Renacci Stands Against Teachers’ Union Push To Shut Down Columbus Schools: ‘It’s Abuse’

"If Mike DeWine won't call out the Columbus teachers' union and rally parents to fight back, then he should step aside and let someone who actually cares take the lead.”

The Columbus Dispatch reported yesterday that the Columbus Education Association has issued a petition to pull Ohio’s kids from in class learning and return them to isolation, forcing over 46,000 students in the Columbus City School District to go back to remote learning. Governor Mike DeWine has decided to take a dormant stance on this, while publicly requesting Ohio children be masked 8 hours a day while in school. Meanwhile, Jim Renacci has been fighting mask mandates in schools and calling out schools for shutting down.

Jim Renacci issued the following statement in response:

“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. This governor talks of science, then he should look at the impact all this has had on students for the last 21 months and start fighting for our children. It’s abuse. If Mike DeWine won't call out the Columbus teachers' union and rally parents to fight back, then he should step aside and let someone who actually cares take the lead.”

Joe Knopp, Renacci's choice for Lieutenant Governor, adding the following in response:

“I have seen first hand 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!”