COLUMBUS, Ohio-Columbus Board of Education Vice President Dr. Tina Pierce addressed communication issues with fellow board member Brandon Simmons regarding a leaked memo about potential school closures. Simmons claimed the memo was a collaborative effort, while other board members have stated he was its sole author. The memo suggested separating the teachers’ union from staff and relocating meetings at the last minute. Following the leak, NBC4 Investigates obtained recordings of Simmons discussing the memo with Pierce and another board member, but the board confirmed the memo was never under consideration. Pierce released her own recording and an open letter to clarify her position, stating that she was relying on Simmons’s word during their conversation.
