UPDATE Teachers Will Rally Against Senate Bill 5 Thursday

Twinsburg Township Square will take center stage as teachers from the district meet in a rally, protesting Senate Bill 5 on Thursday, March 8 from 4-6 p.m.

Marti Franks, president of the Twinsburg Education Association (TEA), said their goal is to make legislators and supporters aware of what is happening and help anyone who doesn’t know much about the issue to learn more.

“We’re trying to get our questions asked, but more importantly, to make the legislators understand how wrongheaded they’re going,” Franks said.

Senate Bill 5, if passed, would diminish more than 350,000 Ohio public workers’ rights to collective bargaining. It passed through the State Senate by a 17-16 margin last week and is expected to be reviewed by the Ohio House this week.

Franks, also an English and Drama teacher at , said the idea came from TEA Vice-President Nora Suder-Riley and contract negotiator Dave Stebbins.

“They put their heads together and asked me if it was okay and I thought it was a great idea,” Franks said.

They have invited police and fire fighters and anyone interested in the issue. Franks said they asked legislators to attend as well, but because they’ve been requested to show up at many other rallies around the state, she is unsure who, if any, will be in attendance.