- On Wednesday, the Ohio Senate’s Primary and Secondary Education Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 178. That’s the one which proposes big changes to the governance structure of K-12 education in the state. Gongwer covered that hearing and discussed proponent testimony provided by Fordham’s Chad Aldis. (Gongwer Ohio, 11/30/22) If you’d like to read his full written testimony, it is here. Just sayin’.
- Another proponent of that legislation is, apparently, Governor Mike DeWine. He gave his thumbs up to a group of reporters on Wednesday, saying, “I think virtually every governor for 40 or 50 years has wanted to have more control in regard to the Department of Education. “So this governor is not going to be different. You know, I support the bill.” (Cleveland.com, 11/30/22)
- Official opponent testimony will be heard in committee next week (although we sure got a solid preview in that Cleveland piece, didn’t we?). In the meantime, here’s the Dispatch with a reasonably mild-mannered summary of the bill’s major provisions…which occupies the first 260 words of the piece. What’s in the other 1000-plus words? I’m sure you can guess. (Columbus Dispatch, 12/1/22)
- Two updates on continuing stories to end the week. First: Several central Ohio school districts that have been struggling with student transportation all school year provided some dribs and drabs of positive momentum to 10TV News this week. While I can’t understand why Reynoldsburg families are not currently rioting in the street about ongoing remote learning schedules, I can understand why families in South-Western City Schools are happy about getting access to GPS bus locator technology at long last. (10TV News, Columbus, 12/1/22) Second, the administration of KIPP Columbus this week declined to voluntarily recognize the union that teachers and other staff members have been working to form. (Columbus Dispatch, 12/2/22)
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