- We noted busing woes in a few parts of the state at the beginning of the school year. Sadly, a shortage of drivers in the Cincinnati area is extending transportation woes for families in district, charter, and private schools far into the school year. Please can we think up a new way of doing this? (Cincinnati Enquirer)
- I’m tempted to comment on the use of the phrase “traditional charter school” here, but the story is just too good to mess up with snark. A charter school in the Toledo area is partnering with a center for children with autism to help transition students into a more typical classroom setting. Gregory, for one, seems to be doing very well so far. (WTVG-TV, Toledo)
- Pickerington Central High School’s band will not be performing at tomorrow night’s football game against Reynoldsburg. Apparently band parents were concerned about “spillover” from the ongoing teachers strike in Reynoldsburg and Pickerington pulled the plug on the performance. I don’t know what “spillover” is but the fact that every adult involved on all sides of this strike didn’t rush out to reassure, “Every visitor to our stadium will have a good time and be just fine, like always,” probably says all you need to know. (Columbus Dispatch)
- Officials from North Olmsted and Bay Village schools are talking Common Core this week in their local paper; specifically, the current legislative assault against it. There’s a lot in here but this quote probably sums it up best: “House Bill 597 cast a shadow of doubt on our way forward in classrooms when teachers and administrators were on the verge of implementing Ohio’s (New) Learning Standards after years of preparation.” Yup. (West Life)
- A little further along the lake shore, a number of students in Margaretta High School are apparently enjoying the pilot program that allows them to opt out of gym class in favor of extracurriculars like cheerleading and football. Overcrowded phys ed classes and overcrowded high school schedules are the primary reasons for trying out the plan. (Sandusky Register)
- The only group to put down an offer to buy a closed school building in Monroe (they were also the highest bidder in the auction engineered to avoid the above-noted sale) is being stonewalled by some community members and some city council members. Who are these interlopers? A local church. Admit it—you thought I was going to say a charter school. (Middletown News Journal)
