- Our own Chad Aldis was among the interview subjects in this piece talking about Cincinnati City Schools’ levy request, which includes both K-12 and pre-K funding asks. Chad talks about pre-K quality and the dangers of “fadeout” in the run up to the vote. (WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, 10/11/16) In discussing the K-12 portion of the levy, journalist Hannah Sparling throws up a number of boogiemen to illustrate the reasons why Cincy is asking for the money. To wit: charter schools, state regulations (especially around technology), and vouchers (which she calls a “free ticket” for families to leave the district). I could almost hear the violin music rising as I read the last paragraph. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/11/16)
- Speaking of boogiemen, Progress Ohio yesterday hosted an event here in Columbus featuring an attorney representing the government of Turkey. The topic: Concept charter schools, which the attorney said are “fleecing” taxpayers in Ohio and elsewhere to the benefit of a man the Turkish government asserts is behind a recent coup attempt in that country. Heady stuff. Turkey (I’m almost sure it’s Turkey) is asking StateAuditor! Man to dig deep into Concept Schools (again) to find out for sure. (Gongwer Ohio, 10/11/16)
- Sticking with the theme, Ohio Education Policy Institute’s Howard Fleeter is still touting his annual report card analysis: poverty is correlated with poor test scores. (Columbus Dispatch, 10/10/16) Clearview Schools’ teachers are said to be going the extra mile to help students who didn’t do well on said tests. I think they are talking about helping the kids learn and therefore do better on the next test, but I could be wrong. (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 10/11/16) However, it seems that teachers in Clearview Schools have some other issues to contend with, according to their union spokesperson. My kingdom for some staples! (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 10/11/16)
- Back in the real world, here is a nice story about the iCARE mentor program in Akron City Schools. No staples required. (Akron Beacon Journal, 10/11/16)
- Parma Schools’ board of education dealt this week with the fallout from last week’s meeting in which the board president abruptly resigned before discussion on budget cuts got underway. A new president and vice president were sworn in, a request for applications for the vacant seat was issued, and it was announced that the district was granted an extension by ODE to file their mandated budget-cutting plan. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 10/11/16)
