- One member of the Youngstown school board held a press conference on Wednesday to discuss her reasons for walking out of a board meeting earlier in the week. Seems like those reasons might be personal based on what is reported here, but she seems to be using them as a more general talking point. (Youngstown Vindicator, 10/27/16)
- Speaking of school boards, Parma is back in the news with a double whammy. The board finally approved a fiscal recovery plan to try and plug that multi-million dollar budget hole it still has (clerical errors notwithstanding). Immediately following, the board president resigned without explanation. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 10/27/16) If that all sounds a bit familiar, it is because this is the second Parma school board president to resign abruptly within a week. Meanwhile, the person appointed to fill the previous president’s seat on the board is under a bit of fire for some personal and business-related financial problems in his past. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 10/27/16) At this rate, there will be no one left to pursue the fiscal recovery plan. Just sayin’.
- A Republican state senator this week expressed interest in averting the conversion of Lorain City Schools to a CEO-style Academic Distress Commission by way of legislation. In related news: “Up” has expressed interest in becoming “Down”. (Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, 10/26/16)
- Speaking of Republican state office holders, Auditor Yost (what up?!) this week lauded the Hubbard school district for its careful management of open enrollment. (WKBN-TV, Youngstown, 10/25/16) Open enrollment is said to be partly at fault for an unexpected drop in student population in Dayton City Schools this year after a couple of years of flat or minimal growth. “Across the board” cuts are coming because of the enrollment drop, although everyone promises not to let the cuts get too close to classrooms and students. There is an irony here of which I think the board and supe are unaware. (Dayton Daily News, 10/26/16)
- Staying in the Gem City for a moment: if you thought the bad news coming out of Dayton City Schools’ transportation department had hit rock bottom – think again. (Dayton Daily News, 10/26/16)
- Continuing his detailed look at the state of Cleveland Plan reforms, Patrick O’Donnell digs into the performance of CMSD’s portfolio of “specialized schools”. The news isn’t actually bad, but not really good either. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 10/26/16)
- Groundbreaking will not happen until June 2017 and building completion will not occur June 2018, but folks in Steubenville are already hyped for the opening of [deep breath] the K-20 Ohio Appalachian Technology and Education Center. Whew. What will this Southern Colossus contain? Offices for at least 20 employees; a facility with state-of-the-art technology (that is, “a centralized hub for 21st century skills”) where curriculum development, instruction, online learning, assessments, technology, collaboration, communication and professional growth will occur; the Virtual Learning Academy online school; Jefferson Health Plan offices; a small sandwich shop (for staff as well as the state highway garage and Wal-Mart Distribution Center employees); and a small wellness center. I’m sure it’ll be a big hit. (Steubenville Herald-Star, 10/27/16)
