Education News for 12-30-2011

December 30, 2011 in Ed News

Statewide Education News

Lake, Geauga counties, area schools feeling squeeze (News-Herald)

As the economy tries to rebound from a recession, Lake County government continues to see operating revenues decline due to flat sales tax revenue, property values that declined by 10 percent and meager earnings on investments that used to generate millions of dollars. Commissioner Daniel P. Troy said the county has done nearly all that it can to cut expenses and that has meant a reduction in the number of employees who are paid through the county's general fund. Read More…

Launch nears for Youngstown teacher’s new app for grading tests (Vindicator)

YOUNGSTOWN - Elijah Stambaugh wasn’t a teacher for long before he realized a fundamental flaw in the education process. “Students in some classes score very low, and others score very high,” the former Stambaugh Academy seventh- and eighth-grade math teacher said. “I was looking for tools to better analyze students’ strengths and weaknesses.” So Stambaugh came up with an idea for a test-scoring software application to help teachers better organize and analyze their teaching tendencies. Read More…

Local Issues

Truancy Decrease May Help Lessen Crime (WBNS 10 CBS)

COLUMBUS - Police said that a decrease in truant students has helped Columbus’ crime rate, CrimeTracker 10’s Jeff Hogan reported on Thursday. Five years ago, Columbus police created a special unit to track down truants. That unit now has 10 officers. “If we can get the kids back in school and get them on the right path at an earlier age, we'll prevent them from either being a victim -- or a suspect,” Sgt. Kevin Corcoran said. About 10,000 students have been picked up by police since 2007, police said. Read More…

Homeless shelters seeing most children ever (Marion Star)

MARION - Local and national agencies are reporting an increase in homelessness among children as the economy continues to struggle. The National Center On Family Homelessness recently released its report "America's Youngest Outcasts 2010," which estimates one in 45 children in America are homeless within a year's period. That's a 38 percent increase when compared to the 2007-10 economic recession. The Marion Shelter Program is seeing a similar trend as its women and family homeless shelter served 116 children in 2010. Director Chuck Bulick said that was the most in the program's history and said he expects to meet or exceed that number in 2011. Read More…

Editorial

Building agreement (Dispatch)

Gov. John Kasich has asked Ohio’s 37 public colleges and universities to figure out how to divvy up the state’s slim budget and submit a single wish list for campus construction and repairs. Positioning the schools to cooperate rather than compete is astute. University leaders are best-positioned to evaluate the hard choices that must be made, since they live with the problems daily and will have to live with the decisions long-term. And by making colleges sit down together to determine priorities, they cannot help but gain a better understanding of the needs of their sister institutions. Read More…

For public schools, the year brought big cuts (Post-Gazette)

In public education circles, 2011 was the year that officials quickly learned how to do more with less. No relief was provided from the federal No Child Left Behind mandate that the state's 500 school districts continue to move students toward proficiency in math and reading. Yet, the state budget provided nearly $900 million less in funding for public schools. Read More…

Education News for 12-28-2011

December 28, 2011 in Ed News

Statewide Education News

Charter schools get win in White Hat suit – Columbus Dispatch

The 19-month fight over whether Ohio’s largest for-profit manager of charter schools must share detailed financial records could be coming to a close.

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge John F. Bender has decided he can rule on the case, and he reiterated an order he made in August that White Hat Management release records showing how the charter-school operator spends the millions of tax dollars it gets each year. Read More…

Six Ohio Education Stories to Watch in 2012 – State Impact Ohio

Here’s our take on the six education stories to watch in 2012:

1. School funding.
2. College-readiness.
3. The feds.
4. “School choice.”
5. Charter school accountability.
6. Teachers rising.
Read More…

Local Issues

Energy conservation at schools benefitting taxpayers – Oxford Press

Efficient new buildings save Hamilton thousands of dollars. While utility bills for homes have been increasing, many area school districts have seen their bills drop thanks to a variety of energy conservation programs.

And thanks to those bills dropping, the districts can put money back into their general fund, creating less drain on taxpayer dollars. And in at least one case, that has enabled a district to delay putting a levy on the ballot. Read More…

Yardsticks for local students are analyzed – Marietta Times

By one measure, Washington County's school districts are ranked in the middle to bottom third in the state.

But another ranking assembled by a nonprofit education organization dramatically changes some of those positions. Read More…

Editorial & Opinion

School reform takes time – Youngstown Vindicator

Steubenville Herald-Star: Allocating funds among hundreds of school districts to ensure all provide the “thorough and efficient” education required by the state constitution is easier said than done, as Ohio Gov. John Kasich is learning.

Soon after taking office less than a year ago, Kasich pledged to overhaul the state formula for funding public schools. By January a plan would be in place, the governor thought.

He was wrong. His advisers say the January deadline was a self-imposed one that won’t be met. Better to get it right than to get it on time, they add.

They are right, of course. Public education reform is among the chief concerns of many Buckeye State residents. Read More…

Education News for 12-27-2011

December 27, 2011 in Ed News

Christmas Holidays edition of education news

Statewide Education News

Preschool grant is a boon to Ohio: editorial – Plain Dealer

The federal government's decision to give Ohio nearly $70 million to improve preschool for disadvantaged Ohio youngsters easily earns an A. It was the largest of nineRace to the Top Early Learning Challenge prizes recently given to states after a competitive process. Now Ohio must plan for the long haul to get the most value out of the money. Read More…

New effort to make kids college-ready – Columbus Dispatch

Teachers in elementary, middle and high school often team up to help students prepare for the next level. In a new twist, some high-school teachers in Columbus City Schools will be paired with college professors to ensure that more students are college-ready. Read More…

Athens Meigs Resource Center Looks At Shared Services Possibility – WOUB - Athens

Every day, school districts in the 18 counties in the region send out busses to take kids to school, traveling more than 330,000 miles. The cost is enormous and it's something Rick Edwards knows all too well. Edwards is Superintendent of the Athens Meigs Educational Resource Center. "What we're looking at is, is there a way for us to leverage the mileage, the cost, the square miles, and all those aspects, to leverage a more efficient operation and reduce costs while serving school districts and students better in the region," says Edwards. Read More…

Ohio gets Race to the Top grant – Marietta Times

Funding focus on better access to and quality of early learning The latest federal Race to the Top funding received by Ohio will focus on improving access to and the quality of early childhood education, something local educators agree is vital. Research has been "overwhelmingly conclusive" in showing that students who learn basic concepts prior to kindergarten require less intervention as they get older, said Warren Local Schools Superintendent Tom Gibbs. Read More…

Local Issues

Cincinnati among districts moving away from isolating grades 7-8

Educators have long known that the middle school years are critical for a student’s academic development. What’s not known is the best way to group those students to get the most out of them academically. Studies on which system works best are inconclusive, at best. When Cincinnati Public Schools announced this month that it would expand Western Hills High School to grades 7 through 12, it was the district’s latest attempt to boost middle school achievement through grade reconfiguration. Read More…

Gifted students in Reynoldsburg ‘adopt’ one another to demonstrate their support and remain connected – Columbus Dispatch

Katie Samuelson sees her sisters in class and her moms at recess. All through school, she runs into other relatives — brothers, aunts, uncles and grandparents. By getting “adopted” by sixth-graders this year, Katie and other fifth-graders at Reynoldsburg’s Gateway Academy have a place in a family tree that teachers say stretches at least seven years. Read More…

Schools count a win – Columbus Dispatch

Hundreds of people gathered in Linden 10 years ago this month to take a leap of faith — breaking ground on the first new school building in the Columbus City Schools in more than a quarter century.

A band played and schoolchildren sang as construction of the $10.5 million Linden Elementary School was launched, replacing two buildings constructed in 1905 and 1920. The new building at 2626 Cleveland Ave. was designed to show wary voters that the district could manage a huge school-reconstruction plan being pushed by the state, which was offering a 30 percent funding match. Read More…
Free lunch participation skyrockets in past decade – Oxford Press

The number of Butler County children receiving free or reduced-price lunches in the United States Department of Agriculture National School Lunch Program has doubled over the past decade. In a March, 2001 report by the Ohio Department of Education, 10,326 county school children were participating in the program, 20 percent of the 51,003 children enrolled in public schools. In September, 2011, the ODE reports that 22,371 children, 38 percent of 58,119 students, are now receiving free or reduced-price lunches. Read More…

Voucher expansion opposed – Marion Star

Elgin and Ridgedale local school boards passed resolutions this week opposing House Bill 136. The bill would expand the state's school voucher program so students in any school district could receive public funds to pay for private or parochial school tuition. Read More…

North Royalton's Early Childhood Center readying for all-day K – Sun News/PD

Parents of incoming kindergartners have a choice to make for the next school year. Members of the school board approved the establishment of an all-day, tuition-based kindergarten option for the 2012-13 academic year. The Early Childhood Center, housing district preschool and kindergarten education, will designate two classrooms for the all-day program. Read More…

Editorial & Opinion

Ethnic and cultural changes in schools offer challenge, opportunity

The growing diversity of central Ohio’s population means that schools continue to change. It’s up to families and school officials to take advantage of the opportunities this presents, even as they deal with the challenges. Read More…

State leads the way in early childhood learning – Chillicothe Gazette – Op-ed

Democrats and Republicans don't agree on much these days. But there is one thing on which they do see eye to eye: the value of early childhood education. Once an afterthought of America's education system, early learning now is front and center as educators, governors and legislators grapple with ways to better prepare children for a lifetime of success. Read More…

Schools are mired down by mandates – Tribune Chronicle - Warren

In some state legislatures and Congress, it has been suggested one means of holding down spending would be to require that when new programs are mandated, budgets for existing ones be pared down. Taxpayers can afford only so much, after all. Perhaps state legislators should consider a similar strategy for public schools. Read More…

Team effort can lift poor black kids – Columbus Dispatch – Op-ed

Forbes writer Gene Marks got the Bill Cosby treatment in the blogosphere last week for his column titled “If I were a Poor Black Kid.” Marks describes himself as a “middle-aged white guy who comes from a middle-class white background.” He admitted that he knows nothing about being poor and black in America, and the solutions he proposes to help kids in West Philadelphia rise above their dire circumstances are not new. Read More…

Quality of a school is in the eyes of the beholder – Columbus Dispatch LTE

I thank Chester E. Finn Jr., president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, for his kind words about my part in contributing to Ohio’s school-choice movement (“Schools of choice need to be schools of quality,” Forum column, Dec. 14). Of course, the real heroes are the parents, students and staff, who have continued to believe in spite of enormous ridicule and unwavering criticism. Read More…

Education News for 12-23-2011

December 23, 2011 in Ed News

Statewide Education News

Rising Health Care Costs Pressure Ohio School Districts – Ohio News Network

Imagine directing a high school band that has won several national championships and was prized by the community.

Then imagine that the music just stops.

"For me, it was a process of what can I do to keep these kids interests going because their lives were shattered," band director Bob McNutt said. Read More..

Local Issues

Chardon Schools reject outside endowment to support teaching positions – News Herald

A Chardon area man remains undaunted after his alternative funding plan for arts and physical education was rejected by school officials.

Paul Hederstrom, a retired math teacher, had proposed starting an Ohio Educational Endowment for Art, Music and Physical Education fund to benefit Chardon School District. The Claridon Township resident wanted to use endowment proceeds, instead of tax revenues, to pay specialist teachers’ salaries. Read More…

Euclid Schools downgrade 5-year budget forecast – News Herald

The five-year forecast for Euclid City Schools has turned out to be more devastating than the district had originally anticipated.

After the board approved $1.5 million in cuts to programs and additional staff and salary reductions were made, officials believed that it would be able to balance the budget through next school year, but unexpected changes have suggested otherwise. Read More…

Richmond Heights School Board to initiate termination proceedings against Superintendent Linda Hardwick – Sun News

On behalf of the Richmond Heights Board of Education, Board President Josh Kaye has issued a letter to Superintendent Dr. Linda Hardwick notifying her he will be presenting the question of initiating proceedings to terminate her employment.

Kaye said the basis for this consideration is on specific conduct, including misappropriation of district property which includes confidential documents and e-mails, dishonesty on her behalf in the communication during an investigation of central office staff concerning the theft and distribution of said documents and e-mails, interference with the district investigation of the central office staff, and any further grounds which may be determined as a result of a continued investigation. Read More…

Fairless officials seeing abuse of over-the counter medicine – Times Reporter – New Philadelphia

Fairless Local School District administrators are asking parents and community members to help them wage a war on the misuse of over-the-counter drugs.

Fairless High School has, in recent weeks, had a number of students overdose on cough-suppressant medication.

The issue was raised by a concerned parent during a recent Fairless Board of Education meeting. Read More…

Dublin schools: $7.1 million in cuts needed – Columbus Dispatch

Dublin schools need to cut $7.1 million from the district’s budget over the next two school years, officials say.

The cuts are needed because voters rejected a November levy that would have generated $13 million a year starting in 2013, district officials said.

District spokesman Doug Baker said officials won’t decide on specific cuts until February. A plan that Superintendent David Axner presented to the school board last week proposes cutting 100 jobs, including teachers, administrators and classified staff members. Read More…

No. 9: Ohio schools see big funding cuts – Mansfield News Journal

Richland County schools saw funding cuts this year -- and made cuts of their own in response.

In an effort to balance an $8 billion state deficit without raising taxes, lawmakers approved cuts last summer to programs and agencies throughout Ohio. Some local school districts, like Lucas, emerged relatively unscathed by the cuts, but most districts are still feeling the pinch. Read More…

Education News for 12-22-2011

December 22, 2011 in Ed News

Statewide Education News

Early advantage – Akron Beacon Journal (editorial)

When it comes to financing innovative education, Ohio cannot say it is getting short shrift from the federal government. In 2010, the state won a $400 million competitive grant to support reforms in elementary and secondary education. The funds were made available to state applicants through the Obama administration’s $4.3 billion Race to the Top initiative. Last week, Ohio won another Race to the Top grant to support its early childhood learning system. The $70 million grant was one of nine successful state applications among the 35 submitted. Read More…

Local Issues

Cleveland school board votes to keep preschool, spring sports, busing for high-schoolers – Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland school board voted Wednesday night to use savings from a new contract with teachers to head off elimination of preschool, spring sports and busing for high school students.

Members of the Cleveland Teachers Union completed five days of voting on the deal Wednesday afternoon, with 62 percent voting to approve it before the school board vote. Read More…

ODE reviews Sycamore’s special education program – Fox 19 - Cincinnati

Sycamore Community Schools has been selected by the Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children, for an onsite review of its special education program.

As part of the review, on Jan. 24, OEC will hold a public meeting to provide parents, guardians and community members the opportunity to address OEC regarding the Sycamore special education program. This meeting will be held at Edwin H. Greene Intermediate School, 5200 Aldine Drive, from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Information on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, procedural safeguards and the formal complaint process will also be provided at the meeting. According to the OEC, meetings are not intended to resolve issues regarding an individual child or circumstance. Read More…

Group opposes defunding of charter schools – Lorain Morning Journal

The Ohio Coalition for Quality Education is opposing the Lorain Education Association’s call to end public funding of charter schools.

President Ron Adler voiced his opinion on the topic a week after David Wood, president of LEA, asked at a school board meeting support for ending state vouchers.

“During a Lorain school board meeting Wood blamed the school districts declining student enrollment and financial difficulties on school choice and specifically, charter schools,” Adler said in press release. “He asked the Lorain School Board to support a petition drive for a November referendum, to end public funding for all charter schools in Ohio.” Read More…

School union in Liberty defends health plan – Youngstown Vindicator

School-union representatives attended the fiscal commission meeting Wednesday and defended their self-insured health-care plan.

In past meetings, the fiscal commission has identified the district’s health-care plan, in which the district builds up a reserve and pays claims from the reserve, as a place the district can save money by possibly bidding out coverage to third-party insurance companies. Read More…

Enrollment, confidence falling in Lakota schools – Hamilton Journal News

As 2011 comes to a close, the Lakota Local School District finds itself at a crossroads.

Faced with $9 million in cuts for the 2012-13 school year — on top of $22 million already axed over the last few years as a result of three failed levies in 18 months — Lakota is heading into what school officials believe is the district’s most critical time in its history. Read More…

Heights schools might drop Licking County ESC – Newark Advocate

A local school district is exploring whether to contract with another educational service center, but at least one official from its current provider is not pleased with the decision.

Licking Heights Board of Education on Tuesday approved a resolution stating its intent to terminate its service agreement with the Licking County Educational Service Center, effective June 30. Read More…

Huron City Schools unveil app – Lorain Morning Journal

Like many Web users, TJ Houston was tired of constantly having to scroll and click through numerous web pages to find contact information. In an effort to make life easier for him and those who are a part Huron City Schools, he helped the school launch its first app. The free app makes it easier to pay school fees, view events and stay current on news. Read More…

Most local school board members get state maximum pay – Chillicothe Gazette

CHILLICOTHE -- Five of seven school districts in Ross County pay their board members the state maximum, but even those on the high end of the pay scale said the money is not the reason they serve.

Chillicothe, Huntington, Paint Valley, Union-Scioto and Zane Trace each pay their school board members $125 per meeting, the highest amount allowed by state law. Southeastern board members make $80 per meeting, and Adena board members earn $40. Read More…

Unioto to revisit bullying policy – Chillicothe Gazette

Union-Scioto schools Superintendent Dwight Garrett said he will meet with a University of Toledo law professor in January to discuss possible changes to the district's anti-bullying policy. Read More…

Editorial

Campbell should ask state to straighten out its books – Youngstown Vindicator

Before Mayor WILLIAM VanSuch launches the search for a new finance director — it seems clear that the current director, Sherman Miles, is in over his head — he should heed the advice of the chairwoman of the state commission overseeing Campbell’s finances and hire the state auditor’s office to clean up government’s books. The $17,000 price tag would certainly pay larger dividends than hiring a full-time budget director now. Miles should be replaced, but there is no need to immediately fill the position. VanSuch can request help from the county auditor with the day-to-day financial operations. Read More…