Education News for 05-31-2013

State Education News

• Ohio's school spending could shoot up (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Ohio public school funding would grow by 11 percent over the next two years versus 2012- 2013 spending levels, the largest percent increase in education spending in at least a decade, under the proposal Senate Republicans…Read more...

• School aid would be boosted under Ohio Senate proposal (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Ohio Senate leaders this afternoon proposed boosting basic state aid to districts from $6.3 billion this school year to more than $7 billion…Read more...

• Ohio Senate ups education funding in budget (Columbus Dispatch)

Most Franklin County school districts would see state funding increases averaging nearly 9 percent per year under Senate-proposed changes to the new two-year budget…Read more...

• Schools challenge families to scale back on tech use (Columbus Dispatch)

Her daughter yearned for the television, her son for his iPod. Both parents felt disconnected without phones and computers. But for one week they left electronics untouched.Well, at least the kids did…Read more...

• ODOT grants will help kids get to school more safely (Columbus Dispatch)

The Ohio Department of Transportation has approved $7.2 million in projects to improve safety for students getting to and from school…Read more...

• Senate funding plan aims to assist Ohio education system (Lorain Morning Journal)

A substitute version of Ohio’s school funding plan proposed by the Senate would increase aid for state education $717.4 million over the next 10 years…Read more...

• Bill with similarities to "Cleveland Plan" could soon pass for Columbus schools (Ohio Public Radio)

It’s been a rough school year for Columbus City Schools. The district is under investigation by the State Auditor’s office and the FBI for tampering with student attendance data and grades. And the struggling district has a history of less-than-stellar…Read more...

• Senators say their school funding plan is constitutional (Ohio Public Radio)

Ohio Senators are calling their new budget plan “a work in progress” but they are touting it as a major improvement in funding for Ohio’s public schools…Read more...

• State Senate plan for 2-year budget not as good for TPS (Toledo Blade)

Senate Republicans on Thursday said they will pump $717 million more into basic aid for K- 12 schools during the next two years in the budget they plan to approve next week…Read more...

• School funding plan in the works could increase dollars for some districts (Youngstown Vindicator)

Senate Republicans unveiled a new school-funding formula Thursday that likely will change as it moves through committee deliberations and passage in the Senate…Read more...

Local Education News

• Clear Fork to improve school routes (Mansfield News Journal)

The Ohio Department of Transportation said Thursday it will dole out $7.2 million for 58 different Safe Routes to School projects in Ohio communities…Read more...

• Brecksville-Broadview Heights educators hoping to expand EdCamp (Sun Newspapers)

A pair of Brecksville-Broadview Heights educators once again are teaming to host a free conference about education…Read more...

Education News for 02-01-2013

State Education News

• Governor outlines plan for funding education (Akron Beacon Journal)

Invited to Columbus on Thursday to catch a sneak peak at the governor’s plan to fund education, Mogadore Superintendent Christina Dinklocker walked away with the same feeling as many others…Read more...

• Governor's school spending plan puts focus on students (Canton Repository)

Funding the student, not the district, is the theme of Governor John Kasich’s education funding plan for the next two years…Read more...

• Kasich unveils plan to fund, reform schools (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Governor John Kasich offered a new way of funding schools Thursday that he says will be more equitable for poor and rural districts and add to the school choices of working class families…Read more...

• Gov. John Kasich's school plan would dramatically overhaul Ohio's funding formula (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Gov. John Kasich wants a major overhaul of Ohio school funding that focuses on bridging the wide gaps in income and property values among districts…Read more...

• Study to evaluate ‘green’ school buildings (Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio has more environmentally friendly school projects than any other state…Read more...

• Schools need quicker progress in Race to Top, report says (Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio has made some progress in using federal Race to the Top funds to improve schools but needs to move more quickly, a new report says…Read more...

• Proposed eligibility change seen as long-term boost to school vouchers (Columbus Dispatch)

More families probably would take advantage of school vouchers under Gov. John Kasich’s income-based plan, but it wouldn’t immediately lead to an exodus from public schools…Read more...

• Kasich’s school-funding plan greeted with relief (Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio school superintendents were relieved yesterday when Gov. John Kasich told them his two-year school-funding plan would not cut their current levels of state aid. In fact, the $15.1 billion education plan…Read more...

• OSU wants $100 million for in-state scholarships (Columbus Dispatch)

To help make college more affordable for more students, Ohio State is challenging the community to help raise $100 million to pay for scholarships for needy and high-achieving…Read more...

• Kasich's plan gives more money to schools (Dayton Daily News)

Gov. John Kasich’s school funding plan tackles growing disparity between poor and wealthy school districts and allows Ohio students living in poverty to attend private schools with state dollars…Read more...

• Teachers, parents learn to take aim (New Philadelphia Times)

Staring down at the target ahead of her, Tasha McConnnell lifted the small revolver and gently squeezed the trigger…Read more...

• Kasich school plan prompts optimism for area educators (Toledo Blade)

Ohio school superintendents reacted with guarded optimism Thursday to Gov. John Kasich’s school funding proposal, as they hailed a guarantee that no school districts will receive less money under the plan…Read more...

• Kasich school funding formula gives more to poor, less to rich (Youngstown Vindicator)

The state will provide increased funding for poorer school districts statewide through a new formula that takes into account property values and income levels…Read more...

Local Education News

• Bullying lawsuit dismissed against Mentor school officials (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

A federal judge has dismissed a 2010 lawsuit that accused Mentor school officials of ignoring a pattern of bullying…Read more...

• Local schools optimistic about funding plan )Lima News)

Area school officials liked what they heard from Gov. John Kasich Thursday, but say they they still need to see the numbers before declaring a final verdict…Read more...

• Big Walnut Schools Continue to Focus on Improving School Security (WBNS)

Gone are the days that visitors can just open a door and walk into a Big Walnut school building. Visitors now have to check in through a video intercom system…Read more...

• Area superintendents react to Kasich's plan for schools (Willoughby News Herald)

Ohio Gov. John Kasich unveiled a school-funding overhaul on Thursday that he said is aimed at helping students in poor districts compete while introducing changes meant to reward and highlight innovation…Read more...

Education News for 01-04-2013

State Education News

• Ohio Lottery Commission reinstates spelling bee funding (Akron Beacon Journal)

After discontinuing funding and considering a reduction in program support, the Ohio Lottery Commission has reached an agreement with Scripps National Spelling Bee…Read more…

Local Education News

• School officials: Journey is safe (Ashtabula Gazette News)

Crossing guards, school resource officers, teachers, administrators and two additional police officers were on duty Thursday at Ashtabula Area City Schools to assist students on their way to and from school.…Read more…

• Stark schools beef up security after Conn. Shootings (Canton Repository)

Shala Brown popped into Warstler Elementary School on Thursday to drop off the hat and gloves her daughter had forgotten that morning. As expected, she found a locked main door and a new doorbell outside.…Read more…

• Focus group date set for Winton Woods schools superintendent search (Cincinnati Enquirer)

The Ohio School Boards Association will host a community focus group to discuss the search for the next superintendent for the Winton Woods City School District.…Read more…

• Deer Park schools' scores fall short, district looks ahead (Cincinnati Enquirer)

After preliminary results of the state’s report card revealed lower scores and ranking, Deer Park Community City Schools officials are looking for changes to improve for next year.…Read more…


• Finneytown to find superintendent by March 11 (Cincinnati Enquirer)

The Finneytown Local School District is one step closer to finding a permanent superintendent to replace Alan Robertson who will retire Jan. 3.…Read more…


• Parent widens claim against Columbus schools over data rigging (Columbus Dispatch)

The Columbus school district admits in a court filing that its employees made errors that could have resulted in bogus student-achievement gains on state report cards, and that they must stop.…Read more…

• Mansfield school board elects officers (Mansfield News Journal)

Chris Elswick was re-elected president of the Mansfield City Schools Board of Education and Cliff Crose was elected vice president Thursday evening.…Read more…

• New TPS board leader puts levy atop agenda (Toledo Blade)

Passing a new levy for Toledo Public Schools will be a top priority this year, the Toledo Board of Education’s new president said after her election Thursday evening.…Read more…

Editorial

• Concussion rules to protect athletes (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Belatedly, Ohio has joined the ranks of states requiring extra caution for young athletes who may suffer head injuries.…Read more…

• Graduation rates make poor measure of education levels (The Lantern)

In September, Gov. John Kasich gathered the presidents of Ohio's public universities and tasked them with determining how the state’s aid would be distributed.…Read more…

• How school improved by 2 letter-grades on Ohio report card (Cincinnati Enquirer)

The rising voices of about 70 middle-schoolers echo in the cafeteria at CSR Academy. “People, people, can’t you see?” the students shout in a sing-song chant. “CSR is building me!”…Read more…

• Colleges set bar for remedial classes (Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio’s public colleges and universities have agreed to minimum ACT and SAT scores that will guarantee students don’t have to take remedial courses that cost them money but don’t count for credit.…Read more…

Education News for 12-07-2012

Local Education News

• Buchtel students experience day on job with AT&T (Akron Beacon Journal)

Buchtel High School juniors Elijah Graise, Tylor Williams and DeMontrell Hill got a first-hand look Thursday at trouble-shooting a problem on the job…Read more...

• T.J. Lane's admission about Chardon High shooting should not be used at trial, his lawyers argue (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

T.J. Lane's admissions that he killed students at Chardon High School should not be used at his trial next month because the youth failed to fully understand his rights when officers questioned him…Read more...

• Olentangy may not need new school (Columbus Dispatch)

New enrollment forecasts in the Olentangy school district cast doubt on the need for a new school approved by voters last year…Read more...

• Berea schools' new hours next year concern some parents (Sun Newspapers)

Parents showed up at Monday’s school board meeting to express concerns about the district’s new time shifts, which begin next year…Read more...

• Toledo Public Schools weighs 3 candidates to audit its performance (Toledo Blade)

As Toledo Public Schools ramps up efforts to have an audit of its operations performed, the process of hiring an organization to conduct the audit has widened…Read more...

• Champion plans cuts if next levy fails (Warren Tribune Chronicle)

While the Board of Education will wait until January to officially act on placing a school levy on the ballot in 2013, a plan to slash finances by $602,000 was mapped out this week…Read more...

• Math Night brings kids, parents together in Springfield (Youngstown Vindicator)

Springfield students and parents went on a camping adventure Thursday night. Although the tent was indoors, there were real problems. Math problems, that is…Read more...

Education News for 10-12-2012

State Education News

• Superintendent evaluation process varies (Hamilton Journal-News)

While Race to the Top and other education reform movements are putting an emphasis on teacher and principal evaluations, there is no uniform method for evaluating superintendents…Read more...

• CTC programs take students from classroom to workforce (Portsmouth Daily Times)

The Scioto County Career Technical Center has changed faces since its old days as “VoTech,” with a significant growth…Read more...

Local Education News

• Former Cleveland schools CEO Barbara Byrd Bennett to take over top post in Chicago (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard stepped down Thursday after a little more than a year in the post, a spokeswoman for Mayor Rahm Emanuel said…Read more...

• Levy failure would result in loss of up to 20 teachers (Lorain Morning Journal)

Failure of Amherst schools 4.9-mill levy, Issue 28, would mean up to 20 more teaching positions would be eliminated, Superintendent Steve Sayers said…Read more...

• Nonstudents enter LaBrae High, triggering a lockdown of school (Youngstown Vindicator)

LaBrae High School was on lockdown for 90 minutes Thursday morning after three young men walked into the school who were not students there and were noticed by a teacher…Read more...

Editorial

• Access denied (Akron Beacon Journal)

State agencies catch grief for layers of bureaucracy that waste time and money. Many times, the problem originates with the General Assembly. Ohio’s Statewide Student Identifier system…Read more...

Education News for 07-27-2012

Statewide Stories of the Day

• Test-score probe goes statewide (Blade)

The investigation into possible manipulation of test scores at Ohio schools moved statewide on Thursday, with the Ohio Auditor's Office now questioning what role, if any, the Ohio Department of Education had in the changes. State Auditor Dave Yost and the education department had opened a joint investigation in recent weeks of alleged data manipulation at Columbus Public Schools. School officials appeared to have manipulated data there to remove scores for students who were chronically truant, improving their attendance rates and test scores. Read more...

• Automatic cuts may put teaching jobs in jeopardy (Dayton Daily News)

Ohio could lose more than 1,500 education-related jobs and more than $98 million in federal education funding if automatic discretionary spending cuts go into effect Jan. 2. “States and local communities would lose $2.7 billion in federal funding for just three critical education programs alone – Title I, special education state grants, and Head Start,” Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said in a report released Wednesday. “Nationwide, these cuts would force 46,349 employees to either lose their jobs or rely on cash-strapped states and localities to pick up their salaries instead.” Read more...

• Auditor: Cheating probe to expand statewide (Enquirer)

Prompted in part by alleged cheating by Lockland school officials to improve their district’s standing, Ohio’s auditor launched a statewide investigation of all districts on Thursday.

Similar allegations have also surfaced in Columbus and Toledo. “It appears that attendance report rigging is not a localized problem with Columbus Public schools, but that it may be more systematic,” State Auditor David Yost said in a letter sent Thursday to state Board of Education president Debe Terhar of Green Township. Read more...

• New Report Finds A Third of Ohio Students Overweight (ONN)

CINCINNATI - A new statewide health report shows one in three students who participated in a Body Mass Index screening was overweight or obese. Health officials said that children need to do a better job exercising and eating healthier to avoid medical issues. Parent Orlando Mitchell has three kids including a 16-year-old and said they had issues with their weight. "My children went through a phase and got big at one time," Mitchell said. He admits he also had weight problems as a teenager which led to health issues for him as an adult. Read more...

• Ohio auditor will investigate attendance reports of public schools and state education department (Plain Dealer)

COLUMBUS — The Ohio auditor's office is launching a statewide investigation into how attendance is reported by school districts, charter schools and the Ohio Department of Education. The move announced Thursday follows revelations about questionable practices in Columbus and Toledo, as well as the Lockland school district near Cincinnati. In all three cases, the focus is on test scores that didn't count on state report cards because the student test-takers were dropped from attendance rolls and then re-enrolled during the school year. Read more...

Local Issues

• Riverside Schools, unions reach deals that extend wage freezes (News-Herald)

The Riverside School District has finalized contracts for both its unions for the next two years. Teaching and non-teaching staff have agreed to an additional two-year wage freeze that also eliminates step increases, and advancements for educational credit. The teaching staff had already agreed to a one-year wage freeze during contract negotiations last year, resulting in an effective three-year total wage freeze, Superintendent James Kalis said. Read more...

• Lorain superintendent negotiations not finished in time for board meeting (Morning Journal)

LORAIN — Lorain City Schools are still negotiating a contract for superintendent candidate Tom Tucker, so the school board had no contract to approve last night as originally intended. However, the district is on track for an August hiring of Tucker, board president Tim Williams said. “We are still at the final stages of some very specific negotiations in the contract,” Williams said, though he would not give details. “We’re optimistic about our negotiations with our superintendent,” Williams said. Read more...

• Lima levy on, campaign effort strong (Lima News)

LIMA — Not long after it saw a levy defeated by just 100 votes last march, the Lima schools levy committee was already back to work. Now, they can officially kick the campaign into gear, following the board's final decision Thursday to go back on the ballot with the same request. “We really are going to concentrate on the legacy of the Lima City Schools and the fact that Lima City Schools graduates are very proud graduates,” said Peggy Ehora, one of four to chair the committee. “We feel like the legacy for us is that people have always been proud to be a part of that system. Read more...

Editorial

• A Teacher Remembers the Accused Colorado Gunman (Education Week)

When I knew James Holmes, the alleged Colorado shooter, he was Jimmy. I was his 5th grade teacher. Back then, in 1998-99, Holmes lived in Castroville, Calif., a tiny town of 5,000. Since the theater shooting in Aurora, I’ve talked about Jimmy with one of his former classmates; let’s call him Chris. Jimmy was well-dressed, neat, wore glasses, liked to read, and excelled in all academic areas. He had two really good friends, including Chris, both sharp like him—in fact, top of the class. Read more...

• Skewed (Courier)

A golden rule in education is thou shall not cheat. Students learn early on that sharing answers on a test or copying someone else's work won't be tolerated. But is it cheating if school administrators manipulate attendance records to show their district is performing better on its state report card than it really is? While all evidence is not in, that appears to be what has happened in several school districts around Ohio. Read more...