Local Issues

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson proposes sweeping plan to improve education for city students – (Plain Dealer)

Mayor Frank Jackson hopes to triple the number of Cleveland students attending good schools by throwing out union rules governing teacher pay and layoffs, partnering more with high-performing charter schools and giving successful district schools more flexibility in how they do their jobs. Read More…

Michele Evans resigns as CEO of Canton City Schools – (Canton Repository)

Saying the Board of Education for City Schools had lost confidence in her ability to lead the district, Michele Evans gave up her job. Evans resigned, effective Monday, as superintendent and the school board accepted her resignation Monday afternoon with a unanimous vote following a closed-door meeting. Read More…

Classroom Turns To Technology, Goes Green – (Ohio News Network)

Historical relics surround students in Darren Plessinger's American Government class at Pickaway Ross Career and Technology Center. In the midst of the nation's forefathers and past flags, the teenagers are riding the wave of the future, ONN's Harrison Hove reported. The class is getting high tech while going green and saving on paper and books. Read More…

Panel says middle school students should start thinking about college – (News Herald)

Educators from multiple school districts in Lake and Geauga counties met recently with representatives of area colleges and universities to ask questions and discuss student success. The panel of higher education included Notre Dame College, Lakeland Community College, Lake Erie College, Ursuline College, Kent State University, Cleveland State University, The University of Akron and John Carrol University. Read More…

Bullying can have long-lasting effect – (Youngstown Vindicator)

Nearly 30 years have passed since Jodee Blanco’s high-school graduation, but remnants of the damage she endured from having been bullied remain. “I was the kid no one wanted to be caught dead hanging out with,” Blanco, a New York Times best-selling author and anti-bullying activist, said during her presentation Monday at Boardman High School. Read More…

Schools jump on health kick – (New Philadelphia Times Reporter)

With recent studies showing that more than one-third of third-graders in the Tuscarawas Valley are obese, area schools are taking action to reverse the trend. Educators are employing a variety of methods to help students eat better and become more active. Read More…

Buckeye adds oil, gas industry classes – (New Philadelphia Times Reporter)

With the avalanche of opportunities the gas and oil industry is bringing to the Tuscarawas Valley, Buckeye Career Center is finding itself a key player. It's making an impact locally, according to Erin VanFossen, assistant director of Adult Workforce Education at Buckeye Career Center in New Philadelphia. That's why there will be classes offered to help provide opportunities. Read More…

Mason board mulls merging schools – (Cincinnati Enquirer)

School officials here met late into the evening Monday discussing and debating details on a merger of two schools. The Mason Board of Education went into executive session for more than three hours as the board considered layoffs from combining Western Row and Mason Heights elementaries next school year. The board took no action but announced late Monday it will vote on the proposed merger at its regular public meeting on Feb. 14. Read More…

Editorial & Opinion

Cleveland school plan may be a tough sell, but it shouldn't be DOA: editorial – (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

For years, some in Cleveland have argued that the powers that be should blow up Cleveland's struggling public school system and start over from scratch. Whether, are willing to use dynamite remains to be seen. But the new and certain-to-be controversial academic transformation they're rolling out this week may well seem the political equivalent of playing with fire. Read More…