Latest news with #GivenNameAct
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio school district reverts to birth names, catching students, parents off guard
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Students at Columbus City Schools with preferred names in the district's system have had their names reverted back to the one listed on their birth certificates, including transgender and nonbinary students, who were not notified that this was happening. Students and teachers were caught off guard on March 19 when attendance was called and they realized preferred names were changed in the district's system, which is called Infinite Campus. 'He found out about the rescinded name change policy at school,' said a parent with a transgender son. 'His fourth-period teacher advised him to go to the office because his preferred name was not listed in Infinite Campus. My son started to go to the office and in a panic ran to the bathroom to call me at work.' 'This should be a welcoming state:' DeWine denies claim of 'anti-LGBTQ+ climate' in Ohio Izetta Thomas, the lead organizer with the Columbus Education Justice Coalition, said she has been talking to parents and students since the day of the change. 'To have that happen on such a grand scale and to not even see it coming, I don't think that there are any words to describe the feelings that folks had when that happened,' she said. Thomas added, 'Those names that were in the system were actually there with parent consent and permission because there was a form that parents had to fill out for that change to even be in the system at all.' She also said she feels uncomfortable sending her son back to class. 'My son has not physically been back to school since March 19,' the parent said. 'For his safety, we unenrolled from his previous school. Now, his educational opportunities have been taken from him.' There's a new push to put whole milk back in school meals. Here's what you should know Columbus Schools Superintendent Angela Chapman sent out a letter to students, parents and staff on Friday acknowledging that no warning was given. In the letter, Chapman said in part, 'We did not provide prior notice this was occurring, nor did we ensure support was in place to prioritize the emotional well-being of everyone impacted.' Chapman also apologized for how the district handled this situation. The letter cited recent Ohio laws — including a school bathroom bill and the Parents' Bill of Rights — as reasons for the change, but Thomas said that none of those laws require school districts to revert trans students' names. 'A lot of the information that we've been getting from folks at the district is that it was anticipatory,' Thomas said. 'An apology is not enough. An apology is not accountability, and that's what we're looking for, is accountability.' Ohio 'Given Name Act' proposes strict rules for names, pronouns in schools The parent did say Chapman called them personally to apologize, but they said she offered little in the way of a solution. Thomas said a number of people from the Columbus Education Justice Coalition planned to be at the next Columbus Board of Education meeting to show their support for impacted students and families. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio school district reverts to birth names, catching students, teachers off guard
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Students at Columbus City Schools with preferred names in the district's system had their names reverted back to match their birth certificates. This mainly affected transgender and nonbinary students, who were not notified that this was happening. Students and teachers were caught off guard on March 19 when attendance was called and they realized preferred names were changed in the district's system, called Infinite Campus. 'He found out about the rescinded name change policy at school,' said a parent with a transgender son. 'His fourth-period teacher advised him to go to the office because his preferred name was not listed in Infinite Campus. My son started to go to the office and in a panic ran to the bathroom to call me at work.' 'This should be a welcoming state:' DeWine denies claim of 'anti-LGBTQ+ climate' in Ohio Izetta Thomas, the lead organizer with the Columbus Education Justice Coalition, said she has been talking to parents and students since the day of the change. 'To have that happen on such a grand scale and to not even see it coming, I don't think that there are any words to describe the feelings that folks had when that happened,' she said. Thomas added, 'Those names that were in the system were actually there with parent consent and permission because there was a form that parents had to fill out for that change to even be in the system at all.' She also said she feels uncomfortable sending her son back to class. 'My son has not physically been back to school since March 19,' the parent said. 'For his safety, we unenrolled from his previous school. Now, his educational opportunities have been taken from him.' There's a new push to put whole milk back in school meals. Here's what you should know Columbus Schools Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman sent out a letter to students, parents and staff on Friday acknowledging that no warning was given. In the letter, Chapman said in part, 'We did not provide prior notice this was occurring, nor did we ensure support was in place to prioritize the emotional well-being of everyone impacted.' Chapman also apologized for how the district handled this situation. The letter cited recent Ohio laws such as the bathroom bill and the Parents' Bill of Rights as reasons why the names were changed, but Thomas said that none of these laws require school districts to revert trans students' names. 'A lot of the information that we've been getting from folks at the district is that it was anticipatory,' Thomas said. 'An apology is not enough. An apology is not accountability, and that's what we're looking for, is accountability.' Ohio 'Given Name Act' proposes strict rules for names, pronouns in schools The parent did say Chapman called them personally to apologize, but they said she offered little in the way of a solution. Thomas said a number of people from the Columbus Education Justice Coalition planned to be at the next Columbus Board of Education meeting to show their support for impacted students and families. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Columbus City Schools reverting to birth names catches students, teachers off guard
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus City Schools students with preferred names in the district system had their names reverted back to what is on their birth certificate. This mainly affected transgender and nonbinary students, and they were not notified that this was happening. Students and teachers were caught off guard on March 19 when attendance was called and they realized preferred names were changed in the district's system, called Infinite Campus. 'This should be a welcoming state:' DeWine denies claim of 'anti-LGBTQ+ climate' in Ohio 'He found out about the rescinded name change policy at school,' one parent with a transgender son said. 'His fourth-period teacher advised him to go to the office because his preferred name was not listed in Infinite Campus. My son started to go to the office and in a panic ran to the bathroom to call me at work.' 'To have that happen on such a grand scale and to not even see it coming, I don't think that there are any words to describe the feelings that folks had when that happened,' said Izetta Thomas, the lead organizer with the Columbus Education Justice Coalition. Thomas said she has been talking to parents and students since the day of the change. 'Those names that were in the system were actually there with parent consent and permission, because there was a form that parents had to fill out for that change to even be in the system at all,' Thomas said. The parent said the past few weeks since the name changes have been long and difficult for their son and their family. 60-ton crane stolen from south Columbus construction site 'My son has not physically been back to school since March 19,' the parent said. 'For his safety, we unenrolled from his previous school. Now, his educational opportunities have been taken from him.' Columbus Schools Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman sent out a letter to students, parents and staff on Friday acknowledging that no warning was given. In the letter, Chapman said in part, 'We did not provide prior notice this was occurring, nor did we ensure support was in place to prioritize the emotional well-being of everyone impacted.' Chapman also apologized for how the district handled this situation. The letter cited recent Ohio laws like the bathroom bill and the Parents' Bill of Rights as reason why the names were changed, but Thomas said that none of these laws require school districts to revert trans students' names. Ohio 'Given Name Act' proposes strict rules for names, pronouns in schools 'A lot of the information that we've been getting from folks at the district is that it was anticipatory,' Thomas said. 'An apology is not enough. An apology is not accountability, and that's what we're looking for, is accountability.' The parent did say Chapman called them personally to apologize, but they said she offered little in solutions. Thomas said a number of people from the Columbus Education Justice Coalition will be at the next Columbus Board of Education meeting to show their support for impacted students and families. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio lawmakers look to eliminate highest income tax rate, switch to flat tax
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio lawmakers are looking to eliminate the state's highest income tax rate and instead switch to a flat tax of 2.75%. Supporters of the bill said the change would help Ohio compete with neighboring states. Opponents said the bill would mostly benefit the state's wealthiest residents and could lead to higher costs for low- and middle-income residents. Ohio has three tax rates: 0%, 2.75%, and 3.5% for tax year 2024. House Bill 30 would phase out the 3.5% rate and tax all income levels at a flat 2.75% beginning in tax year 2026. For tax year 2025, the highest income tax rate would be reduced from 3.5% to 3.125%. Ohio 'Given Name Act' proposes strict rules for names, pronouns in schools Beginning in tax year 2026, the highest tax rate would be eliminated and all income over $27,350 would be taxed at a rate of $378.69 plus 2.75% of excess over $27,350. Taxable Income Tax Rate $0 – $26,050 0% of nonbusiness income $26,051 – $100,000 $360.69 + 2.75% of excess over $26,050 $100,001+ $2,394.32 + 3.50% of excess over $100,000 Taxable Income Tax Rate $0 – $26,700 0% of nonbusiness income $26,701 – $102,400 $369.69 + 2.75% of excess over $26,700 $102,401+ $2,451.44 + 3.125% of excess over $102,400 Taxable Income Tax Rate $0 – $27,350 0% $27,351+ $378.69 + 2.75% of excess over $27,350 The House Ways and Means Committee had its first hearing on the bill on Wednesday. In sponsor testimony, Reps. Adam Matthews (R-Lebanon) and Brian Lampton (R-Beavercreek) wrote that getting rid of the highest tax rate and switching to a flat tax of 2.75% would help Ohio compete with neighboring states for growth and investment. Burger, hot dog chain to open first Ohio locations in Columbus area The bill's sponsors said that neighboring states like Pennsylvania and Indiana have flat taxes that are lower than Ohio's highest rate. 'House Bill 30 and its implementation of a 2.75% flat tax rate will put Ohio in a position to lead the Midwest with a lower tax than our neighbors, thereby making us an economic model for the region,' the sponsors wrote. Matthews and Lampton said Ohio's population has declined every census since 1971 when the state had nine tax brackets with a top rate of 9.5%. 'This legislation is another important step that continues to build on the work we have already done to reduce the burden of taxation on the people,' Lampton said in an statement to NBC4. 'By leaving more money in the hands of those who have earned it, we empower Ohioans to pursue their own ends and create more opportunities for economic growth in our great state.' 'Ohio is ready to reclaim our role as the economic engine of the Midwest. In just two years, we could have the lowest income tax in the region, thereby becoming a beacon of economic freedom and encouraging new investment in our state,' Matthews said. Bodycam shows shooting of teenage murder suspect in northeast Columbus Policy Matters Ohio, which opposes the bill, said the proposal would not provide any benefits to households with incomes less than six figures while gutting the state's budget. Bailey Williams, a tax policy researcher with Policy Matters Ohio, said that if the bill passed, it would mean libraries and school teachers would pay the same tax rate as corporate CEOs and professional athletes. 'A flat tax is a handout to the most well-off among us — and it will devastate Ohio's ability to provide services that benefit everyone,' Williams said in a statement. Citing the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, the organization said the bill would cost more than $1 billion — equal to about 11% of the state's income tax revenue for fiscal year 2024's General Revenue Fund. 'Ohio is already struggling to constitutionally fund our public schools, stabilize our failing childcare market, and provide meaningful property tax relief,' Williams said. 'Instead of addressing those issues, lawmakers would rather continue to shift Ohio's taxes onto low- and middle-income families.' Williams said that local governments would have to either cut back on services or ask citizens to pay more, usually through property tax levies, as more public service costs would be passed on to local communities. Columbus residents cautioned about 'brake checking' and staged accident risks 'The historic rise in property values since the pandemic has shown the problem with overreliance on property taxes,' he said. 'HB 30 will make things worse for those who can afford it least.' Policy Matters Ohio called on lawmakers to reject HB 30 and instead close 'wasteful loopholes,' tax corporations and target tax credits where they're most effective. Matthews expressed optimism about getting the bill passed. 'Previous General Assemblies have included tax cuts in our recent state budgets, and I would expect we can get one done now as well,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio ‘Given Name Act' proposes strict rules for names, pronouns in schools
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio's 'Parents' Bill of Rights' won't go into effect for two more weeks, but House Republicans are already proposing amendments, including one that would penalize districts that used students' chosen names and pronouns without parent permission. Reps. Jonathan Newman (R-Troy) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Township) introduced House Bill 190 on Monday, which would require public schools to have parent permission to refer to a student by a name or pronoun that differs from what is listed on their birth certificate. Schools that violate the 'Given Name Act' would be denied state funding and open themselves to lawsuits. Olentangy schools defends LGBTQ+ anti-bullying policies in federal court The bill also bans public school employees or contractors from requiring students or staff to respect students' chosen names or pronouns. Even with parent permission, schools would not be allowed to subject staff or students to 'adverse action' for declining to use a student's preferred name and pronouns. Although students older than 18 could personally request to be addressed differently under HB 190, teachers could not. The proposed bill would ban school employees from sharing their pronouns or titles if they differ from what is listed on the employee's personal birth certificate. After Florida enacted a similar ban in 2023, the state faced lawsuits from transgender and gender variant teachers, including high school teacher Katie Wood. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction that said the state's ban on preferred pronouns violated Wood's First Amendment rights, and a federal court heard oral arguments in October 2024. However, the court withdrew its interest in the case on Feb. 26, before a ruling was issued. The law would not apply to derivatives, or generally accepted nicknames, of birth names. For instance, if director Spike Lee were an Ohio student, he could be called Shelton or Shel, from his given name Shelton Jackson Lee. However, he would need written permission to be called Spike under HB 190. Columbus City Schools reverts to birth names for transgender students The Given Name Act also establishes a complaint system through the Department of Education and Workforce. If the department determines a school district violated the law, the state would then withhold 10% of the school's funding every month until the state determined they were now compliant. The bill also allows families to sue for monetary relief if a district or staff member knowingly violates it. HB 190 would update the Parents' Bill of Rights, which will go into effect on April 9 and already requires schools to alert parents and guardians if a student requests to go by a name or pronoun that is different from what was assigned at birth. See previous Parents' Bill of Rights coverage in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
