicago.
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