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Faculty at Summit Academy in Painesville file for union recognition

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Posted at 10:19 PM, Feb 26, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-27 17:39:20-05

PAINESVILLE, Ohio — Teachers, intervention specialists and instructional aides at Summit Academy in Painesville have filed a petition for union recognition.

"We are doing this for the benefit and safety of our students,” said Brittney Jakopic, a teacher and intervention specialist for grades Kindergarten through second, and member of the organizing committee. “As teachers we want to make sure that Summit Academy Painesville keeps up on its promises to parents."

The organizing committee is hoping to be the seventh Ohio charter school and second Summit Academy school to join the Cleveland Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff, affiliated with the Ohio Federation of Teachers and American Federation of Teachers.

The committee said that many of the same concerns that led to a strike at the Summit Academy in Parma.

"Teachers at any Summit Academy experience the same issues as us in Painesville,” said Kenneth Sowers, a Math and Science teacher and intervention specialist for grades 5 – 8, and member of the organizing committee. “We are standing up alongside our brothers and sisters in Parma as they fight for a fair deal that supports teachers and students."

RELATED: Summit Academy teachers say strike talks are going backwards, won't back down until needs are met