The Cincinnati Public Schools teachers union will meet in May to vote on a motion of no confidence in Superintendent Iranetta Wright. Five other unions contracted with the district will do the same, according to an email sent Friday morning to school board leaders.
“Neither union has confidence in the leadership of the superintendent,” the letter reads. 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 direction to move forward.”
Wright and school board leaders did not immediately respond to questions about the unions’ plans.
Cincinnati Federation of Teachers leaders emailed school board President Eve Bolton and Vice President Mary Wineberg with the letter signed by the six union leaders:
Wright began her role as superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools in 2022, and this is not the first time district employees have raised an issue with its leadership. Last spring, union leaders representing more than 200 Cincinnati Public Schools administrators, principals and assistant principals wrote a letter to the school board saying Wright had established a “culture of intimidation and fear.”
Administrators said in the letter that Wright “embarrasses employees in meetings,” mismicromanages and will not collaborate with other district leaders.
At the time, Wright acknowledged that she had made a difference in the neighborhood. But she maintained that these adjustments were for the common good, to align with board-approved goals and to better serve children.
This spring, staff expressed concerns at school board meetings about delays in construction budgets that make planning for next school year impossible, school consolidation projects, overall district budget cuts and Administrative overload that slows down daily processes.
More: Why a CPS plan to add middle schools could both save money and complicate the budget process
The school board gave Wright an overall satisfactory rating in its most recent evaluation, in December. Its lowest score was on the state standard of “establishing processes to communicate and collaborate effectively.” The board said Wright’s strengths lie in establishing a vision and leading the district toward student success.
The school board will meet with district union presidents Monday in executive session, Friday’s letter said. All unions will meet with their members by May 14 to vote on a motion of no confidence in Wright.
The board will hold a public meeting following the executive session Monday at 5:30 p.m., at the Mary A. Ronan Educational Center located at 2651 Burnet Ave.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: CPS Unions to Vote No Confidence in Superintendent Wright.
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