COLUMBUS, Ohio-John Coneglio, the head of the Columbus City Schools teacher’s union, resigned from the Superintendent’s Community Facilities Task Force, citing concerns that the group’s focus was primarily on mass closure of neighborhood schools, rather than building a better future for the district.
Coneglio, president of the Columbus Education Association representing over 4,500 educators, criticized the task force for lacking community input, discouraging questions, and providing incomplete data. He also expressed worries about the disproportionate impact of closures on disadvantaged neighborhoods and communities of color.
The district responded, emphasizing the importance of labor representation and focusing resources for student success. Despite Coneglio’s resignation, co-chair Al Edmondson believes the task force is making progress transparently and in the best interest of students. The task force, comprising public members, parents, and educational professionals, plans to deliver recommendations to the CCS Board of Education in June, following the district’s successful levy passage in November.
