Statewide Education News
- Early advantage – Akron Beacon Journal (editorial)
When it comes to financing innovative education, Ohio cannot say it is getting short shrift from the federal government. In 2010, the state won a $400 million competitive grant to support reforms in elementary and secondary education. The funds were made available to state applicants through the Obama administration’s $4.3 billion Race to the Top initiative. Last week, Ohio won another Race to the Top grant to support its early childhood learning system. The $70 million grant was one of nine successful state applications among the 35 submitted. Read More…
Local Issues
- Cleveland school board votes to keep preschool, spring sports, busing for high-schoolers – Plain Dealer
- ODE reviews Sycamore’s special education program – Fox 19 - Cincinnati
- Group opposes defunding of charter schools – Lorain Morning Journal
- School union in Liberty defends health plan – Youngstown Vindicator
- Enrollment, confidence falling in Lakota schools – Hamilton Journal News
- Heights schools might drop Licking County ESC – Newark Advocate
- Huron City Schools unveil app – Lorain Morning Journal
- Most local school board members get state maximum pay – Chillicothe Gazette
- Unioto to revisit bullying policy – Chillicothe Gazette
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland school board voted Wednesday night to use savings from a new contract with teachers to head off elimination of preschool, spring sports and busing for high school students.
Members of the Cleveland Teachers Union completed five days of voting on the deal Wednesday afternoon, with 62 percent voting to approve it before the school board vote. Read More…
Sycamore Community Schools has been selected by the Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children, for an onsite review of its special education program.
As part of the review, on Jan. 24, OEC will hold a public meeting to provide parents, guardians and community members the opportunity to address OEC regarding the Sycamore special education program. This meeting will be held at Edwin H. Greene Intermediate School, 5200 Aldine Drive, from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Information on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, procedural safeguards and the formal complaint process will also be provided at the meeting. According to the OEC, meetings are not intended to resolve issues regarding an individual child or circumstance. Read More…
The Ohio Coalition for Quality Education is opposing the Lorain Education Association’s call to end public funding of charter schools.
President Ron Adler voiced his opinion on the topic a week after David Wood, president of LEA, asked at a school board meeting support for ending state vouchers.
“During a Lorain school board meeting Wood blamed the school districts declining student enrollment and financial difficulties on school choice and specifically, charter schools,” Adler said in press release. “He asked the Lorain School Board to support a petition drive for a November referendum, to end public funding for all charter schools in Ohio.” Read More…
School-union representatives attended the fiscal commission meeting Wednesday and defended their self-insured health-care plan.
In past meetings, the fiscal commission has identified the district’s health-care plan, in which the district builds up a reserve and pays claims from the reserve, as a place the district can save money by possibly bidding out coverage to third-party insurance companies. Read More…
As 2011 comes to a close, the Lakota Local School District finds itself at a crossroads.
Faced with $9 million in cuts for the 2012-13 school year — on top of $22 million already axed over the last few years as a result of three failed levies in 18 months — Lakota is heading into what school officials believe is the district’s most critical time in its history. Read More…
A local school district is exploring whether to contract with another educational service center, but at least one official from its current provider is not pleased with the decision.
Licking Heights Board of Education on Tuesday approved a resolution stating its intent to terminate its service agreement with the Licking County Educational Service Center, effective June 30. Read More…
Like many Web users, TJ Houston was tired of constantly having to scroll and click through numerous web pages to find contact information. In an effort to make life easier for him and those who are a part Huron City Schools, he helped the school launch its first app. The free app makes it easier to pay school fees, view events and stay current on news. Read More…
CHILLICOTHE -- Five of seven school districts in Ross County pay their board members the state maximum, but even those on the high end of the pay scale said the money is not the reason they serve.
Chillicothe, Huntington, Paint Valley, Union-Scioto and Zane Trace each pay their school board members $125 per meeting, the highest amount allowed by state law. Southeastern board members make $80 per meeting, and Adena board members earn $40. Read More…
Union-Scioto schools Superintendent Dwight Garrett said he will meet with a University of Toledo law professor in January to discuss possible changes to the district's anti-bullying policy. Read More…
Editorial
- Campbell should ask state to straighten out its books – Youngstown Vindicator
Before Mayor WILLIAM VanSuch launches the search for a new finance director — it seems clear that the current director, Sherman Miles, is in over his head — he should heed the advice of the chairwoman of the state commission overseeing Campbell’s finances and hire the state auditor’s office to clean up government’s books. The $17,000 price tag would certainly pay larger dividends than hiring a full-time budget director now. Miles should be replaced, but there is no need to immediately fill the position. VanSuch can request help from the county auditor with the day-to-day financial operations. Read More…