The governor and legislators' micromanagement reveals (once more) their cluelessness about how to improve public schools; after mandating this bad joke, they assigned its operation to the State Board of Education.
This would be fine and dandy, if it were based on any reasonable chance of success. Instead, it's a Hail Mary, a desperate move by self- appointed "reformers" who have helped bring urban schools to their knees and who now call for more charter schools as replacements. Soon both teachers and their students' parents will be labeled failures.
There are no secrets as to why many urban schools need help, or how to improve them. For the most part, achievement tests are measures of the socioeconomic status of students and their families. The urban poor face inequalities, often at conception, and too many persist into adulthood. Sure, good public schools can help, but the metrics now being used give a false picture of their efforts.
Rumors have been swirling ever since the budget was passed out of committee about where the amendments that removed a lot of the oversight of charter schools came from. They have been some very clear allegations that these changes were made to appease two specific donors of the Republican party, David Brennan and William Lager, who both operate charter schools in Ohio. Combined they have donated over $4 million to Republican candidates. As we covered yesterday, Innovation Ohio released a report that connected the dots between these two donors and the changes made in the budget. It looks like Innovation Ohio isn't the only one who thinks these changes were made to appease these two charter school owners. In fact one very prominent charter school advocated isn't hiding his opinion on the matter either.
This needs investigating. There is growing concern and evidence that pay to play is involved. If you have any information or tips please send them along in complete confidence to admin@jointhefuture.org
Thank you for your e-mail regarding House Bill 153, the state budget bill. I always appreciate hearing directly from constituents.
Creating a balanced state budget that provides value to taxpayers and improves the quality of our government’s services will be no easy task, and your input is important to me. House Bill 153 is currently undergoing hearings in the Senate Finance Committee. As you can imagine, my office receives a large volume of e-mails, letters, and phone calls regarding the budget. Although I do not have the pleasure of serving on the Finance Committee, please know that I value the information that you share with me. I will certainly keep your concerns and suggestions in mind as I continue to monitor developments in the budget closely.
Thank you again for your email. I encourage you to contact my office at (614) 466-8060 if you would like to discuss the budget or any other issue in further detail.
Sincerely,
Mark Wagoner Ohio Senate 2nd District
Didn't really answer our questions either does it?
Dublin Schools only receive ~ $995 per student from the state, but if a student in their district transfers to a charter school $5,732 is taken to pay for that. That's a disproportionate subtraction and one of the direct costs of so-called "Choice". In Dublin it's costing between $300,000 and $400,000 alone.
What's more baffling about this continued policy is that Dublin City Schools are rated Excellent with distinction and have one of the lowest percentages of expenditure on administration per pupil. There's simply no need for charter schools to suck money away from high performing districts like this, yet we allow it.
Last night Dublin City Schools held a budget town hall, to a packed auditorium, as you can see from this 10 second video clip
A number of state legislators were in attendance, Rep. Carney, Rep Duffy, Rep Brenner's aide, Sen. Gillmor, Sen. and Sen. Jordan. Each spoke for a brief few minutes. None broke any new ground, with Republicans making their case for no tax increases and the lone Democrat, making the case that the budget was not balanced nor fair. While each received polite applause from the crowd, Carney received numerous instance of raucous applause and a standing ovation from many when he concluded. The crowd clearly preferred a more balanced approach.
The School treasurer and superintendent then went through the district's budget and presented the following power point
Obviously not good news, so much so people are urged to contact the legislators and express their concern with the current budget proposal. We echo that request.
State Representatives John Patrick Carney (D) District: 22 77 S. High St 10th Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6111 Phone: (614) 466-2473 Fax: (614) 719-6961 Can be contacted via web. http://www.house.state.oh.us
Cheryl Grossman (R) (Southern portion of district schools) District: 23 77 S. High St 14th Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6111 Phone: (614) 466-9690 Fax: (614) 719-6962 Can be contacted via web. http://www.house.state.oh.us
Andrew Brenner (R) (Delaware Co.-Pinney) District: 2 77 S. High St 12th Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6111 Phone: (614) 644-6711 Fax: (614) 719-0002 Can be contacted via web. http://www.house.state.oh.us
Mike Duffey (R) (Far northeast portion of district) District: 21 77 S. High St 13th Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6111 Phone: (614) 644-6030 Fax: (614) 719-6960 Can be contacted via web. http://www.house.state.oh.us
David Burke (R) (Union County) 77 S. High St 12th Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6111 Phone: (614) 466-8147 Fax: (614) 719-6983 Can be contacted via web. http:www.house.state.oh.us
Ohio Senate Jim Hughes (R) District 16 Senate Building 1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: (614) 466-5981 Email: SD16@senate.state.oh.us
Karen Gillmor (R) (Union Co.-Jerome,Glacier) District 26 Senator Senate Building 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: (614) 466-8049 Email: SD26@senate.state.oh.us
Kris Jordan (R) (Delaware Co.-Pinney) District 19 Senate Building 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: (614) 466-8086 Email: SD19@senate.state.oh.us
Kevin Bacon (R) (Far northeast portion of district) District 3 Senate Building 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: (614) 466-8064 Email: SD03@senate.state.oh.us
