Latest news with #ColumbusCitySchoolsBoardofEducation
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Franklin County Democrats endorse 3 in crowded Columbus City school board race
The Franklin County Democratic Party has endorsed three candidates in the crowded race for the Columbus City Schools Board of Education. Ten candidates, all Democrats, are running in a nonpartisan primary on May 6. Despite a handful of Democrats speaking up at the party's April 17 meeting against endorsing any of the candidates, the majority voted to endorse candidates selected by the local party's screening committee. The final vote was 92 to endorse, with nine opposed and 10 abstentions. The party endorsed Jermaine Kennedy, Patrick Katzenmeyer and Antoinette Miranda. Jermaine Kennedy is a CCS parent and the chief program officer at Boys & Girls Club of Central Ohio. Patrick Katzenmeyer is a CCS parent and a senior project manager at The Pizzuti Companies. Antoinette Miranda is a professor and director of the school psychology program at Ohio State University and a former member of the State Board of Education who represented part of central Ohio. Will Petrik, a county Democratic committee member, introduced a motion not to endorse anyone, saying the Democrats need to rebuild trust with Columbus voters. The motion failed by an 82-32 vote. Eric S. Brown, a former CCS Board member from 2016 to 2023 and a former Ohio Supreme Court Justice, spoke in favor of Petrik's motion. "This is one where we can and should trust the voters," Brown said. Franklin County Democratic Party Chairman Mike Sexton told the members in attendance that the party decides to endorse in races on a case-by-case basis. For example, in the Columbus City Council District 7 race, the party decided not to screen the three candidates — Tiara Ross, Jesse Vogel and Kate Curry-Da-Souza — for possible endorsement. "With 10 candidates in the (CCS school board) race, we thought that we should provide guidance on where the party stood," Sexton said. Gretchen James, chair of the screening committee, said the committee did discuss not endorsing, but wanted to avoid voter confusion. More: What's on the primary ballot in your central Ohio county? Here's the rundown Leaders from two unions, the Central Ohio Labor Council and the local Ohio Association of Public School Employees, spoke at the meeting and said their unions also screened the ten candidates and came to the same conclusion to endorse Kennedy, Katzenmeyer and Miranda. On May 6, voters will get to cast their ballots for three candidates for the school board. The top six vote-getters proceed to the November general election and compete for three open spots on the board. The other candidates in the race are: Liz Caslin-Turner, senior program manager for post-secondary career and technical education for the Ohio Department of Higher Education Teresa Hannah, founder and family-school liaison consultant with STEPP Forward LLC Janeece Keyes‐Shanklin, program manager with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation Karrie Lumpkin, administrative professional/claims specialist with the Ohio Attorney General's Office Mounir F. Lynch, health educator and community activist working as the community engagement specialist at AndHealth. Kimberley Mason, higher education partnership manager with the Ohio Bankers League Julie Trabold, nurse, educator, and former member of the Central Ohio Care Planning Council More reporting on the race Columbus City school board candidates at forum say they want to defend DEI initiatives Government and Politics Reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@ Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Franklin County Democrats endorse 3 in CCS school board election
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Columbus City school board candidates at forum say they want to defend DEI initiatives
Eight Columbus City Schools Board of Education candidates who attended a forum Wednesday all said that they support diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the district, with some saying the district needs to "call it by another name" as federal and state policymakers seek to eliminate such efforts. The Franklin County Board of Elections certified 10 candidate petitions in February, meaning a primary election will be held May 6. Voters in the district will choose up to three candidates, and the top six top vote-getters in the primary will move on to the November general election to compete for the three positions. Candidates at the forum addressed a variety of topics, including diversity initiatives, green energy in the district and whether they will have the time to manage the responsibilities of board leadership. Their responses to DEI initiatives come as public education faces increasing scrutiny from federal and state policymakers, with the Trump administration mandating that public schools remove "discriminatory equity ideology," and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signing a controversial higher education bill that bans DEI at state and college universities last week. The candidates attended the forum at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Columbus' Clintonville neighborhood. The event was hosted by the Ohio Organizing Collaborative in collaboration with other local groups, including board watchdog group Board Watch. Over 100 community members were in attendance. Two of the 10 candidates, Jermaine Kennedy and Karrie Lumpkins, were not in attendance. More: Columbus City school board candidates talk closures, budget at forum for crowded primary The Dispatch is presenting candidate statements in the order that they spoke: Antoinette Miranda: "We need to call (DEI) something else because what I've learned over my 37 years, teachers oftentimes, not always, don't come from urban environments and have never had experience with children that are culturally different or from lower socio-economic backgrounds. And so they may have to have the knowledge about 'How do I work best with kids?'" Mounir Lynch: "I am a proud north African Muslim and openly LGBTQ+ candidate ... so I understand firsthand a lot of the unique needs of our community ... We need to provide those professional development opportunities to make sure that our staff are culturally competent to our diverse community. CCS has a large, growing immigrant refugee population, and so we need to increase those resources for them to be even able to understand what we're teaching them and talking about." Liz Caslin-Turner: "That's why I'm running — attacks on DEI are an attack on me, are attacks on students who look like me. I think we also have to think through DEI ... it covers more than just your makeup and what community you belong to — it's how you learn. As a school board member, I'd hope to really, really work tirelessly to create environments that are inclusive." Janeece Keyes-Shanklin: "When I first heard about the removal of DEI, at first I was alarmed. But then I said, 'We're not going to stop.' We're not going to stop, we're not going to stop practicing diversity, equity and inclusion. We are built on the formation of ensuring that everyone gets to sit at the table and share their values, share who they are and trust in them." Julie Trabold: "We all have dignity, we all have value and are all important — and all should be feeling that way at all times — they should all be heard. 'Every voice matters' is the foundation of our democracy. Is DEI 'diversity, equity and inclusion'? It is 'We the people.' If we are excluding part of the 'We the people,' that is cutting our democracy." Teresa Hannah: "A lot of the times, if we are not walking in the person's shoes, we may not be able to relate to them. So we need to look for resources that can help educate us when we are making decisions for other people. No matter what, when we're talking about children, we need to make sure that they have the resources they need to succeed, but also make sure the parents are involved and they have the tools and resources they need." Kimberly Mason: "Systemic bias is always going to be a part of the conversation. Before the DEI there was equal opportunity and affirmative action. There's always going to be something there. But it starts as how we show up as leaders, and how we welcome and treat the people that we say we want to work and connect with." Patrick Katzenmeyer: "The diversity of Columbus City Schools is beautiful; it's why we chose to send our kids there. There is a wonderful learning environment. I think we need to have a historically accurate curriculum in a culturally competent environment — and that means teaching history as it happened — and I don't think we've done a great job as a country for a long time." Here are the 10 candidates for CCS school board in alphabetical order by last name: Liz Caslin-Turner — Senior program manager for post-secondary career and technical education for the Ohio Department of Higher Education Teresa Hannah — Founder and family-school liaison consultant with STEPP Forward LLC Patrick Katzenmeyer — Senior project manager at The Pizzuti Companies Jermaine Kennedy — Chief program officer at Boys & Girls Club of Central Ohio Janeece Keyes‐Shanklin — Program manager with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation Karrie Lumpkin — Administrative professional/claims specialist with the Ohio Attorney General's Office Mounir F. Lynch — Health educator and community activist working as the community engagement specialist at AndHealth. Kimberley Mason — Higher education partnership manager with the Ohio Bankers League Antoinette Miranda — professor and director of the school psychology program at Ohio State University and a former member of the State Board of Education representing District 6 Julie Trabold — Nurse, educator, and former member of Central Ohio Care Planning Council Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@ or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus City school board candidates want to defend DEI initiatives
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who's running for Columbus City Council, CCS Board? Several candidates miss ballot
Multiple people who filed to run for Columbus City Council and Columbus City Schools Board of Education failed to make the primary ballot after falling short of the required number of valid signatures. The Franklin County Board of Elections voted at its meeting Friday to certify or not certify candidates based on the number of signatures collected. Aurora Dasan and Densil R. Porteous, executive director of Stonewall Columbus, both failed to make the ballot for Columbus City Council District 7. Porteous was already actively campaigning and placing advertisements online. This narrows the field to three certified candidates: Kate Curry-Da-Souza, network director of the Success by Third Grade program at the United Way of Central Ohio Tiara Ross, an attorney in the Columbus City Attorney's Office Jesse Vogel, an attorney at Community Refugee & Immigration Services Ohio who's raised over $70,000 in grassroots donations The three candidates will run in a citywide primary to narrow the race down to two who will compete in the November general election. They're vying to replace Shayla Favor as the representative for District 7, which includes much of Columbus' urban core neighborhoods such as Downtown, Franklinton, Olde Towne East, Italian Village and German Village. Otto Beatty III was appointed to fill that seat in January, but he is not running to keep it this fall. Three candidates who filed to run for school board did not make the ballot: Yasmine Farah, Ivory L. Kennedy Jr. and Tracey L. Sigers. Ten candidates for school board were certified: Liz Caslin-Turner, senior program manager for post-secondary career and technical education for the Ohio Department of Higher Education Teresa Hannah, founder and family-school liaison consultant with STEPP Forward LLC Patrick Katzenmeyer, senior project manager at The Pizzuti Companies Jermaine Kennedy, chief program officer at Boys & Girls Club of Central Ohio Janeece Keyes‐Shanklin, program manager with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation Karrie Lumpkin, administrative professional/claims specialist with the Ohio Attorney General's Office Mounir F. Lynch, health educator Kimberley Mason, higher education partnership manager with the Ohio Bankers League Antoinette Miranda, professor and director of the school psychology program at Ohio State University and a former member of the State Board of Education representing District 6 Julie Trabold, financial manager and wealth adviser with Northwestern Mutual They are vying for three spots on the board up for election. The three incumbents, including board President Michael Cole, decided not to run again. Voters in the CCS district will vote for up to three candidates. The six top vote earners in the primary move on to the November general election. All the candidates who filed to run for Hilliard City Council and for the contested Whitehall City Council district made the ballot. (This story was updated to make a candidate's name appear as it will on the ballot.) jlaird@ @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus candidates miss primary ballot for council, school board
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Here's what's on Franklin County's primary ballot: Columbus City Council, school board
There are contested races for three seats on the Columbus City Schools Board of Education, and council seats in the Columbus, Hilliard and Whitehall in the May 6 primary election in Franklin County. In addition, the county Board of Elections reports three school districts have bond issues on the ballot and there are levies sought several townships, most for police or fire services. The deadline to file for the May 6 ballot was Wednesday afternoon, and candidates' petition signatures still need to be verified. Here's what could be contested on the primary ballot. Five people are running in a nonpartisan primary to replace Franklin County Prosecutor Shayla Favor on the council and represent District 7, which includes much of Columbus' urban core neighborhoods like Downtown, Franklinton, Olde Towne East, Italian Village and German Village. The District 7 candidates are: Kathryn Curry-Da-Souza, network director of the Success by Third Grade program at the United Way of Central Ohio Aurora Dasan, a former political science student who would be the council's first transgender member Densil R. Porteous, executive director of Stonewall Columbus Tiara Ross, an attorney in the Columbus City Attorney's Office Jesse Vogel, an attorney at Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS) Ohio who's raised over $70,000 in grassroots donations As for the three other council seats on the ballot this fall, Council members Chris Wyche (District 1) and Emmanuel Remy (District 4) and Council President Pro Tempore Rob Dorans (District 3) are facing no challengers. Columbus only holds primaries for city council if more than two people file for a race. Thus, there will only be a primary for District 7. Related news: Columbus City Council appoints Otto Beatty III to District 7 seat vacancy After a series of crises rocked the Columbus City Schools Board of Education, 13 people have filed to run for the three seats on the ballot this year, necessitating a primary. The current holders of the seats, Board President Michael Cole and Board members Christina Vera and Ramona Reyes have decided not to run for reelection. The candidates in the nonpartisan race are: Liz Caslin-Turner Yasmine Farah Teresa Hannah Patrick Katzenmeyer Ivory L. Kennedy, Jr. Jermaine Kennedy Janeece Keyes‐Shanklin Karrie Lumpkin Mounir F. Lynch Kimberley Mason Antoinette Miranda Tracey L. Sigers Julie Trabold Hilliard is one of the few cities in the area that has partisan local elections. Seven Democrats filed to run for the four city council seats on the ballot this year. Four Democrats will advance from the primary. The Democratic candidates are: Samer Bazerbashi Tina Cottone (incumbent) Dorothy Hassan Tony Moog Kathy Parker-Jones Nadia A. Rasul Andy Teater As only three Republicans filed to run for Hilliard City Council, they will not hold a primary. Those candidates are Les Carrier, Jim Martin and Bevan Schneck. They will compete in November against the four winning Democrats for the four council seats. All four members of Whitehall City Council who represent wards are up for election this year. For Wards 1, 3, and 4, two candidates filed for each race. But three candidates filed to run for Ward 2, necessitating a primary from which two will advance. Those candidates are: David F. Coleman Jr. Brian McCann Micole Spicer Three suburban school districts that are partially in Franklin County and partially in neighboring counties are asking for bond issues for facilities construction: Groveport Madison Local School District is asking for 2.33 mills ($82 for each $100,000 of appraised value for 37 years). Jonathan Alder Local School District is asking for 5.12 mills ($179 for each $100,000 of appraised value for 37 years). Teays Valley Local School District is asking for 3.26 mills ($114 for each $100,000 of appraised value for 37 years). There are also multiple townships with levies on the ballot, most of them for police or fire levies. Mifflin Township, however, is asking residents to approve both a police and a fire levy. Here are the issues on the primary ballot: 2025 Primary Questions and Issues Filed by Jordan on Scribd jlaird@ @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus, candidates across Franklin County file for May primary
