Cincy Reporter

Jim Renacci, who is running as a Republican for governor, said an Ohio school district's decision to temporarily move to remote learning is  "child abuse" on his campaign website.

Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education voted to move students to remote learning through Jan. 24 due to staffing shortages caused by a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Cincinnati Public Schools is Ohio's third-largest school district.

In Renacci's statement, the candidate for the GOP gubernatorial nomination blamed the teachers' union for the board's vote. 

“The teacher’s union has an iron grip on our schools," Renacci said. "Sadly, only one school board member dared to fight for Ohio’s children." 

Retired teacher and longest-tenured board member Eve Bolton was the lone vote against the return to remote learning, calling the move "devastating" for families, according to the Enquirer. Bolton blamed staff shortages on the district's failure to hire enough substitute teachers in a Jan. 17 interview with the Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. 

WLWT News reports schools in Ohio are dealing with too few teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, support staff and especially substitute teachers. The report states Ohio has recently waived the requirement that substitute teachers have a teaching license in an effort to attract more applicants.

“Ohio’s students have suffered enough, and the data shows that," Renacci said in his statement. "Lower test scores, depression, increase in hospital admissions for mental issues are all affecting our kids across the state. Another round of quarantining our kids and isolating them from the social and educational aspect of a brick-and-mortar school day will be devastating.”

A 2021 report by UNICEF found that government-mandated lockdowns and school closures negatively impacted children's mental health, leading to more fear, stress, anxiety, depression, alcohol and drug abuse, loss of learning, poor physical activity, and sleeping habits. 

However, the report also found positives as well, such as time with family.

"The use of digital technology during the pandemic provided social connectedness, remote learning opportunities, and a way to cope with isolation and stress," Manasi Sharma, said UNICEF Innocenti research consultant, said in the report. "Engaging in positive coping strategies, prosocial behaviors and online learning opportunities have been key factors in building children’s resilience during this time."

Renacci took aim at Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for COVID-related school closures.

"If Mike DeWine won't support families and keep these schools open, then he should step aside and let someone who actually cares take the lead,” Renacci said in his statement.

Renacci, 63, is an accountant and entrepreneur who once owned the Columbus Destroyers arena-football team. He won the election to U.S. Congress in 2010 as part of the Tea Party movement and later endorsed Donald Trump over then-Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the 2016 primary for president.

Renacci will face Gov. DeWine in the GOP gubernatorial primary May 3. The winner will represent the Republican party in the Nov. 8 general election.