- As you may know, it was a big day for Ohioans yesterday. A time when winners really got to celebrate. That’s right: inauguration day for a host of our elected officials. One of those being sworn in for a second term was State Auditor Dave Yost. In his inauguration speech, he promised continued (yes, continued) diligence in ferreting out problems in the state’s charter school sector. "We audit every charter school now…,” he reminded those folks who think this is not the case. “I think there's some things that need to be addressed. There's multiple ways of doing it and that debate will unfold and I'll be part of it over the next few months." Nice. (Gongwer Ohio)
- But that wasn’t the only big news in Ohio yesterday. There was also a nailbiter to which all eyes were glued, with supporters on both sides rooting for their favorites and following every twist and turn as it happened. That’s right: the election of a new president and vice president of the state board of education. For the record, it was Gunlock and Elshoff, two board vets, FTW. The Dispatch’s version of the story focuses on appointed vs. elected members vying for the top posts. The Plain Dealer’s version of the story focuses on the party affiliation of the contestants, those who nominated them, and those who voted for them.
- And let’s not forget about the big day that rookies had yesterday. Newbies getting their first taste of the big time. That’s right: three newly-elected members joined the state board of education for their first meeting yesterday. IdeaStream interviewed these folks and sounded them out about several issues the board is likely to face in 2015. Is it just me or do they all seem really crabby? (IdeaStream Public Media, Cleveland)
- Lest you think I am ducking the most important news to have occurred yesterday, I assure you I am not. Here it is: A Catholic school in the town of Wyoming, Ohio, is deeply in debt and faces closure, which would eliminate an EdChoice Scholarship option for Cincinnati-area families. Officials are working on a solution that would keep the school open, but it’s going to be a steep climb. Fingers crossed. (Cincinnati Enquirer)
- Looks like folks in Akron City Schools have a growing interest in bucking the trend of simply throwing open their doors for all comers and treating all their students alike. Cultural competency training, parent outreach, student and parent surveys. All of these things are moving forward in an effort to make sure that all members of a family are as connected with their children’s schools and education as they can be. This is good stuff, but it will take dedicated and motivated individuals to make the biggest gains from these efforts. I am hopeful Akron will have those people on the ground, but I wonder if the schools are really able to do the one right thing that students sometimes require: finding a better fit for their educational needs somewhere other than Akron City Schools AND helping families get to that place, whatever it takes. (Akron Beacon Journal)
- Speaking of folks who like to buck trends and duck expectations, I’ve written before about the awesome annual school fair in the Columbus neighborhood where I live, and it’s that time again for 2015. District schools (both assignment and lottery), charter schools, and private schools all have tables side by side for local parents to explore, compare, ask questions and, yes, decide where their children will attend school. It’s fantastic. They may scrupulously avoid using the words
OSU football“school choice” in all their literature, but this is what it is and even the staunch district supporters understand the value of comparison. Fantastic. (Clintonville Go Public)
