Statewide Stories of the Day

City schools may face 3 audits over attendance records (Dispatch)

The Ohio Department of Education told Columbus City Schools it has two weeks to turn over records and communication concerning district administrators changing student attendance records. The department will hire an independent auditor to look into allegations that district officials manipulated attendance to improve the state report card. The state auditor’s office said yesterday it, too, would launch its own probe, meaning up to three auditing teams — including the district’s internal auditors — could investigate the charges. Read more...

DREAM Act for Ohio proposed (Dispatch)

Ohio’s version of the DREAM Act, designed to make the children of illegal immigrants eligible for in-state tuition and financial aid, was rolled out this week by a pair of Senate Democrats. “This bill is necessary to offer all students the chance of achieving the American dream,” said Sen. Charleta B. Tavares, D-Columbus, who jointly sponsored the bill with Sen. Tom Sawyer, D-Akron. “This country was built on the foundation of encouraging individuals to reach their highest potential. We should not penalize young people for striving for success.” Read more...

Brecksville-Broadview Heights city school negotiations turned over to federal mediation (WOIO 19 CBS)

BRECKSVILLE - Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District Board has determined that the only way to move stalled negotiations forward is by turning them over to a federal mediator, according to David Tryon, board president. "We have given the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Education Association (BEA), the union that represents area teachers, written notice declaring impasse and requested the services of the federal mediator pursuant to Section 9 (H.) of the current agreement," said Tryon. Read more...

Local Issues

Two aides to be fired over abuse of student in seclusion room (Dispatch)

There was no reason for two school aides to take a boy into a seclusion room, close the door and then pin him in a way that is so dangerous it could have killed him, the Columbus school district says. The boy hadn’t been violent and didn’t pose a danger to anyone, a district investigation found. Beatty Park Elementary aides Fred Harrison and Leslie A. Polk will be fired, the district says. “Schools are not supposed to hurt,” noted hearing officer Jerry McAfee in his report. The hearing to determine the aides’ guilt took place in late May, and a decision was reached last week. Read more...

Carlisle district’s cuts create surplus (Middletown Journal)

CARLISLE — Through more than $1 million in budget cuts, the Carlisle School Board was able to turn a projected deficit for fiscal year 2013 into a small surplus, but Treasurer Dan Bassler says the district still needs some help. “We went from a projected budget deficit of $860,000 to a surplus, by cutting that much out of our budget,” Bassler said. “But as of now, that would give us a $160,000 surplus after the year. That’s not a whole lot to get excited about. “We’re still going to need money and support from the citizens of Carlisle.” Read more...

Getting primed and ready (Vindicator)

Youngstown - Children entering kindergarten in the city schools are getting a summer primer for what it means to be good citizens and good students. The students are participating in Success By Six, a program of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley that prepares children for kindergarten. The PNC Foundation is funding Community Solution’s Project KIND program this week. Project KIND — Keys to Improvement for Necessary Development — focuses on social and emotional skills. Read more...

Program offers boost to dropouts (Blade)

A new collaboration among Owens Community College, Toledo Public Schools, and Gateway to College National Network is designed to help high school dropouts continue their education. The program allows those between ages 16 and 20 who are high school dropouts or likely to drop out to complete their high school diploma requirements while also earning college credit. They will be dually enrolled at TPS and Owens until completion of a high school diploma. Read more...

Niles board OKs contract (Tribune Chronicle)

NILES - The Niles Education Association and the district agreed on a contract that will provide no base salary increases through this and the next school years but will allow eligible teachers to receive their step increases this year and a half-step increase next year. Those teachers who are not eligible for step increases in the 2012 and the 2013 school years will receive one-time stipends of between $250 and $500, depending on whether they are on the single or family medical insurance plans. Read more...

C-TEC approves 2 percent payment for teachers (Newark Advocate)

NEWARK - C-TEC teachers will receive a one-time payment of 2 percent of their salaries in 2013 in lieu of a raise. "It's not an increase to the base," Board President Bev Niccum said. The payment will be paid throughout the year, totaling 2 percent. The Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County has extended the same payment to all full- time, non-union employees, excluding the superintendent and treasurer. One percent of C-TEC's payroll is about $53,000. Read more...

Fairfield to vote on bus contracts (Journal-News)

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield City Schools Board of Education is expected to vote on bus contracts at its regular meeting Thursday. The agenda for the regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the community room at Fairfield High School states that staff recommends approval of contracts with Burer’s Garage, which would handle bus maintenance through 2015, and with Universal Transportation Services, which would handle special needs transportation through 2017. Read more...

Mediocrity Not An Option For ‘Differently Abled’ Students (WBNS 10 CBS)

COLUMBUS - From a distance, Colerain Elementary School looks like any school in central Ohio. Up close, though, it is a place unlike any other. Each student is held to the same “rise and shine expectations” during their time at the school, regardless of whether they walk or wheel through the hallways, 10TV’s Kristyn Hartman reported. Jose Mendez, 11, zooms through the halls in a chair he controls with his foot. Read more...

Summer school changes with technology at West Geauga, Willoughby South (News-Herald)

Area students needing to attend summer school for remediation purposes or choosing to do so to get ahead on their education may find themselves leaning more heavily on technology than teachers. Such is the case in the West Geauga School District, where all classes are taken online through the IQity program. Middle School Principal Jim Kish coordinates summer school for the district. Read more...

Editorial

Wrong turn (Dispatch)

Many Central Ohioans rely on a dependable and affordable public transit system, especially in an economy where more people are riding the bus because they are lucky enough to still have jobs or need the bus to look for work or go to school. Transit-union leaders should be mindful of this as they lead workers at the Central Ohio Transit Authority to the brink of a strike which could hit on the eve of one of the city’s biggest Downtown-commuting events, Red, White and Boom. Read more...

If Cleveland school offices make a move, it has to be the right one (Plain Dealer)

Anyone who has ever considered moving knows just how much planning it requires, including the basic questions: Should you buy a new home or lease an apartment? Live in the heart of the city or farther out? That's doubly so for the Cleveland School District, which is considering selling its grand downtown office on East Sixth Street and moving to a new location, as yet unknown. Moves can be difficult, but this one, done right, should be a win-win for the district and residents. Read more...