Columbus parents, leaders express frustration over student name changes
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus City Schools Board of Education had its first meeting Tuesday since students' preferred names were changed in the district's system to match what is listed on their birth certificates.
After the meeting, district leaders spoke about apparent confusion in the decision. Students, teachers and parents were given no warning when names were suddenly changed on March 19, a move that mainly impacted transgender and gender variant students.
Many people attended the meeting Tuesday night and gave public comments to the board, sharing their disappointment with this decision.
Columbus schools facing special education teacher shortage
'It was embarrassment. I was angry,' said Stephen Hardwick, the father of two transgender district students. 'We get dozens and dozens of notices a week from CCS, but they couldn't tell us this in advance? This I get a letter on a Saturday when they already made the change Tuesday or Wednesday.'
Columbus Schools Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman said there is an investigation into what exactly happened.
'There are more questions than answers and so at this point, we have to accept non closure and so once we learn more, we'll be able to provide more of an update,' Chapman said.
In a letter to students, staff and parents on Friday, Chapman cited Ohio laws like the bathroom bill and the Parents' Bill of Rights as reasons why preferred names were changed back to birth names in the district's system. After Tuesday's meeting, the superintendent said the policy over students' gender identities had to be changed because of the bathroom bill, but it's still unclear why names were changed as well.
Chapman said she, too, has questions.
Franklin County sales tax increase now in effect: how much it will cost you
'We are still looking into a better understanding to figure out how the decisions were made, why they were made, when they were made, and so forth,' Chapman said. 'So, there are lots of questions that we have and we're continuing to work on those details.'
But for Hardwick's two children, he said all they want is to be able to go by their preferred names at school.
'That's what I want them to do, is to allow the preferred name in the same way that Governor Michael DeWine signs his orders Mike and Attorney General David Yost signs his pleadings Dave,' Hardwick said.
Parents have questions about the name changes and it seems district leaders have them as well. Chapman said once they have answers, they will update the CCS community.
The district has not yet cited any laws that require them to change students' names back to what is on their birth certificates, nor did they acknowledge whether or not this was a mistake.
Hardwick and other parents and teachers said they are hopeful CCS will bring the preferred name option back to students.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Spectrum: Lt. Gov. Tressel; Ohio budget; defense contractor setting up in central Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – This week on The Spectrum: Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel is settling in as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's right-hand man, but will he try to run to replace him? Colleen Marshall sits with the lieutenant governor for an exclusive interview as he weighs a potential run for the governor's mansion. Both property tax relief and a flat state income tax could become a reality if the latest draft of the state budget passes. 'I think it's a very exciting and very bold budget,' State Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) said. Hear how the budget could affect funding for the state's school districts. Anduril, a cutting-edge defense contractor, is setting up shop in America's heartland. 'Central Ohio is going to be vital to the future of what we do,' Anduril Senior Vice President of Strategy Zachary Mears said. Hear how the business is already making an impact on the war in Ukraine as it prepares to employ thousands of central Ohioans. Democratic strategist Spencer Dirrig and Republican strategist Terry Casey join the roundtable to discuss Tressel's political future in red-state Ohio and the disagreements between the Ohio House and Senate over the budget. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Ohio bill would require employers to pay people with disabilities minimum wage
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – While federal law allows employers to pay some individuals with disabilities less than minimum wage, Ohio lawmakers are attempting to eliminate the practice in the state. House Bill 225, sponsored by Reps. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Tom Young (R-Washington Twp.), seeks to phase out subminimum wages for employees with disabilities over a five-year period. Indoor park with 'waterless slides' opens first Ohio location in Columbus 'This bipartisan legislation is about dignity,' Jarrells said at a hearing for the bill in May. 'It's about economic opportunity and it's about making sure every Ohioan, regardless of ability, has the right to fair wages and the chance to contribute meaningfully to their communities.' Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 permits employers to pay workers whose disabilities impact their productivity less than the federal hourly minimum wage of $7.25, if they obtain a certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor. The practice is intended to prevent the restriction of employment opportunities for those with disabilities, according to the department. Introduced in April, the bill would require employers who hold a certificate to submit a plan regarding phasing out subminimum wage to the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. The plan would have to be submitted within 15 months of the bill's effective date. Under the legislation, the state would assist employers with implementing their plans. Over the five-year transition period, the state would also be required to gather, monitor and publicly report the progress of the phase-out. Unsolved Ohio: Who killed Amy Jo Nelson? Family wants answers in 2017 homicide The bill underwent three hearings in the House's Commerce and Labor Committee in May, where more than 40 people testified in support of the bill. 'Paying people with disabilities less than minimum wage devalues their labor and reinforces harmful stereotypes that their work is worth less,' said Justin Blumhorst with the disability support organization Capabilities. 'Many people with disabilities perform as well as or better than their non-disabled peers when given the proper support and accommodations.' Seven spoke out against the legislation, including Brittany Stiltner with Sandco Industries, a nonprofit that provides employment skills training to people with developmental disabilities. 'At Sandco, the 14(c) certificate allows us to provide customized, supportive employment opportunities to individuals who may not be able to succeed in a traditional competitive work environment,' Stiltner said in written testimony. 'Phasing out this option entirely would eliminate opportunities for people who depend on it – individuals whose stories too often go unheard in policy conversations.' In Ohio, 41 businesses have obtained federal 14(c) certificates, most of which are nonprofit agencies that 'provide rehabilitation and employment for people with disabilities,' often in a 'sheltered' setting, according to the Labor Department. Intel executive explains why Ohio plant will need to fight for Intel's business Jarrells introduced a similar bill last April, but it only received one hearing and did not progress to the point of receiving a vote. Sixteen states have already legislated or initiated the phase-out of subminimum wages, according to Jarrells. In December, the Labor Department proposed phasing out the practice nationally over three years. The agency has not provided an update on the status of the proposal since. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
New Columbus drone manufacturer providing weapons for Ukraine
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Military analysts are still studying Operation Spider Web, the unprecedented weekend assault on Russia's nuclear-capable, long-range bombers. More than 100 Ukrainian drones struck air bases deep inside Russia, with explosions reported in five separate regions. The operation was said to be in the planning stages for 18 months, and a new Columbus defense contractor might have been part of that plan. Unsolved Ohio: Who killed Amy Jo Nelson? Family wants answers in 2017 homicide Anduril is building its newest manufacturing facility near Rickenbacker air base, but its vice president for strategy said it is already supplying autonomous weapons — including drones — to the United States and its allies, including Ukraine. 'I think the biggest lesson to take away from Ukraine is not just what they can do, but what's needed, the timelines on which they are needed that very much animates what we're building here in Columbus, Ohio, at our Arsenal One campus,' Anduril Senior Vice President of Strategy Zachary Mears said. And what a campus it will be; five million square feet of manufacturing space that will eventually employ 4,000 people. Anduril is the nation's newest defense contractor and it is changing the landscape for the military-industrial complex. 'Central Ohio is going to be vital to the future of what we do,' Mears said. 'Many of the products that we've designed and built are literally going to be made here over the next many decades.' After faculty overwhelmingly voted to unionize, Ohio University is suing them again Unlike other defense suppliers who come up with a proposed weapon and ask the Pentagon to pay for research, development and production, Anduril uses its own capital to design and build high-tech software and weapons that are ready for market. 'Well, we, we very much ascribe to the view that we're providing capabilities to defend the West,' Mears said. And to defend America's allies around the world with a never-before-seen business model. 'We think competition within the industrial base is overdue, and our model, our way of producing product, our way of investing in that product, is different than your traditional defense prime, and they need that healthy, healthy dose of competition,' Mears said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
