Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in Ohio's Education System

In the state of Ohio, as in many others, the relationship between teachers' unions and school boards plays a crucial role in shaping the education landscape. While both entities claim to have the best interests of students at heart, there is an undeniable and untenable conflict of interest when teachers' unions can donate money to school board campaigns and, subsequently, influence the approval of collective bargaining agreements. To address this concern, it is imperative that we introduce a mechanism for public scrutiny and approval of these agreements, and the most suitable way to achieve this is through public referendums that coincide with gubernatorial elections in even-numbered years.

Conflict of Interest in Collective Bargaining:

Teachers' unions serve a vital role in advocating for the rights and welfare of educators. However, when these unions contribute financially to school board campaigns, they create a situation where they can potentially influence the very individuals with whom they negotiate collective bargaining agreements. This creates a conflict of interest that can undermine the integrity of these negotiations and the public's trust in the process.

Transparency and Accountability Through Referendums:

To address this conflict of interest and ensure transparency and accountability in the collective bargaining process, we propose that once the teachers' union and school board have approved a collective bargaining agreement, it should be subject to public referendum.

Why Public Referendums?

• Informed Decision-Making: Public referendums empower the community to make informed decisions about agreements that will impact their schools and their tax dollars. It ensures that collective bargaining agreements are subject to public scrutiny, promoting transparency in the negotiation process.
• Conflict Resolution: Referendums serve as a conflict resolution mechanism. They provide a structured and democratic way for disagreements between teachers' unions, school boards, and the community to be resolved. It allows the public to have the final say on agreements when there are disputes.
• Accountability: Public referendums hold both teachers' unions and school boards accountable to the community they serve. It ensures that agreements align with the best interests of students, parents, and taxpayers, rather than being influenced solely by the interests of any particular group.

Coinciding with Gubernatorial Elections:

Holding these referendums in even-numbered years that coincide with gubernatorial elections makes sense for several reasons:

• Increased Voter Turnout: Gubernatorial elections traditionally have higher voter turnout than off-year elections. This ensures that a broader cross-section of the community is engaged in the decision-making process.
• Alignment with Public Accountability: Gubernatorial elections are a time when the public evaluates and holds leaders accountable for their policies and decisions. It is a fitting occasion for the public to have a say in education matters.
• Streamlined Process: Coordinating referendums with gubernatorial elections streamlines the voting process, reducing administrative complexities and costs associated with separate elections.

In conclusion, the introduction of public referendums coinciding with gubernatorial elections in even-numbered years is a critical step in addressing the conflict of interest between teachers' unions and school boards in Ohio. It ensures transparency, informed decision-making, and accountability in the collective bargaining process, ultimately benefiting the students, parents, and communities served by Ohio's education system.

Ohio Education Accountability and Transparency Act

Section 1: Purpose and Scope

(a) The purpose of this Act is to ensure transparency, accountability, and public participation in the approval of collective bargaining agreements in Ohio's education system.

(b) This Act applies to all public school districts within the State of Ohio.

Section 2: Conflict of Interest Disclosure

(a) In the interest of transparency, any financial contributions made by teachers' unions to school board campaign committees must be publicly disclosed. This disclosure shall be made available to the public through the Ohio Secretary of State's office.

Section 3: Public Referendum for Collective Bargaining Agreements

(a) Following the approval of a collective bargaining agreement between a school district and a teachers' union, the agreement shall be subject to public referendum.

(b) Public referendums shall be held exclusively in even-numbered years that coincide with gubernatorial elections. They shall be organized and conducted by the Ohio Board of Elections in conjunction with local election officials.

(c) The Ohio Secretary of State shall develop guidelines and procedures for the administration of these referendums, including ballot language and timelines.

Section 4: Voter Eligibility and Participation

(a) All registered voters residing within the school district shall be eligible to participate in the public referendums.

(b) Referendum participation shall be by secret ballot, and voters may cast their votes at designated polling places or through absentee balloting, following established election procedures.

Section 5: Referendum Outcome

(a) The collective bargaining agreement shall be deemed ratified if a majority of the votes cast during the public referendum are in favor of its approval.

(b) If the majority of votes cast during the referendum are against the approval of the agreement, the agreement shall be considered null and void, and the school district will act underneath the previous collective bargaining agreement for the next four years..

Section 6: Accountability and Transparency

(a) Public referendums provide accountability and transparency in the approval of collective bargaining agreements, ensuring that they align with the best interests of students, parents, and taxpayers.

Section 7: Implementation and Guidelines

(a) The Ohio Secretary of State shall develop and promulgate guidelines, procedures, and forms necessary for the implementation of this Act.

(b) The Ohio Board of Elections shall coordinate with local election officials to ensure the proper administration of public referendums in accordance with this Act.

Section 8: Severability

(a) If any provision of this Act or its application to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

Section 9: Effective Date

(a) This Act shall take effect on [Date] and shall apply to all collective bargaining agreements ratified after this date.