- I assume we’re going to be hearing more and more of these things as the countdown to using up federal Covid-relief funding continues. The Fighting Parmesans of Parma City Schools are happy to tell the world what they are spending millions of their remaining ESSER dollars on: physical education, music, and arts. That includes half a mill for new musical instruments and $150K to “restart drama programs” in district high schools. “We sort of view ourselves as somewhat of a sleeping giant in this area,” says the assistant supe, “as we just haven’t had the revenue to offer our kids the opportunities they deserve. This temporary boost in funding helps us to showcase our students’ talents and broaden their perspectives by addressing this too often forgotten arena.” Meanwhile, less than $100K will go for beakers and Bunsen burners district-wide. Sleeping indeed. (Cleveland.com, 5/9/22)
- Speaking of the pandemic (were we, really?), grudging kudos to the leaders of Pickerington Local Schools who were quick to adopt a new Covid-era boogieman as
a “threat” to get a levy passedan unfortunate possible consequence after two previous failures at the ballot box. “Youse wouldn’t want none a dat permanent hybrid learnin in ya fancy junior high schools now, would yas? Sadly, dat is where we could possibly finds ourselves given da current…. ‘situation’ …where we are currently at. You know, if dat ‘situation’ continues all intractable-like.” (10 TV News, Columbus, 5/10/22) - Meanwhile, the good folks running Evanston Academy in Cincinnati City Schools appear to have learned something mysterious and miraculous: Testing students often, identifying comprehension deficits, and intensively remediating incomplete learning are the keys to boosting student achievement…as measured by tests. I know, I know. You know all of this already (there are tons of quotes in the piece about their process—presented as mic-dropping revelation—that I imagine you said ten times last week alone), just as well as you know that lots and lots of schools out there believe the exact opposite. But let’s not tell the Evanston folks (or the Enquirer), OK? Perhaps if they think they’ve invented it, they’ll stick with it and their skeptical colleagues in other struggling schools just might join in. Mum’s the word! (Cincinnati Enquirer, 5/9/22)
- Finally, at the apex of this pyramid of distinctly Buckeye-flavored weirdness, Ohio has a new superintendent of public instruction. Former teacher, administrator, district superintendent, and college official Steve Dackin was voted in by the state board of education yesterday. There was a ton of media coverage, but we’ll just go with the Dispatch version, which includes a laudatory quote from Fordham’s Chad Aldis. (Columbus Dispatch, 5/10/22) Some media outlets would like to characterize the state supe vote as some kind of controversy. However, 14-4 with one abstention seems positively harmonious compared to the 12-7 vote that led to the approval of a statewide guidebook which outlines best practices and state requirements regarding service to students with dyslexia. (Gongwer Ohio, 5/10/22)
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