Columbus Board of Education meeting, Oct. 6, 2026

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Documenter name: Rob Bennett

Agency: Columbus Board of Education

Date: Oct. 6, 2026

See more about this meeting at Documenters.org

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Summary 

• Members of the Joint Committee discussed plans to close school buildings and to use Title IX to justify the closure of gender-specific schools (a boys’ school and a girls’ school).
• Teachers continue to push back against rising insurance premiums.
• Board members confronted the Joint Committee about transparency and responsiveness.

Follow-Up Questions

• What prevents the Columbus City School Board from implementing solutions to school transportation problems, including replacing outdated buses?
• What process does Columbus City Schools use (e.g., drug screens, background checks, physical and mental health assessments) to hire bus drivers?
• What personal relationships do board members share that could represent a conflict of interest?

Notes

Columbus City Schools Board President Antoinette Miranda called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. The meeting agenda can be found here.

Role Call

• Jennifer Adair
• Tina Pierce
• Jermaine Kennedy
• Brandon Simmons
• Patrick Katzenmeyer
• Antoinette Miranda
• Sarah Engles (vice president)

Miranda asked all to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Motion to Amend Agenda

• Miranda moved to add an agenda item — Executive Session
• Seconded
• No discussion or debate
• Motion carried unanimously

Motion to Accept Amended Agenda

• Seconded
• No discussion or debate
• Motion carried unanimously

The board went into Executive Session. Afterward, the meeting moved forward with public comment.

Public Comment – highlights

• A community member was called for comment. When they did not come to the mic after a few seconds, a board member suggested coming back to them. Two other people were called for comment but did not come to the mic. 
• A  teacher discussed the many expectations they face and how teachers meet them. She said that teachers are overworked and overburdened and have few resources. The teacher asked how they could do this when “they cannot trust the integrity of their employer.” People in the room clapped before, during and after this teacher spoke.
• A parent said her son has learned a lot from the program in his school and while it may have the lowest enrollment in the district, it is working and should not be cut. She said cuts have been threatened before. There was applause from the audience. 
• The previous speaker’s husband came to the mic. He said the board told the boys their school mattered and preached about the positive things happening.  He said the board is not teaching students the right values if it closes the school in response to the city budget.
• The son of the previous two speakers read the scholars’ creed of his school, Columbus Prep
• The board attempted to go back to a public speaker who was skipped. She was attending remotely and could not be heard. 

Miranda started talking about the increase in health insurance premiums.  Community members booed to an extent that did not seem to violate decorum, because Miranda did not use her gavel. She gave a stern look; their protest stopped. Decorum was restored.

Resolutions to Approve

The board president read Resolution to Approve collective bargaining contract with Classified OAPSE Local 581.

• Motioned.  Seconded.
• No discussion or debate
• Motion carried unanimously

Miranda turned the meeting over to the chairs of the Joint Committee, Jennifer Adair and Patrick Katzenmeyer.

• Adair began the update. She said board members had a copy of their report read at a Sept. 17 meeting and said it could also be found on the BoardDocs website. 
• She said the committee is discussing school closures.
• She gave an overview of plans to realign elementary schools.
• She said there was a proposal to close the building that houses Columbus Gifted Academy
• She said the plan was to close the boys’ school and a girls’ school at the same time because Title IX requires equality of treatment. The Columbus Gifted Academy would move into one of those buildings. The other would be used for adult education.
• Katzenmeyer said he wanted to be clear that nothing has been voted on yet.
• Tina Pierce, a committee member, said she and other committee members have requested additional information about what has been discussed. She said it has been about two weeks since the last meeting, and she wanted to say publicly that the requested information has not been provided.

Deputy Superintendent Report

• Kathryn Moser had no report but did have an announcement. The Empower Your Voice community event is scheduled for Oct. 12. The presentation can be found here.
  

Report from Kevin O’Connor – internal auditor

• Acknowledged a staff member who worked on the Medicaid billing system. 

Report from Ryan Cooke – treasurer/CFO

• The financial audit, run by the Auditor of State, is underway.

Consent Agenda – Items 10.1 – 24.3 

• Motion included approval of the previous meeting’s minutes. Seconded.
• No discussion or debate.
• Motion carried unanimously

Other Legislation – Item 24.1

• Motioned. Seconded.
• No discussion or debate.
• Motion carried unanimously

Executive Session

• Motioned. Seconded.
• No discussion or debate.
• Motion carried unanimously

Motion to Adjourn

• Motioned. Seconded.
• No discussion or debate.  Roll call vote (not held).

Columbus City Schools board meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.

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