- Another suburban school district has billed the state for a return of “their money”, which went to charter schools because “their students” went to charter schools instead of to them. Our own Aaron Churchill is quoted denouncing the move as the “theatrics” that it is. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 7/11/16)
- Some more coverage of Fordham’s new report evaluating Ohio’s EdChoice Scholarship Program. Two national write ups – both seemingly in the right-of-center column – seem to get the nuances we hoped would emerge from the findings. (RedefinED blog, 7/11/16; Watchdog.org blog, 7/13/16) Gongwer also seems to get the pluses and minuses in the findings, getting quotes from a couple other Ohio voucher supporters to bolster their analysis. (Gongwer Ohio, 7/12/16) The D covers the report for a second time today, in their Education Insider column. I don’t think we’re particularly “bummed” around here by the report’s findings, but I personally am bummed that they chose a sports analogy to try and illustrate their case. (Columbus Dispatch, 7/13/16)
- We told you on Monday about the state’s largest online charter school suing the state to block the final stage of an attendance audit which was to happen this week. After some courtroom hustle, that audit is NOT not happening. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/11/16) One of the school’s main contentions is that the audit is above and beyond what was originally outlined to occur. Our own Chad Aldis discussed this – before the final court decision – on public radio and erred on the side of completeness: “I’m less worried about the time,” he said, “and more worried that whatever analysis is done is right, it’s helpful, it’s fair." Nice. (WVXU-FM, Cleveland, 7/11/16)
- An uncharacteristically quiet state board of education meeting was held this week. It included the ceremonial swearing-in of the new state superintendent of public instruction. He got off to a good start, with a stunning data fest for the board on topics such as the state budget, ESSA, and the findings of ODE’s recent audit. (Dayton Daily News, 7/11/16) The board finalized the parameters by which the new state supe will (or will not) receive his performance bonus after one year of service. Some good stuff in there, but it doesn’t seem to be about moving the particular needle that I expected. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/12/16)
- Community stakeholder meeting number two took place in Youngstown earlier this week. It was even more sparsely attended than the first one. And as before, students and parents were poorly represented. Luckily, CEO Krish Mohip continues to have dinner with district families each week. (Youngstown Vindicator, 7/12/16) District board meeting number one since the CEO started also took place in Youngstown this week. (The interim supe was on vacation, conveniently.) While there did seem to be some continued bickering among board members, it was an uncharacteristically placid meeting. In it, four extraordinary things happened. The board president said this: “From now on, when the board is voting, it will be a recommendation.” Mohip will make all final decisions, she said. The first decision made by the CEO: no further board meetings/work sessions are to be held (i.e. – no pay) until the scheduled board retreat in August. At that board retreat, members are to get training in “Robert’s Rules of Order [called it!], board policies and procedures, meeting decorum and the state’s Open Meetings Act”. Finally, when it was proposed that the board vote to drop their pending lawsuit against the legislation that created the CEO position, it was tabled as it was not part of the original meeting agenda. OK, so that last one was pretty normal. Baby steps! (Youngstown Vindicator, 7/12/16)
- Also busy this week was the Grandview Heights school board, which voted to eliminate all participation fees for sports, the arts, and lab workbooks. Cakewalk participation will still cost money. (And that is the most insider joke I’ve ever included here.) (Columbus Dispatch, 7/12/16)
- Speaking of money (and circling back to the state supe’s datapalooza), Patrick O’Donnell dares to ask – and answer – the question of how exactly Ohio’s record lottery profits factor in to state education funding. Good stuff. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/12/16)
