Crowds Protest Proposed Teacher Pact In Reynoldsburg

Contentious teacher contract talks in Reynoldsburg attracts attention beyond the district. About 500 people attended a Reynoldsburg school board meeting Tuesday night to protest the latest contract proposal that ties raises to teachers' ratings in the state's new evaluation system. The crowd included teachers' union members from around central Ohio and as far away as Dayton. The Reynoldsburg proposal includes eliminating teachers' scheduled raises and their health-care plan. Rather than provide health-insurance coverage, the district would give teachers cash to purchase their own insurance. Reynoldsburg educators, parents, students and community members gathered at a rally prior to the board meeting. Both sides last met with a federal mediator on June 30. Talks are scheduled to resume in August.