Cincinnati Public SchoolsThe teachers union will meet in May to vote on a vote of no confidence in Superintendent Iranetta Wright. Five other unions that contract with the district will do the same, according to an email sent to school board leaders Friday morning.
“None of the unions believe in the superintendent’s leadership,” the letter says. The Enquirer obtained the email through an Ohio Public Records Act request. “Our district is in chaos and we need decisive action and a change in leadership to move forward.”
Wright and school board leaders did not immediately respond to questions about the unions’ plans.
Cincinnati Federation of Teachers leadership emailed school board President Eve Bolton and Vice President Mary Wineberg, with the letter signed by all six union leaders:
Wright begins his role as superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools in 2022, and this is not the first time district officials have raised an issue with his leadership. Last spring, union leaders representing more than 200 Cincinnati Public Schools Administrators, Principals, and Assistant Principals wrote a letter to the school board stating that Wright established a “culture of intimidation and fear”.
Administrators said in the letter that Wright “embarrasses employees in meetings,” micromanages to an extreme and does not collaborate with other district leaders.
At the time, Wright acknowledged that he had shaken things up in the district. But she said these adjustments were for the greater good, to align with board-approved goals and to better serve children.
This spring, officials raised concerns during school board meetings about delays in construction budgets that make it impossible to plan for the next school year, plans to consolidate schools, across-the-board district budget cuts and administrative bloat that slow down daily processes.
More: Why a CPS plan to add high schools could both save and complicate the budget process
The school board gave Wright an overall satisfactory rating in its most recent evaluation in December. Its lowest rating was for the state standard “establish processes to communicate and collaborate effectively.” The board said Wright’s strengths were in establishing a vision and leading the district toward student achievement.
The school board will meet with district union presidents on Monday in executive session, the Friday letter says. All unions will meet with their members by May 14 to vote on a vote of no confidence in Wright.
The board will have a public meeting following Monday’s executive session at 5:30 p.m. at the Mary A. Ronan Education Center located at 2651 Burnet Ave.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer: CPS unions will vote with no confidence in Superintendent Wright
