Update: Youngstown teachers to hit picket lines on Wednesday

YOUNGSTOWN — A school board meeting this afternoon turned into a union rally at Choffin Career and Technical Center. The Youngstown Education Association voted Monday to strike and negotiations between the two sides have ended for now.

At 4:30 p.m., the Youngstown City School District Board of Education called its regularly scheduled meeting to order.Immediately following roll call, board president Tiffany Patterson moved to amend the agenda to send the board into executive session following the approval of the last meeting’s minutes.

The move drew loud boos and cries of “shame on you” and “cowards” from members of the Youngstown Education Association. The union filled the meeting space, largely clad in red “YEA Strong” T-shirts.

Board member Kenneth Donaldson addressed the crowd.

“This is hard for everyone, but we have to model how to respond to adversity as adults,” he said. “We cannot model inappropriate behavior. We’re as frustrated as you all are.”

Donaldson said a lack of communication has led to that tension.

“How do you expect us to give you all the information when we can’t talk to you,” he said.

YEA spokesman Jim Courim said union members tend to avoid having conversations with board members about the issues because “they don’t want to screw anything up.”

Donaldson told the crowd “everyone in this room cares about our kids.”

As the board exited the hall for an executive session, members began chanting “Y.E.A., Y.E.A!”

Moments after that, music took over the hall with members rallying to Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.”

Courim said he understands the concerns on both sides.

“When people are angry, emotions can take over. I think some people are worried about this becoming unprofessional,” he said.

“I think members are also worried that the district will try to divide us by turning members against each other. I’m not saying they’re doing that, but some people have that concern. So we need to stay strong and stick together.”

Read more in Wednesday’s Vindicator.