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Education News for 5-29-2013

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State Education News

  • Columbus school-levy bill advances in legislature (Columbus Dispatch)

    • After hearing testimony from two Columbus school-board members and others, the Ohio House Education Committee voted 16-3 yesterday to send a bill to the full House that would require a school district property-tax issue…Read more...

  • Gender split proves positive in Hamilton schools (Hamilton Journal-News)

    • The lunch period at any school can sometimes be a chaotic scene of boys and girls vying for each other’s attention…Read more...

  • Lorain Superintendent Tucker outlines comprehensive academic recovery plan (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • On the same day Superintendent Tom Tucker outlined his comprehensive academic recovery plan for Lorain City Schools, its treasurer presented a gloomy financial forecast…Read more...

  • Greenon follows trend on all-day kindergarten (Springfield News-Sun)

    • Kindergartners entering Greenon schools next year will get more time to learn as the district moves to all-day classes, following a state and national trend…Read more...

  • School Nurses Want Law To Help Them Save Students From Deadly Allergic Reactions (WBNS)

    • As the school year comes to an end, state lawmakers will be getting a bill backed by school nurses within the next few weeks. Nurses want to save the lives of students who have allergic reactions to food for the first time while at school…Read more...

Local Education News

  • Columbus board mum on hiring provost (Columbus Dispatch)

    • The Columbus Board of Education met privately at noon yesterday to discuss hiring Ohio State University Vice President and Provost Joseph Alutto to become acting superintendent…Read more...

  • Hancock School board to rescind some layoffs (Steubenville Herald-Star)

    • Three months after announcing teacher and other staff layoffs, the Hancock County Board of Education is poised to call some of those people back…Read more...

  • Struthers considers drug tests for athletes (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • The Struthers City School District may begin drug testing its student athletes in grades seven through 12 as soon as the 2013-14 academic year…Read more...

Education News for 05-21-2013

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State Education News

  • Legislature may ditch takeover proposal for Columbus schools (Columbus Dispatch)

    • As hearings start this week on a Columbus school-district reform bill, an earlier proposal allowing for a state takeover of the state’s largest district is likely to vanish…Read more...

Local Education News

  • North Canton school officials take steps to increase building security (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • The Board of Education has approved the purchase of digital radios and antennas as part of a district-wide safety and security initiative…Read more...

  • Akron board cuts Akron Digital Academy loose (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • The Akron school board effectively severed ties with Akron Digital Academy — after sponsoring the online charter school for more than a decade…Read more...

  • A look inside the future of education (Cincinnati Enquirer)

    • In a new building just outside of Indianapolis’ downtown, Darren McCorkle sits at a desk in a sea of short-walled cubicles, taking an eighth-grade algebra lesson online…Read more...

  • Teachers negotiating (Findlay Courier)

    • Contract negotiations between Findlay's teacher union and the district administration are progressing smoothly, according to Superintendent Dean Wittwer…Read more...

  • Lorain City Schools' staff looks to change culture of low expectations (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • Lorain City Schools’ staff has developed a “widespread culture of low expectations” but hope is budding among employees under its new administration, a state assessment determined…Read more...

  • Lots of changes in Warren district (Marietta Times)

    • The Warren Local school district will look very different next year with a new superintendent, new high school and elementary administrators and the return of high school busing…Read more...

  • Boardman schools official warns of 5% cut in funding (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • The Boardman schools director of instruction said she expects a 5 percent cut in funding next year for the four federal programs for which the school district receives money…Read more...

Editorial

  • Dollars in the classroom (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • State Sen. Peggy Lehner wants to devote an additional $100 million to early childhood education in Ohio. The Kettering Republican cites the handsome return, $10 or more for every dollar spent…Read more...

  • Added scrutiny of charter schools in city and state is overdue, but finally coming (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • State and local education leaders are committing themselves to beefed-up monitoring of Ohio’s ballooning network of charter schools…Read more...

Education News for 05-20-2013

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State Education News

  • Glitches follow switch from paper to computer testing (Cincinnati Enquirer)

    • Students aren’t the only ones nervous about state testing. Very public computer glitches plaguing online testing in several states in recent weeks are making educators and state leaders…Read more...

  • Charter tax plan raises questions (Columbus Dispatch)

    • A proposed state law singles out Columbus City Schools taxpayers to shoulder part of the tax burden for charter schools even though thousands of Franklin County’s charter-school students live in suburban school districts…Read more...

  • Reading help on the way for Columbus kindergartners (Columbus Dispatch)

    • Most children who came to kindergarten in Columbus schools without knowing the ABCs, which way to hold a book or other important early-reading skills remained behind when they reached third grade…Read more...

  • Former state education official pleads guilty to possessing child porn (Columbus Dispatch)

    • A fired state education official has pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession of child pornography…Read more...

  • Lorain Academic Distress Commission meets (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • The Lorain Academic Distress Commission will see a draft of the district’s academic improvement plan Monday, along with data on how the schools operate…Read more...

Local Education News

    

  • Local revenue increases without ballot requests becoming more common for schools (Chillicothe Gazette)

    • For two decades, Licking Valley Local Schools have not gone to the ballot to ask for more money — but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t taken more from local taxpayers…Read more...

  • CHCA continues to broaden international student program (Cincinnati Enquirer)

    • Many foreign students study abroad in high school for a year or two as exchange students. At Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, most stay for its entirety…Read more...

  • Sheriff won’t support school levies unless districts look at armed personnel (Dayton Daily News)

    • Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones declared this week that he “won’t support a school levy again that doesn’t address school safety with armed personnel…Read more...

  • Beavercreek schools face money crisis in 2015 (Dayton Daily News)

    • Without any changes, the Beavercreek City School District would start the 2015 fiscal year with $5.2 million in the bank, not enough to open the schools for 2015/16 school year…Read more...

  • Gadgets growing on local schools: Even youngest of pupils getting involved (Lima News)

    • Temple Christian sixth-grader Anna Acklin spent this year using a school-issued iPad in class and at home. She considered herself lucky, until learning kindergartners at her school will get iPad Minis…Read more...

  • Here's who wasn't picked; Lorain Academic Distress Commission candidates uncovered (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • The names of seven candidates for the local appointments to Lorain’s Academic Distress Commission have been uncovered through an investigation by the Morning Journal…Read more...

  • Lorain County school leaders oppose expansion of voucher program (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • Lorain County’s school superintendents, as well as administrators from Sandusky City Schools, are speaking out against a proposed expansion to a state voucher program…Read more...

  • Despite hurdles local ballot issues face, system unlikely to change (Mansfield News Journal)

    • For six consecutive times, West Muskingum Local Schools had gone to the voters seeking additional financial support only to be rejected…Read more...

  • Stepp files lawsuit against Medina Board of Education (Sun Newspapers)

    • Medina City School District superintendent Randy Stepp has made good on a threat to take the district to court, filing a lawsuit against the board of education and other district officials in federal court…Read more...

  • Eager for education (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • The 2013 graduates of the Youngstown Early College didn’t talk as much about all the good times they had in high school as about their journeys, and how tough it was staying the course…Read more...

Editorial

  • A promise to our kids (Columbus Dispatch)

    • A bill pending in the Ohio House that would tweak some provisions of Ohio’s third-grade reading guarantee would make the program more workable for schools without undermining its intent…Read more...

Education News for 05-17-2013

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State Education News

  • Legislature could require Columbus school levy to support charters (Columbus Dispatch)

    • After a mayoral education commission recommended sharing Columbus schools’ property- tax dollars with charters, two lawmakers introduced a bill yesterday requiring that such a levy go before district voters…Read more...

  • Educators, legislators aren’t on same page on Ohio school reforms (Columbus Dispatch)

    • A survey of more than half of Ohio school superintendents revealed, with few exceptions, a wide gap between themselves and legislators…Read more...

  • Legislator’s plan would provide preschool vouchers for 22,000 (Columbus Dispatch)

    • A Senate Republican leader on education policy wants to create a $100 million voucher program over the next two years to allow thousands…Read more...

  • Brookfield schools unsure of fiscal future (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • The state auditor’s office said the district will face fiscal emergency even if a school levy is certified as passed…Read more...

Local Education News

  • BYOD program makes learning fun (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • Usually students are discouraged from bringing electronic devices into the classroom. The fifth grade classes at Ely Elementary School in Elyria, though, are encouraged to bring their iPhones, iPads…Read more...

  • Avon Lake schools put new student safety plan into motion (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • In light of recent school shootings, students and staff at Avon Lake schools have a new safety plan in place to ward off intruders and bullies…Read more...

  • Bedford Schools to lay off 14 to 17 teachers, educators (Toledo Blade)

    • The Bedford Public Schools will send layoff notices to 15 teachers and other educators for the next school year to help close a persistent operating deficit. The board of education authorized the potential pink slips…Read more...

Editorial

  • Lack of a guarantee (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • Beginning next school year, with a few exceptions, Ohio third-graders who are unable to read at a level specified by the state will not be promoted to fourth grade…Read more...

  • Partners for change (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • The Cleveland school district is making itself a showcase of how to go about transforming a school system. Last week, the district and its teachers union unveiled a tentative…Read more...

Education News for 05-06-2013

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State Education News

  • Transportation costs squeezing school districts (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • Mogadore, Cuyahoga Falls, Akron and Barberton schools have more in common than interconnecting county highways…Read more...

  • Auditor’s focus in records seizure was mostly grade changes (Columbus Dispatch)

    • State Auditor Dave Yost seized records of grade and attendance changes for more than 870 students for his data-tampering…Read more...

  • Ohio's education standards debated (Columbus Dispatch)

    • New math and English standards known as the Common Core are already in Ohio classrooms, even as opposition mounts from groups that include those affiliated…Read more...

  • School funding plan improving (Findlay Courier)

    • Legislators don't often change their minds on important policy issues, but state Rep. Robert Sprague said he did when he learned the details of Gov. John Kasich's school funding plan…Read more...

  • Early start, better finish? (Newark Advocate)

    • As a single mother working full-time, Jessica Dyer doesn’t have much time to work with her 2-year-old daughter, Annabelle…Read more...

  • Health department, school monitor MRSA (Springfield News-Sun)

    • The Ohio Department of Health and the Clark County Combined Health District are working with Springfield school officials to address recent cases of the staph infection…Read more...

Local Education News

  • Transportation disparities put many students walking to school on dangerous path (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • Anise Moore had mixed feelings about safety in the rough neighborhood where her kids walk to school…Read more...

  • School levies asking for new money on rise (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • All but two of the 15 school districts in the five-county Akron-Canton area with an issue on the May 7 ballot are proposing tax hikes for homeowners — a request that’s increasingly frequent…Read more...

  • Gay Catholic-school teacher’s firing raises questions (Columbus Dispatch)

    • The firing of a gay Catholic-school teacher by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus raises competing constitutional questions about religious freedoms and civil liberties…Read more...

  • BYOD lets NHS students to bring their own technology to school (Newark Advocate)

    • For the past few years, Brian Stepanic had a sign in his classroom instructing students not to use wireless devices such as cellphones and tablets during school…Read more...

  • State calls East Portsmouth Elementary a “School of Honor” (Portsmouth Daily Times)

    • The Portsmouth City School Board rewarded faculty and staff of East Portsmouth Elementary School with a special luncheon…Read more...

  • Campbell schools receives grant from state (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • The Ohio Department of Education has awarded the Campbell school district almost $120,000 for a 2013-14 elementary school reading program…Read more...

Editorial

  • Cleveland schools leaders lay out broad transformation ideas (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

    • It's taken a while to get here, but there's a lot to like in the first draft of the Cleveland Plan for Transforming Schools, which aims to turn around 13 failing schools…Read more...

  • Is minimum OK with Elida voters? (Lima News)

    • Administrators at Elida Local Schools are running out of tricks when it comes to offering a quality educational experience on minimal funding…Read more...

Education News for 04-24-2013

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State Education News

  • Plan for Columbus schools includes fund, auditor outside board’s control (Columbus Dispatch)

    • A new panel led by the city, school leaders and the private sector would control an “innovation fund” that could spend up to $50 million annually on Columbus charter and district schools, according to a draft…Read more...

  • State wants out of school-bus management (Columbus Dispatch)

    • The Ohio Department of Education wonders: Can someone else regulate busing…Read more...

  • Local public high schools ranked in Ohio, nation (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • Three local schools were among the top 60 in the Ohio, but much farther down the list nationally, in the 2013 ranking of the best public high schools in the U.S., announced yesterday by U.S. News & World Report…Read more...

  • New strategies emphasize OAA tests (Middletown Journal)

    • It’s testing season in Ohio schools, and for more than 7,100…Read more...

Local Education News

  • Columbus school board OKs vehicle purchase to take over private busing (Columbus Dispatch)

    • Columbus City Schools jumped headfirst into a major expansion of its busing operation last night by essentially firing its sole private contractor…Read more...

  • School district to vote on cutting teachers (Dayton Daily News)

    • The members of the Vandalia-Butler City Schools Board of Education voted to cut 47 positions, including those of 33 teachers…Read more...

  • Lorain City Schools board approves roughly $2.5 million in teaching contracts (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • Lorain City Schools board approved roughly $2.4 million in teaching contracts for the next school year…Read more...

  • Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board approves teacher cuts (Sun Newspapers)

    • At its April 23 meeting, the Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board approved a reduction in force of 42…Read more...

  • North Ridgeville schools address overcrowding at elementary schools (Sun Newspapers)

    • The school board voted unanimously Tuesday night to reorganize two of the district’s elementary schools…Read more...

  • Bay Village school board credits superintendent, union for agreement (Sun Newspapers)

    • School board members are crediting Superintendent Clint Keener and the teachers’ union for reaching a quick agreement in recent contract negotiations…Read more...

  • Youngstown schools, diocese settle transportation issues (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • The city school board passed a resolution Tuesday settling transportation issues between the district and two Diocese of Youngstown schools…Read more...

  • Liberty schools has positive financial future (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • School officials said they are “cautiously optimistic” about the district’s financial future…Read more...