- The dust is currently settling on SB 3, the education bill we reminded you of earlier this week, which was potentially being amended in some not-so-good ways. Well, that didn’t happen in the House Education Committee, but the media didn’t let it go. Our own Chad Aldis is quoted on some of those not-so-good amendment proposals in both this piece of journalism from the PD… (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/23/16)…and in this op-ed from the Dispatch. Editors there opined in agreement with Chad on this one. (Columbus Dispatch, 2/23/16) The same is to be said of editors in Youngstown, although they didn’t quote Chad to help make their point. (Youngstown Vindicator, 2/22/16)
- No, Youngstown Academic Distress Commission, you may not meet yet. Not until that definition of “teacher” is well and truly settled. What? No. You should have thought of that before you sat down. Next “expedited” court date: April 7. (Youngstown Vindicator, 2/24/16) One of the arguments used in court to continue stonewalling the new ADC is that kids in the district are “achieving academically” and that the school district “is not in immediate doom”. So the courts should allow this definition of teacher thing to play out all the way. Answering that question judicially is more important than whatever the ADC might get up to. Meanwhile, students and parents of Youngstown’s East High School have some immediate complaints. Chiefly, that it is difficult to “achieve academically” when there aren’t enough math teachers to go around. (Youngstown Vindicator, 2/24/16)
- More state report card data is scheduled to be released tomorrow. Patrick O’Donnell gives us a preview and a laundry list of why most schools and districts in the Cleveland area will be super disappointed in what they see. Thank goodness for safe haven, amiright?! Woohoo! (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/24/16) Meanwhile, schools and districts in Stark County would rather report cards just didn’t come out at all, and urged legislators to consider same. (Akron Beacon Journal, 2/23/16)
- The Dayton City Schools’ board of education voted this week not to renew the contracts of both the superintendent and treasurer. The March 1 state deadline made it necessary for them to decide this now, but what the board’s next move will be is not at all clear. “Renegotiation” is our possible word of the week. (Dayton Daily News, 2/23/16)
- We told you about the changes afoot in Lorain City Schools regarding dual-enrollment options for high schoolers. The decade-old Early College Program, aimed at first-generation college goers, was facing the ax due to other early college options coming online with the opening of the schmancy new district high school next year. A victory of sorts this week as creative accounting will allow all the students currently enrolled in the Early College Program to continue until they graduate, but the program will end for good when the last one leaves the stage. (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 2/23/16)
