Westerville board approves collective bargaining agreement with teachers’ union

At a July 27, 2026 special meeting, the Westerville City School Board of Education approved a resolution to adopt a collective bargaining agreement between the district and the Westerville Education Association.

The motion to approve the resolution was moved and seconded after the board returned from an executive session called "for the purpose of discussing negotiations." Missus Valentine, Missus Lebran, Missus Altman and Missus Meyer each voted yes; Missus Brown was recorded as absent. The board announced the motion passed by the members present.

A board member read a statement on behalf of the absent Missus Brown that thanked both the Westerville Education Association and the district negotiating team and described the outcome as the product of "months of hard work." The statement said, "My hope is that this contract allows us to move forward together to ensuring every child in this district receives the best possible education." The reader identified Brown as unable to attend but did not propose any change to the board’s action.

Several board members spoke after the vote to praise negotiators and to acknowledge compromises required in bargaining. One member said negotiations were difficult because the district does not have "unlimited dollars" to meet every demand and thanked those "who worked to get us to a place where we have an agreement." Another said the process was "very professional" and that the board and union reached a place "where everybody felt like they were in a good place."

The chair reminded the public that the next regular board meeting will be Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the district’s early learning center and closed the July 27 special meeting.