- There’s not a whole lot about actual teaching and learning involved in this wide-ranging back-to-school piece from the Dispatch. There is some discussion of third grade reading, but it’s more about the change in retention rules for kids who can’t read proficiently rather than, say, how schools are going to help kids to read proficiently. (Columbus Dispatch, 8/16/23) At least Governor DeWine seems upbeat and positive about the start of school. He’s here discussing that very topic—the enshrining of the science of reading into state law and how it will help students who have been poorly served in that area for too long. Big thanks to the Gov for mentioning us in here too. (Dayton Daily News, 8/17/23)
- From here, though, the back-to-school talk turns kinda dark in our local media, including a pervasive but highly generalized anxiety vibe emanating from this piece. (Dayton Daily News, 8/17/23) Way more direct fear mongering in this piece around administration of medicine to students in Cincinnati City Schools, including the specters of medicine dispensing mistakes, untrained personnel wielding syringes, “security issues” occurring the second front desk personnel have their backs turned, and straight-up neglect of students with medical needs. Goodness me, that’s grim stuff. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 8/17/23) The positivity on display for students’ first day at Cincinnati City Schools’ Ethel M. Taylor Academy yesterday is a breath of fresh air after the foregoing. But is it hypocritical of me at this point in the clips to note the abysmal turnout of students here? Sounds like less than 50 percent, although everyone seems sure that attendance will ratchet up come Monday. I fear (see what I did there?) that my sense of what’s a problem what’s no big deal is slipping. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 8/17/23)
- Not sure what’s up with the first-person storytelling structure of this piece, but everyone the reporter talked to tells him that the giant sluice of state funding delivered to every manner of school in Ohio via the budget bill was not enough. Everyone’s pleading poverty, some folks are intimating negative consequences, and district officials particularly are casting jealous eyes at private schools. Happy first day to you all as well! (Ideastream Public Media, 8/17/23) Luckily, our own Chad Aldis was interviewed for this companion piece, reminding all those doomy naysayers that local funding still exists and, thus, traditional districts are still miles ahead of all school types in terms of per pupil funding. (Ideastream Public Media, 8/17/23)
- The first day of school has come and gone for many districts, charters, and private schools in the Dayton area as well. So far, folks are expressing cautious optimism around student transportation. Limited information from district and private school officials indicate fully-staffed routes, some late buses, but nothing like the widespread chaos of the last several years. I don’t even think the interim supe had to bust out his CDL and get behind the wheel. However, we also learn that a number of charter schools have banded together and built their own transportation network for the first time, which is (duh) likely a contributing factor in making things simpler for the district. (Dayton Daily News, 8/17/23)
- Back in July, I expressed some hope that things were changing for the better in terms of charter school acceptance in Toledo. That was after a zoning panel allowed a permit request—for an established gifted and talented charter to open a new daycare and preschool—to proceed upward to a final city council vote. Even though they weren’t overly enthusiastic about the plan, at least two of the city council members who sat on that panel concurred at the time that the project was “worthy…to go forth” and violated no city regulations. Things went back to status quo ante this week as the elected city council denied the school’s request on a vote of 7-5, including a seeming change of heart and a “No” vote from one of those zoning panel members who had found the project “worthy” a month earlier. The school’s founder was hopping mad, having jumped through a lot of hoops to get this far, and seemed convinced that something other than city regs was driving the outcome. Wouldn’t be the first time, boss. (Toledo Blade, 8/16/23)
- Just catching up to this twisty situation in Parma City Schools. The district has been losing enrollment for years and the superintendent insists he is trying to right size their building inventory to deal with that reality, especially in light of a number of levy failures in recent elections. However, he is getting pushback and interference from a number of directions now that active demolition is ready to begin at the closed Parma Senior High building. Did they not think he was serious before now or what? (Cleveland.com, 8/16/23) Specifically, the mayor of a neighboring community has jumped rhetorically in front of those (very real) bulldozers, invoking the charter school boogieman among other strategies. (Cleveland.com, 8/15/23)
- Finally this week: After all that whining, fear mongering, and hot air we’ve been reading about, I’ll give you this calm and lovely piece to send you off. St. Helen’s Catholic School in Newbury, Ohio (nope, me neither) announced this week that it would charge zero dollars in tuition to any of its school families this year. I know you know why and I’m sure you’ll forgive me for clipping a press release given the fantastic news it brings. That’s why I like you so much. Seats still available in all grades. Just sayin’. (EIN Newswire, 8/17/23)
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