Education News for 10-05-2012

State Education News

• No local districts cited in state auditor's report (Findlay Courier)

The state's auditor on Thursday announced his office has found that five Ohio school districts have used questionable attendance policies and practices…Read more...

• Toledo schools cited for attendance practices (Toledo Blade)

Eight Toledo Public Schools improperly "scrubbed" truant students from attendance rolls, according to a preliminary report…Read more...

• Parents concerned about manipulated school records (WKYC)

The Ohio State Auditor says Cleveland and four other districts in Ohio appear to have manipulated attendance figures -- so that lower scoring students were not counted in State Report Cards…Read more...

• Probe finds improper enrollment data from Campbell schools (Youngstown Vindicator)

The Campbell schools superintendent says the district is cooperating with the state auditor’s office after an investigation revealed improper enrollment records may have influenced state test scores…Read more...

Local Education News

• Kent schools to implement new safety plan (Akron Beacon Journal)

Community leaders, school officials and fire and law enforcement representatives met with parents, students and residents…Read more...

• Audit isn’t definitive, Harris says (Columbus Dispatch)

Columbus schools Superintendent Gene Harris said a critical state audit released yesterday doesn’t substantiate that her schools changed student data to improve their report cards…Read more...

• State questions Marion City Schools attendance practices (Marion Star)

Superintendent James Barney said Marion City Schools did not enroll any students violating its attendance policy to an alternative school to improve its school report card…Read more...

• Healthier school lunches leave some students hungry (Springfield News-Sun)

Many students and parents have reacted strongly to new guidelines for the National School Lunch program mandating calorie limits and more fruits and vegetables, saying the meals are unappealing or leave kids hungry after eating…Read more...

• CMSD: Audit ‘Does Not Mean We Cheat’ (WJW)

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District has responded to an interim report released on Thursday which named the district as one of five that “improperly withdrew students from enrollment” in a way that skewed results of school attendance…Read more...

Education News for 10-04-2012

State Education News

• Auditor reports altered school records (Columbus Dispatch)

The first 10 Columbus schools examined so far by state auditors all show evidence of “scrubbing” student data, potentially to improve their state report-card standing…Read more...

• Ohio Teacher of the Year: Top teacher is inspiration (Columbus Dispatch)

Mike Morbitzer has been in on the surprise before when his wife, Carole, won awards for teaching and volunteer efforts…Read more...

• State Auditor To Release First Results Of School Attendance Scandal Audit (WBNS)

State Auditor Dave Yost said that he plans to release the results of the first 100 schools audited as part of a statewide school attendance scandal involving the Columbus City School district…Read more...

• Chaney STEM gets statewide attention for accomplishments (Youngstown Vindicator)

While the Youngstown City School District still has a way to go before it earns an excellent rating on the state report card, it can revel in the fact that the Chaney Science…Read more...

News from ODE

• What's the Latest on Teacher Evaluation? (National Council on)

With so much change happening in states across the country when it comes to the policies governing teacher evaluation and tenure, it can be hard to keep up with it all. But fear not: we did the tracking so you don't have to…Read more...

Local Education News

• Nurses group wants schools to be able to act quickly in food allergy emergencies (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

When a child suffers a severe allergic reaction, treatment must be delivered quickly. If not, the child could go into a coma or even die…Read more...

• Students get early start at teaching (Mansfield News Journal)

First-year education majors at Ashland University are teaming with middle-schoolers from Ashland City Schools to promote leadership, mentorship…Read more...

• District disputes feds harassment claims (Springfield News-Sun)

Northeastern Local Schools disputed Wednesday a federal statement that accused the district of failing to adequately respond to and prevent racial harassment of black students…Read more...

• Ledgemont School District's finances (Willoughby News Herald)

An official from the Ohio Department of Education will come to Thompson Township Monday to discuss the Ledgemont School District's financial situation…Read more...

• A standout in the Cleveland schools (WKYC)

As we move closer to the election, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District waits to learn whether voters will say "yes" or "no" to a sweeping change…Read more...

Editorial

• Skewed priorities (Columbus Dispatch)

An interim report from Ohio Auditor Dave Yost confirms that officials at 10 Columbus middle schools altered school-attendance records without explanation, bolstering suspicions…Read more...

• Education needs to see results (Marietta Times)

For many years, the name of the game for public colleges and universities has been FTE - that is, the number of "full-time equivalent" students they have enrolled…Read more...

Education News for 10-03-2012

State Education News

• Field trips might as well be ancient history (Cincinnati Enquirer)

No one saw it coming at the time, but when then-President George W. Bush came to Butler County in 2002 to sign the historic No Child Left Behind act…Read more...

• State releases preliminary schools report (Portsmouth Daily Times)

After weeks of delay, the Ohio Department of Education has released the preliminary 2011- 12 Local Report Cards…Read more...

• Feds find district failed to stop discrimination (Springfield News-Sun)

A federal investigation found that the Northeastern Local School District failed to adequately investigate, effectively address and prevent recurrences…Read more...

Local Education News

• Reading instructors in short supply (Columbus Dispatch)

The Columbus schools will face a shortage of teachers certified as reading-intervention specialists…Read more...

• Big cuts predicted if levy fails (Toledo Blade)

If the Perrysburg Schools levy fails in November, students may need to make their own way to school, spend a shorter time in a bigger class…Read more...

• Cardinal Autism Resource and Education School in Mentor flourishing (Willoughby News Herald)

The hallway at Cardinal Autism Resource and Education School is silent thanks to special soundproofing around classroom doors…Read more...

• Clergy comes together to support Cleveland (WKYC)

Members of the Cleveland clergy came together Tuesday afternoon to show their support for the Cleveland school levy/Issue 107…Read more...

• Lack of nurses, social workers in schools (WKYC)

Through budget cuts, the Cleveland School District has cut nurses and eliminated social workers all together…Read more...

Education News for 10-02-2012

State Education News

• Attorneys say T.J. Lane insane at time of Chardon High School shooting (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Lawyers representing the teenager accused of killing three students and wounding three others at Chardon High School earlier this year…Read more...

• Judge says teacher did not deserve to lose license (Columbus Dispatch)

A Columbus special-needs preschool teacher should not have permanently lost her teaching license after her attempt to restrain a 4-year-old student…Read more...

• Districts take innovative approach to teaching algebra (Hamilton Journal-News)

Struggling with algebra in high school often forces many college freshmen to take remedial math classes…Read more...

Local Education News

• Edgewood rolls out tablet program (Hamilton Journal-News)

Edgewood High School’s senior class received their Acer tablets…Read more...

• First-of-its-kind school to open here (Springfield News-Sun)

An agreement signed Monday will create the state’s first academy to train local students for high-paying…Read more...

• Oregon forums to explore shifting of grades (Toledo Blade)

The Oregon school district will hold a series of community forums this month to discuss the possibility of reconfiguring grades…Read more...

• School lunch goes high-tech with point-of-sale cards (Willoughby News Herald)

For many students, that sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach after realizing lunch money has been lost or forgotten is part of the past…Read more...

• Riverside School District will bring back teachers (Willoughby News Herald)

The Riverside School District has laid out exactly what it intends to bring back if voters approve a 3.9-mill levy next month…Read more...

• Will Issue 107 levy help class sizes? (WKYC)

The Cleveland Schools are struggling with large class sizes, but there could be hope with the passage…Read more...

• Schools see drop in real-estate distributions (Youngstown Vindicator)

Howland Local Schools saw a $780,000 drop in its most recent half-year real-estate distributions, Howland schools Treasurer…Read more...

Education News for 10-01-2012

State Education News

• Schools no longer are no-cellphone zones (Columbus Dispatch)

More schools are embracing what was once considered a disruptive force in the classroom…Read more...

• Superintendents' benefits are best in class (Cincinnati Enquirer)

After Ohio cut nearly $2 billion from public-school budgets over the last two years, districts throughout the state cut hundreds of teaching jobs and froze teacher salaries…Read more...

• Online schools get millions in public support (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Robert Mengerink didn't know how much an online school really costs to operate…Read more...

• Boosters, PTOs must file reports (Columbus Dispatch)

The Ohio attorney general’s office will be keeping a closer eye on school booster clubs and parent-teacher…Read more...

• Auditors checking first 100 schools (Columbus Dispatch)

At least 40 of the 100 schools the state auditor is investigating for student-data manipulation are from six large, urban school districts…Read more...

• Many boards let school officers control access (Columbus Dispatch)

School-board members in the region say they need to know what’s going on in their districts…Read more...

• Ohio to get $1.27M for disability education (Middletown Journal)

Ohio is one of 22 states the U.S. Department of Education said will receive a share of $24 million…Read more...

Local Education News

• Federal Hocking, Rural Action partner to incorporate local foods (Athens Messenger)

As a line forms in the Federal Hocking Secondary School lunchroom…Read more...

• Marlington students digging the oil field with technology class (Canton Repository)

Anyone who thinks video games are a waste of time should talk to Marlington High School senior Bronwen Price…Read more...

• After-school option for CPS students (Cincinnati Enquirer)

In a sunny storefront on Hamilton Avenue in the heart of bustling Northside, Libby Hunter greeted her guests…Read more...

• Districts fail reading standard (Hamilton Journal-News)

Eight public school districts out of the more than 70 in the Miami Valley did not meet the state proficiency standard for third-grade reading on the 2011-12 Ohio Achievement Assessments, according to preliminary report card data…Read more...

• Vermilion schools drug testing results kept secret (Lorain Morning Journal)

Vermilion Local Schools have done two rounds of random drug testing of students since approving the drug testing policy…Read more...

• Grad rates remain steady (Marion Star)

While graduation rates have dropped throughout the state after a change in how it is calculated…Read more...

• Claymont BOE approves pact for classified workers (New Philadelphia Times)

Claymont Board of Education approved a new two-year contract Friday with its classified employees, which will require them to pay significantly more for their health insurance…Read more...

• Three retiring, and ask to be rehired (Portsmouth Daily Times)

Three people at the Clay Local School District have announced their retirement, and will ask to be re-hired…Read more...

• New Sylvania school menus on way (Toledo Blade)

Cafeteria food for students in the Sylvania school district is about to get an overhaul…Read more...

Editorial

• Levy battles (Columbus Dispatch)

A trend toward organized opposition to school tax-levy requests may seem like another sign of growing…Read more...

• Losing ground (Columbus Dispatch)

The experts are trying to explain away dismal SAT reading scores of the nation’s most recent batch…Read more...

• Data rigging clearly had huge effect (Columbus Dispatch)

When the school attendance-rigging scandal was revealed in June, many wondered how much better Columbus City Schools…Read more...

Education News for 09-28-2012

State Education News

• Probe: Kids wrongly put in seclusion (Columbus Dispatch)

The Columbus school district has used its seclusion rooms — some as small as a closet, some reeking of urine or covered in spit…Read more...

• Area high schoolers learn financial responsibility (Lima News)

Most area high schoolers don’t think about retirement, buying a house or managing a mortgage on a daily basis, if at all…Read more...

• Mansfield case may have triggered state's new booster club law (Mansfield News Journal)

Mansfield City Schools Superintendent Dan Freund applauds a new law authorizing the Ohio Attorney General's…Read more...

• State report cards provide school districts with targets (Youngstown Vindicator)

Report card day has traditionally been a happy day for some kids and a day of trepidation…Read more...

Local Education News

• CPS is part of ongoing audit (Cincinnati Enquirer)

A statewide attendance-rigging investigation includes schools in the Cincinnati Public Schools district…Read more...

• Chief Eric Gordon: 'It's do or die time' for district (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

The Cleveland schools are in a position to greatly improve the education of the city's children…Read more...

• City schools to hire 2 bus companies (Columbus Dispatch)

The Columbus school district plans to spend $400,000 to hire two more school-bus companies for 60 days…Read more...

• Sizing up the schools (Warren Tribune Chronicle)

Niles City Schools Superintendent Mark Robinson said that although he's not pleased with his district's…Read more...

• Parents in Cleveland and across Ohio have choices (WEWS)

For parents of children in under-performing schools in Ohio…Read more...

Editorial

• Nasty surprise (Akron Beacon Journal)

The Akron school district has to refund all at once $3.2 million, most of it payments it should not have received from tax increment deals…Read more...

• Worth a look (Columbus Dispatch)

Foster care never is an ideal solution, especially for the long term. Frightened children whose homes are in crisis are sent to stay with strangers…Read more...