Renacci Says “Keep Fighting” to Everyone Who Supports Keeping Schools Open, Including the Cincinnati School Leader Who Called the Closures “Devastating” for Children and Parents

“These lockdowns are hurting children and are the result of powerful teachers unions.”

Wadsworth, OH- Republican gubernatorial candidate, Jim Renacci calls it “child abuse” when schools close and force students into isolation with remote learning. A Columbus Dispatch report cited increased anxiety and isolation as a mental health crisis for students.

The following is Renacci's response to the news that a Cincinnati school board member voted to keep schools open, despite pressure from the teacher’s union to close them.

“The teacher’s union has an iron grip on our schools. Sadly, only one school board member dared to fight for Ohio’s children.”

Cincinnati schools and a long list of regional schools are back to remote learning because of staff shortages. The lone school board member told the Cincinnati Enquirer that the schools should have been more aggressive in hiring substitute teachers.

Renacci is calling on Mike DeWine to intervene on behalf of Ohio students.

"If Mike DeWine won't support families and keep these schools open, then he should step aside and let someone who actually cares take the lead.”

Jim Renacci issued the following statement. 

“Ohio’s students have suffered enough, and the data shows that. Lower test scores, depression, increase in hospital admissions for mental issues are all affecting our kids across the state. Another round of quarantining our kids and isolating them from the social and educational aspect of a brick-and-mortar school day will be devastating.”

Renacci’s choice for Lt. Governor Joe Knopp added.

“I have seen firsthand the impact this has had on my own kids. They are socially stunted. They had shown signs of withdrawing and we said enough. Ohioans are not willing to stand by and let our kids suffer. This is why Jim and I are in this fight. Keep our kids in school!”

Renacci says Mike DeWine’s dormant stance on calling out schools for shutting down, along with his public push for Ohio children to be masked 8 hours a day while in school proves that he doesn’t care about education and the next generation of Ohioans.