State Education News

School districts seeking levies tell voters state aid uncertain (Columbus Dispatch)

The Groveport Madison school district is appealing to voters, telling them that an emergency levy in May that raises $5.5 million a year will help solve long-term financial needs…Read more…

Gov. John Kasich's education budget about to be amended by the Ohio House (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

After hearing testimony from dozens of education groups and complaints from school officials back in their districts, members of the Ohio House are about to make major changes in Gov. John Kasich's proposed education budget.…Read more…

Value-added rankings compare students' academic growth in Northeast Ohio schools (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

For the first time, 832 Ohio school districts and charter schools have been ranked on their value-added scores, providing one more lens for viewing academic progress across the state.…Read more…

Local Education News

Third straight day of contract negotiations between Strongsville teachers, district end with no deal (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Negotiations to end the ongoing teachers strike ended April 5 after 9 hours with no deal again, for the third straight day, and will reconvene Monday morning at 9 a.m.…Read more…

Academic distress commission takes over Lorain city school (Lorain Morning Journal)

Newly appointed state superintendent Richard Ross will officially form Lorain’s Academic Distress Commission Monday afternoon.…Read more…

Trying to contact the school board? Good luck (Cincinnati Enquirer)

An Enquirer analysis shows these elected officials keep basic contact info private.…Read more…

Medina school board's bonuses and perks for Superintendent Randy Stepp anger residents (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Randy Stepp was a success story in the Medina school district. The former high school principal was regarded highly enough to be promoted to superintendent of the more than 7,000-student district…Read more…

School bans student from class because of haircut (Springfield News-Sun)

A kindergartner with a new, spiked Mohawk haircut was sent home from a local elementary school this week for violating the district’s dress code.…Read more…

TPS union leaders blast report (Toledo Blade)

The presidents of two Toledo Public Schools employee unions blasted a performance audit of the district, saying a first draft released Wednesday was riddled with errors and used inaccurate data.…Read more…

Citizens meet with officials to discuss plans for new elementary schools (Canton Repository)

MASSILLON — City school district officials invited local residents to weigh in on the possibility of building one or more elementary schools in the district…Read more…

Akron students excel in tough transition to college while in high school (Akron Beacon Journal)

They’re not the average exceptional students. And that’s not an oxymoron.…Read more…

2 magnet schools given reprieve (Columbus Dispatch)

Two Westerville magnet schools that had been set to close after this school year will stay open for at least one more year.…Read more…

Panel likely to advise pre-K for all (Columbus Dispatch)

The mayor-appointed panel that has been debating ways to improve Columbus schools is likely to recommend offering all Columbus children affordable pre-kindergarten…Read more…

Fairborn school district at crossroads (Dayton Daily News)

Fairborn City School officials said they will have to borrow money from the state in the fall regardless of whether voters pass a proposed 11.7-mill emergency levy in May.…Read more…

Superintendent: Keep 8th graders at middle school (Dayton Daily News)

As Vandalia-Butler School District officials deal with the June closing of an elementary school, outgoing superintendent Christy Donnelly advised the Board of Education to go with an option that keeps eighth graders out of Butler High School.…Read more…

Agencies develop educational summer camps (Hamilton Journal-News)

A new series of summer camps will allow students the chance to design aquatic robots and build their own electric guitars. Junior high and high school students in Butler and Warren counties can now enroll in…Read more…

Putnam County placing radios in all school buildings (Lima News)

Beginning early next month Putnam County schools will have new communication radios in each building… The radios are part of MARCS (Multi-Agency Radio Communication System), a statewide system that allows communication between different departments.…Read more…

City, schools in Lima seek safe route grant (Lima News)

City Council will vote Monday on applying for a Safe Routes to School grant application with the Ohio Department of Transportation.…Read more…

Free college credits at virtual high school (Middletown Journal)

A new partnership is offering local high school students the chance at free college courses.…Read more…

Carrollton schools seek 'short-term' levy (New Philadelphia Times-Reporter)

With the oil and natural-gas exploration occurring in Carroll County, the economic impact appears promising for the not-too-distant future.…Read more…

Four districts seek May levies (Springfield News-Sun)

Four local school districts will ask voters to approve operating issues on the May 7 ballot, including two requesting a total of $6 million in new tax money.…Read more…

Richmond Heights students working with art, theater students in Canada (Willoughby News Herald)

Students at Richmond Heights High School are working with art and theater students in Canada without leaving the comfort of their classroom. The partnership between the two schools serves to expose students to other corners of the world through art…Read more…

Youngstown Foundation helps city school students (Youngstown Vindicator)

City high school students have the opportunity to get help paying for college through a new $3 million Youngstown Foundation program.…Read more…

Editorial

Food needs more thought (Columbus Dispatch)

Getting America’s kids to eat more healthfully should be high on the public agenda, given the toll increasing childhood obesity is taking on the nation and its future.…Read more…

Funding the future (Akron Beacon Journal)

Follow Statehouse discussions on John Kasich’s two-year budget proposals, and it is clear the prospects remain dim for an adequate and equitable system of financing elementary and secondary education in Ohio.…Read more…