Summit Academy Parma Teachers Prepare To Go On Strike

Teachers at Summit Academy Parma will go on strike Tuesday after a last round of negotiations did not lead to a contract between their union, the Ohio Federation of Teachers, and the charter school.

The bargaining unit includes 25 teachers and intervention specialists. They are asking for smaller class sizes, more staffing, and improved health and safety conditions for their students.

At the school's Board of Directors meeting last week, many teachers spoke about why they're willing to walk the picket line.

One teacher said, “Our students deserve better learning conditions.” 

Another said, "I am going on strike because I am tired of losing good teachers and support staff because of low pay and unreasonable workload." 

Summit Academy Management said in a statement that it is "disappointed" by the union's decision to strike and feels "the real victims are our students, many of whom are especially sensitive to such disruptions."  

Classes on Tuesday and Wednesdsay have been cancelled for the school's roughly 200 students, but both union and non-union staff members have been instructed to report.

No new bargaining sessions have been scheduled.