- RedefinED’s Matthew Ladner posits that a number of factors—including an ongoing baby bust, that crazy little thing called ‘rona, and the recent removal of restrictions on where charter schools can locate—will combine to accelerate utilization of school choice in Ohio and hasten the end of what he terms “suburban opportunity hoarding”. From his mouth to parents’ ears, amiright? (RedefinED, 8/6/21) I can’t help but think of Ladner’s analysis as I read this story about suburban Springfield Local Schools’ enrollment team setting up shop at apartment complexes around the area to recruit new families into the district. Oh, I know the piece doesn’t use the word “recruit”, but that is what it would be called if a charter or private school set up a tent in the same lot for the same purpose. Even if those charter school staffers used the exact same “we’re just here to help busy parents and support students” language as quoted. Now wouldn’t it? (WTOL-TV, Toledo, 8/5/21)
- Last week, we briefly discussed the transportation situation in Cincinnati City Schools, which underwent an upheaval—said to be a “surprise” to the district and the subject of investigation and accusation already—just a couple of weeks before the start of the new school year. And while this is just one thing on the mind of the local teachers union boss, she opines strongly against the busing route changes being wrought. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 8/4/21) I find it hard to believe that the school district really loved using public transit for student transportation to the extent demonstrated in the editorial pages of the Enquirer. But it must be true. How else to explain this letter from the district’s elected school board which commands the transit authority to restore those cancelled routes immediately, raising the specter of “kids in danger” multiple times in the process? (Cincinnati Enquirer, 8/5/21) Meanwhile, leadership of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) is busy trying to explain not only why the new routes are better (faster, more frequent, more flexible) but that even if they are not always better, they won’t be any worse than the cancelled ones (which were apparently frequently non-existent last year due to bus driver shortages that, it seems, have not yet been fully alleviated). And of course SORTA has to rebut the “surprise announcement” and “kids in danger” narratives as well. To which I say: good luck with that. (WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, 8/5/21)
- Meanwhile, out in the Cincinnati ‘burbs: Lakota Local School students are getting laptops like it’s 2020. Or indeed 2010. Hoarding? What hoarding? (The Journal News, 8/4/21)
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