Education News for 04-26-2013

State Education News

• Columbus schools auditor slows plan to expand office (Columbus Dispatch)

The Columbus City Schools’ internal auditor proposed a scaled-back plan last night to boost her staff and help protect the district against future problems like the data-rigging…Read more...

• Ramos balks at recording Academic Distress Commission meetings (Lorain Morning Journal)

Most bylaws of the Academic Distress Commission that will oversee Lorain’s school system were approved Monday, but commission member Raul Ramos…Read more...

Local Education News



• Cleveland names 'investment schools' slated for turnaround (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

The Cleveland school district this afternoon named 13 low-performing schools to receive intensive help next school year…Read more...

• LCC will issue all students iPads (Lima News)

Lima Central Catholic High School students will be handed an iPad when they arrive to school next year. They will keep the devices all year, which school officials believe will improve their education…Read more...

• Lima schools promise free lunch for all (Lima News)

Come next school year, every pupil in the Lima schools will be eligible for free lunches…Read more...

• Hilliard officials rip schools deal to sell land for homes (This Week News)

Hilliard city officials say the Hilliard school board acted hypocritically when it approved selling 124 acres to Rockford Homes for almost $5 million, given the district’s past complaints…Read more...

Education News for 03-05-2013

State Education News

• 2 are finalists for Ohio education chief (Columbus Dispatch)

A state Board of Education subcommittee today named Ohio’s acting schools superintendent and the governor’s top education adviser as finalists for state superintendent of public instruction…Read more…

• State Ed Board spends 50K to “find” current superintendent (Plunderbund.com)

Last year the State School Board hired Ray and Associates, an Iowa-based company that “specializes in educational executive leadership searches”, to help identify a new State Superintendent.…Read more…

• Ohio Bill Would Allow Schools To Use Levies To Cover Security Costs (WBNS)

School districts strapped for cash may soon have another way to pull money for school security.…Read more…

Local Education News

• IN OUR SCHOOLS: Principals face layoffs from CPS (Cincinnati Enquirer)

The budget scramble has begun at Cincinnati Public Schools, and it may cost some workers their jobs.…Read more…

• Strongsville teachers strike moves into 2nd day; more substitutes will be in classrooms (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Teachers braved biting cold on picket lines today during the first day of the Strongsville Education Association's strike against the district, while students and principals faced their own ordeal inside the schools.…Read more…

• Lima Senior students bring 'Shark Tank' lessons to middle schoolers (Lima News)

They’re called Spring Shoes, and Lima North Middle School fifth-graders Michael Younger and J’Veahn Soles assured the “Sharks” the shoes would be the next big thing.…Read more…

• State tells Newcomerstown: 'We're not here to take control' (New Philadelphia Times-Reporter)

State and local officials met for the first time Monday to begin formulating a plan that will get Newcomerstown out of fiscal emergency status.…Read more…

• Legend Elementary deemed 'School of Promise' (Newark Advocate)

Legend Elementary is one of 163 schools statewide to be recognized as a School of Promise by the Ohio Department of Education based on its 2011-12 report card.…Read more…

• Massive ‘Building for Success’ program gets mixed reviews (Toledo Blade)

So big was the project, so vast its purported benefits to the city and its schools, and yet it barely passed.…Read more…

• Strongsville High School students leave class during strike, feel unsafe and describe overcrowding (WEWS)

Strongsville High School students described a chaotic school day as their teachers took to the picket line.…Read more…

• Schools lose beneficial drug prevention program P.L.U.S., investigate other options (Willoughby News Herald)

Beginning next year, area schools will no longer have access to the long-time drug prevention program they’ve come to know.…Read more…

Editorial

• ‘A passion to be spent’ on teaching children (Akron Beacon Journal)

“The situation is dire, the agenda urgent. … There is work to be done and passion to be spent by all of us who appreciate the stakes for our children and for the nation’s future.…Read more…

• State should give Cleveland school reform plan a chance to work: editorial (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

The Cleveland and Lorain school districts have fallen into the academic doghouse, failing to meet federal standards for four years and earning the state's lowest academic rating -- "emergency," essentially an F.…Read more…

• Resolve Strongsville teachers strike quickly: editorial (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

No doubt about it: The ugly, confrontational Strongsville teachers strike is a disservice to the future of the suburban district, rated "excellent with distinction" by the state.…Read more…

• Punish school statistics’ scrubbers (Marietta Times)

In what amounted to a spot check of Ohio school districts, state Auditor Dave Yost found eight that engaged in "scrubbing" of attendance reports.…Read more…

• Common sense school rules (Warren Tribune Chronicle)

Several common-sense changes in state rules that often hobble rather than help public schools are being proposed by Ohio Gov. John Kasich.…Read more…

Education News for 02-20-2013

State Education News

• State aid for Columbus schools uncertain (Columbus Dispatch)

What initially looked like a $29 million boost for the Columbus school district under a proposed state funding plan could really be more like $4.4 million…Read more...

• Taxes, Medicaid, education focus of Kasich address (Dayton Daily News)

Gov. John Kasich used his third State of the State address on Tuesday to convince Ohioans and state lawmakers that his budget plan is the right mix of smart government service…Read more...

• School technology struggles with digital learning push (Hamilton Journal-News)

As the state prepares to move to computer-based standardized testing by 2015, officials at some Butler County school districts say they that don’t have the computers…Read more...

• Senior volunteers mentor students in reading (Lima News)

A pilot program pairing senior citizen volunteers with students to improve childhood literacy has been introduced in Ohio…Read more...

• Kasich Outlines School Funding Plan, Budget In State Of State (WBNS)

Ohio Gov. John Kasich is calling his school-funding proposal an objective plan that applies equally to all districts based on their property tax wealth, residents' income…Read more...

Local Education News

• Upper Arlington lays out job cuts, athletic-fee hikes (Columbus Dispatch)

The Upper Arlington school district will cut almost $3 million from the budget next school year under a plan the superintendent outlined…Read more...

• Coleman’s panel wants city schools to put superintendent search on hold (Columbus Dispatch)

Mayor Michael B. Coleman and several members of his Education Commission have told the Columbus school board to halt its efforts…Read more...

• Elida board approves reductions; higher pay-to-play costs (Lima News)

Elida schools will cut $465,569 from its budget next year by restructuring two central office positions, replacing retiring staff with people…Read more...

• Law enforcement, schools share safety tactics (Lima News)

School safety has been pushed to the forefront for many concerned parents and local officials…Read more...

• Perrysburg Board of Education concerned with governor's school funding formula (Toledo Blade)

Perrysburg Superintendent Tom Hosler sat in a car with other local superintendents digesting a statewide education meeting held recently in Columbus…Read more...

Editorial

• ‘Trigger’ for parents (Akron Beacon Journal)

Reformers in recent years have proposed different ways to hold public schools accountable for performance…Read more...

• Stop investigating Franklin's school chief (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Speaking freely is a near-sacred American right, enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution. That’s why the decision of the Warren County prosecutor…Read more...

• Stuck with the check (Columbus Dispatch)

During his re-election campaign, President Barack Obama paid many visits to Ohio State University and other colleges around the country…Read more...

Education News for 10-31-2012

Local Education News

• Parents sue school district over alleged bullying (Hamilton Journal-News)

A Hamilton family has filed a lawsuit against the Hamilton City School Board of Education, alleging “intentional infliction of emotional distress” as a result…Read more...

• Teachers bringing inside views to Marion boards of education (Marion Star)

The county’s largest school district has mostly former teachers on its board of education, while two other districts now have retired teachers on their boards…Read more...

Editorial

• Good challenge for higher-ed leaders (Canton Repository)

Gov. John Kasich sure gives a lot of homework. His latest challenge to leaders of the state universities and community colleges should get a host of issues on the table for public discussion…Read more...

• Lima, Elida school levies deserve support (Lima News)

Over the last several years, we’ve asked many public servants to pinch their pennies and eliminate unneeded overhead. We’ve begged them to consider…Read more...

Education News for 10-24-2012

State Education News

• Attendance audit: More 'clean' schools (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Ohio Auditor Dave Yost’s office found no evidence of attendance rigging in the second batch of Ohio schools he reviewed as as part of a statewide probe into potential data tampering…Read more...

• Northeast Ohio schools come up 'clean' in state auditor's attendance review (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Ohio Auditor Dave Yost's test of school districts with tax requests on the Nov. 6 ballot shows no evidence in Northeast Ohio of "scrubbing,"…Read more...

• 47 school districts cleared of ‘scrubbing’ (Columbus Dispatch)

A second round of auditing found no evidence that more school officials unlawfully “scrubbed” their student data…Read more...

• Auditor probe fails to turn up more problems (Dayton Daily News)

Just two weeks before school districts across Ohio ask voters for more money, state Auditor Dave Yost reported that his team has not uncovered any more evidence…Read more...

• State inquiry into school districts’ tinkering with data progresses (Toledo Blade)

The second phase of a statewide audit into possible manipulation of school attendance data found no new instances of improper “scrubbing.”…Read more...

Local Education News

• North Baltimore officials pleased with report card (Findlay Courier)

Not unlike a proud parent, North Baltimore school officials Tuesday released preliminary data on a district report card from the state…Read more...

• School District To Offer Cardiac Screenings For High School Athletes (WBNS)

The Olentangy Local School District is offering cardiac screenings to high school athletes in an attempt to reduce the number of deaths from undetected heart disorders…Read more...

• Failure of district’s levy renewal would mean loss of $5.3 million (Youngstown Vindicator)

If the 10.4-mill city school district renewal levy doesn’t pass, the district would lose about $5.3 million…Read more...

• Tutoring program aids Struthers kids (Youngstown Vindicator)

Two students sat across from each other in the art room at Struthers Elementary School on Tuesday and contemplated the task before them…Read more...

Editorial

• Lima schools need to think change (Lima News)

Jill Ackerman sent a strong message last week that the status quo won’t be good enough for Lima City Schools…Read more...

Education News for 10-10-2012

State Education News

• School report card date set (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Ohio will be handing out state report card ratings for districts and schools Oct. 17, state officials said Tuesday, now that State Auditor Dave Yost’s investigations into enrollment…Read more...

• State to release new report cards (Columbus Dispatch)

A second round of preliminary school report-card data that includes school ratings and attendance rates will be released next week. The State Board of Education voted 12-3 yesterday to make the additional data public…Read more...

• Parent attacks dress code policy (Dayton Daily News)

A Tippecanoe High School student’s mother isn’t happy with the new principal’s interpretation of the dress code…Read more...

• State board to release some report-card data (Toledo Blade)

The state board of education voted Tuesday to release some of the school report card information it has withheld pending a state auditor’s investigation of attendance-data manipulation in some districts…Read more...

• Ohio officials discuss Ledgemont Schools' fiscal emergency (Willoughby News Herald)

Community and staff members filled Ledgemont Elementary School’s cafeteria Monday to hear an Ohio Department of Education official outline the ramifications of the school district’s fiscal emergency status…Read more...

Local Education News

• Riverdale, teachers union reach contract settlement (Findlay Courier)

Contract agreements have been reached between Riverdale school's administration and the teachers union, officials…Read more...

• Schools, families adjust to healthier school lunches (Hamilton Journal-News)

Many students and parents have reacted strongly to National School Lunch Program updates introduced this year that mandate calorie limits and more fruits…Read more...

• Parents cite bullying issue as reason to reject Lima schools levy (Lima News)

Bullying is at the center of an effort to defeat next month’s Lima schools levy. Three families upset about what they say is a bullying problem in the district called a news conference…Read more...

• Switzerland of Ohio schools paring $1M from budget (Marietta Times)

The Switzerland of Ohio Local school district is working to cut $1 million from its budget. The district has already laid off three employees and instituted a teacher hiring freeze…Read more...

• Career center banks on surplus (Marietta Times)

The Washington County Career Center is projected to be in the black for the next five years, even as expenses overtake revenue, according to a forecast approved…Read more...

• Catholic teachers will vote on union (Youngstown Vindicator)

About 100 Catholic elementary school teachers will decide later this month whether to be part of a union…Read more...

Editorial

• Why secrecy? (Columbus Dispatch)

The Dispatch has filed a lawsuit against the Columbus Board of Education for a simple reason: Public meetings should be open to the public. The board has ignored repeated requests by the newspaper to honor that legal requirement…Read more...