School levies on the May 2013 Ballot

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The following 141 school issues will appear on May 7th ballots.

County Distrcit Type
Allen Apollo JVSD Combo
Allen Bluffton EVSD Inc Tax
Allen Elida LSD Levy
Allen Elida LSD Levy
Allen Lima CSD Levy
Ashland Hillsdale LSD Levy
Ashland Loudonville-Perrysville EVSD Levy
Ashland Loudonville-Perrysville EVSD Levy
Ashtabula Ashtabula CSD Levy
Ashtabula Jefferson LSD Levy
Athens Trimble LSD Levy
Auglaize St. Marys CSD Combo
Auglaize Waynesfield-Goshen LSD Levy
Belmont Bellaire LSD Levy
Belmont Bridgeport EVSD Levy
Belmont St. Clairsville-Richland CSD Levy
Carroll Brown LSD Combo
Carroll Carrollton EVSD Levy
Champaign Urbana CSD Levy
Clark Springfield CSD Bond
Clark Greenon LSD Combo
Clark Clark-Shawnee LSD Levy
Clark Tecumseh LSD Levy
Clermont Milford EVSD Levy
Columbiana Columbiana EVSD Bond
Columbiana Salem CSD Levy
Columbiana United LSD Levy
Crawford Galion CSD Levy
Cuyahoga Brooklyn CSD Combo
Cuyahoga Brecksville-Broadvw Hts CSD Levy
Cuyahoga Lakewood CSD Levy
Cuyahoga Westlake CSD Levy
Darke Mississinawa Valley LSD Levy
Delaware Delaware CSD Bond
Erie Edison LSD Levy
Erie Perkins LSD Levy
Erie Perkins LSD Levy
Fairfield Walnut Twp LSD Inc Tax
Franklin Groveport Madison LSD Levy
Fulton Swanton LSD Combo
Geauga Ledgemont LSD Levy
Greene Fairborn CSD Levy
Hamilton Forest Hills LSD Bond
Hamilton Oak Hills LSD Levy
Hancock Cory-Rawson LSD Inc Tax
Hardin Ada EVSD Inc Tax
Hardin Upper Scioto LSD Levy
Hardin Upper Scioto LSD Levy
Henry Napoleon Area CSD Inc Tax
Holmes West Holmes LSD Levy
Huron Monroeville LSD Levy
Huron Norwalk CSD Levy
Huron Willard CSD Levy
Jefferson Indian Creek LSD Bond
Jefferson Buckeye LSD Levy
Jefferson Jefferson Co JVSD Levy
Knox East Knox LSD Combo
Knox Mt. Vernon LSD Levy
Lake Kirtland LSD Levy
Lake Mentor EVSD Levy
Lake Mentor EVSD Levy
Lake Painesville CSD Levy
Lake Willoughby-Eastlake CSD Levy
Licking North Fork LSD Inc Tax
Licking Johnstown-Monroe LSD Levy
Licking Lakewood LSD Levy
Licking Licking Hts LSD Levy
Logan West Liberty Salem LSD Inc Tax
Logan Benjamin Logan LSD Levy
Lorain Amherst EVSD Levy
Lorain Amherst EVSD Levy
Lorain Avon Lake CSD Levy
Lorain Columbia LSD Levy
Lorain North Ridgeville CSD Levy
Lucas Oregon CSD Levy
Madison Madison-Plains LSD Levy
Mahoning Springfield LSD Combo
Mahoning Boardman LSD Levy
Mahoning Boardman LSD Levy
Mahoning Jackson-Milton LSD Levy
Mahoning Jackson-Milton LSD Levy
Mahoning Poland LSD Levy
Medina Black River LSD Levy
Medina Cloverleaf LSD Levy
Medina Medina CSD Levy
Mercer Celina CSD Inc Tax
Mercer Marion LSD Levy
Miami Covington EVSD Combo
Miami Milton-Union EVSD Levy
Miami Piqua CSD Levy
Miami Tipp City EVSD Levy
Monroe Switzerland of Ohio LSD Levy
Montgomery Jefferson Twp LSD Combo
Montgomery Brookville LSD Levy
Montgomery Brookville LSD Levy
Montgomery Centerville CSD Levy
Montgomery Huber Hts CSD Levy
Montgomery Valley View LSD Levy
Montgomery Vandalia-Butler CSD Levy
Morrow Cardington-Lincoln LSD Inc Tax
Muskingum East Muskingum LSD Levy
Muskingum West Muskingum LSD Levy
Noble Caldwell EVSD Levy
Portage Kent CSD Levy
Preble Twin Valley Community LSD Inc Tax
Richland Mansfield CSD Levy
Ross Chillicothe CSD Levy
Sandusky Gibsonburg EVSD Inc Tax
Sandusky Clyde-Green Springs EVSD Levy
Seneca Bettsville LSD Inc Tax
Seneca Fostoria CSD Levy
Shelby Fairlawn LSD Levy
Stark Canton LSD Bond
Stark Marlington LSD Combo
Stark Fairless LSD Levy
Stark Louisville CSD Levy
Stark North Canton CSD Levy
Summit Coventry LSD Combo
Summit Barberton CSD Levy
Summit Cuyahoga Falls CSD Levy
Summit Manchester LSD Levy
Summit Mogadore LSD Levy
Trumbull Brookfield LSD Levy
Trumbull Champion LSD Levy
Trumbull Girard CSD Levy
Trumbull Lakeview LSD Levy
Trumbull McDonald LSD Levy
Trumbull Maplewood LSD Levy
Trumbull Newton Falls EVSD Levy
Trumbull Niles CSD Levy
Trumbull Niles CSD Levy
Union Marysville EVSD Levy
Van Wert Van Wert CSD Inc Tax
Warren Carlisle LSD Levy
Wayne Orrville CSD Levy
Williams Millcreek West Unity LSD Levy
Wood Elmwood LSD Inc Tax
Wood Elmwood LSD Inc Tax
Wood Bowling Green CSD Levy
Wood North Baltimore LSD Levy
Wyandot Carey EVSD Combo

Note that the county listed is the primary county, some districts cross multiple county boundaries.

Teachers stay strong in Strongsville

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The teachers strike in Strongsville, Ohio is now entering its 5th week. Since the Strongsville Board of Education made their last offer, the Strongsville Education Association has made 3 counter offers that have been met with silence. The board's resistance to talk has been so extreme that a court had to order them to release public records. With this as a backdrop, we decided to travel up to Strongsville.

When we arrived we were met with the sight of hundreds of determined educators walking the picket line

After talking to them and listening to their side of the strike, it was clear to us that even after being out on strike for over a month, they were determined to secure a fair contract. It was also clear that the Strongsville board of education is being guided by special interests with an agenda and not the interests of the students and the community. This became even more apparent later in the day.

As the teachers marched up an down the sidewalk of the very busy road, they were receiving a tremendous amount of support from passersby,both in cars and on foot (a number of parents were walking the picket lines with the teachers).

Around 1pm, in the wind and cold, teachers and their supporters march to a common area to gather around a gazebo. Sen. Sherrod Brown was scheduled to address them.

At least 1,000 people turned out for a rally on Strongsville’s square attended by members of other unions.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Avon Democrat, called on Frazee to kick-start the stalled negotiations.

“Most importantly, students are not well-served when both sides are not sitting at the bargaining table,“ Brown said.

“Strongsville students deserve a settlement – now. But a settlement can’t be reached if the two parties aren’t talking. That’s why I joined teachers today – who told me how they want to be back in the classroom – and why I will keep in contact with the school board,” Brown said.

After Sen. Brown spoke, SEA President Linscott addressed her members and the crowd. She laid out the clear reasons why the strike has happened and why it continues. But more importantly she offered the board yet another opportunity to resolve the strike fairly.
In 2009 SEA and the Strongsville board agreed to binding interest arbitration should it be needed.
Again, in 2010 SEA and the Strongsville board agreed to binding interest arbitration. In both cases that course of action wasn't needed as agreements were made.
Yesterday, SEA once again offered to end the strike immediately if the board agreed to binding interest arbitration. The proposal can be read in full below.

Strongsville E.A Binding Arbitration offer

Unlike in 2009 and 2010, the Strongsville board rejected this offer before the end of the day, once again demonstrating bad faith and a motive other than ending the month long strike. If their goal is to try and break the SEA, and it appears that that is their goal, they are going to fail. The hundreds of teachers we met, saw and talked ot yesterday were determined and resolved to continue their strike until a fair labor contract is agreed to.

The Federal mediator has called both parties back to the negotiating table today. Pressure on the Board is mounting as conditions inside Strongsville schools is deteriorating

Dozens of parents and students fed up with the Strongsville teachers strike took their pleas for the school board to negotiate and find common ground with the teachers union to City Council’s April 1 meeting.

Six Strongsville High School students recounted concerning conditions inside the school – overfilled classrooms, substitutes who did not know the material they were teaching and were not told where the regular teacher left off and an abundance of movies and study halls peppering the eight-period school day have become the norm, they said.
[...]
Pam Mullen, who has three children in the district, says her two youngest children at Muraski Elementary School are on IEPs for speech and reading.

“For over a week they did not receive the help they needed,” Mullen said. “My daughter tried her best to keep up, but it was too much. It led to melt downs and stomach aches.”

Mullen said she received a letter from the district saying no speech therapists had been hired yet, and she could not afford to hire one herself.

“This past month has been frustrating for my family,” she said.

Moser said some of her classmates who are on IEPs were left to fend for themselves at a time that was crucial for not just them, but the school district – Ohio Graduation Tests, which took place March 11-15, during the second week of the strike.

“Strongsville City Schools was thriving before this,” Moser said. “Now there’s no learning, no love and hallways are filled with dread.”

Junior Mathangi Sridharan painted the picture for those students who are in AP classes, high-level courses the district has struggled to fill.

Sridharan said students have been going over the material that will be covered in tests given next month by themselves – she and two other students have even taught some classes.
[...]
Other students spoke about the void of honors classes and extracurricular activities, including concerts and plays the students had spent months preparing for, but a common theme came up between parents and students, alike – the strike is on the brink of doing irreparable harm to the community.

The board has now had 4 opportunities offered to it by the striking teachers and has remained silent, refusing to negotiate in good faith. Let's hope they see sense and reason, and find a way to end this strike in a way that is fair to everyone, students, teachers and the community at large.

You can stay up to date on the strongsville strike at the SEA Facebook page, and on Twitter.

Education News for 04-03-2013

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State Education News

  • Educators line up to tour Reynoldsburg (Columbus Dispatch)

    • If you’re an educator who wants to tour Reynoldsburg schools, you’re going to have to wait until fall. The district leads about two tours a week for educators from around the country and across the world, and they’re booked for months…Read more...

  • Ohio’s bookkeeping improved, 2012 audit finds (Columbus Dispatch)

    • If not for the state’s massive Medicaid health-care program, there would be little to talk about in this year’s annual audit of Ohio’s financial records…Read more...

  • Area schools named Schools of Promise (Lima News)

    • Many pieces go into determining whether a pupil finds academic success, and Superintendent Dale Lewellen believes it’s why both Bath's elementary and high schools landed on the state’s…Read more...

  • 21 Mahoning Valley schools designated Schools of Promise (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • Twenty-one Mahoning Valley schools have earned the designation “School of Promise” for the 2011-12 school year from the Ohio Department of Education…Read more...

Local Education News

  • Ashtabula City Council tweaks curfew laws (Ashtabula Star-Beacon)

    • The children spoke and City Council heard them…Read more...

  • Huron school board upholds firing former Superintendent Fox (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • A majority of Huron School Board members voted last night to uphold their firing of former Superintendent Fred Fox, despite a mediator’s report last month that said Fox should be reinstated with back pay…Read more...

Editorial

  • Out of Akron (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • For the past several years, Akron Public Schools administrators have been engaged in an exercise they refer to as “right-sizing” the district. They have closed several school buildings and laid off staff members, including principals, teachers…Read more...

  • Clarity on school funding urgently needed (Canton Repository)

    • Nothing about Gov. John Kasich’s proposed two-year budget is simple. It’s filled with fundamental changes in the way state government operates, and he faces opposition…Read more...

Exposing the real "Right to Work" supporters agenda

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Efforts to pass "Right to Work" laws go back decades (a measure was defeated in Ohio in 1958, by the massive margin of 63.3% No to 36.7% yes), and have always been pursued by monied interests looking to put a dent in the power of workers ability to stand up for themselves and each other through collective action.

It should not be lost on anyone that the major backers of this latest anti-union push are billionaires and big business, none of whom actually belong to a union. Having seen previous "right to work" efforts defeated, the extreme right, and their big business backers have had to send their latest effort through a rebranding exercise and they have come up with a new catchy title "work place freedom".

Who doesn't love freedom? Well apparently the very people promoting the effort. LimaOhio.com reported on a meeting of Tea Party members discussing "work place freedom" and why they were pursuing it

Speakers at an Allen County Patriots meeting Thursday made the case that the National Education Association abuses teacher dues to support a liberal agenda that disrespects Christian values.
[...]
According to Boyatt, NEA gave close to $15 million to advocacy groups in the 2011-12 school year and $18 million in 2010-11. The advocacy groups, she said, included the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, Human Rights Campaign, Women’s Campaign Forum and Rainbow Push Coalition.

From there, it got uglier, much uglier

Harvey said the NEA has supported an “immoral, deviant and destructive” gay agenda for at least 25 years, citing its gay and lesbian caucus started in 1987. Harvey criticized the union for supporting a gay and lesbian history month, diversity training that included homosexuality, and pro-homosexual school counseling. She said the NEA has asked schools to protect students and staff from sexual orientation harassment and discrimination and has replaced the word “tolerance” with acceptance and respect.

“Kids are being trained as activists now,” she said.

Harvey said the NEA has voted to lobby for same-sex unions and said petitions are currently circulating to overturn the 2004 Ohio marriage amendment, which stated that that only a union between a man and woman would be recognized as a valid marriage. The OEA opposed the amendment.

This is why the Tea Party in Ohio wants to pursue "right to work" legislation, not to create any kid of "freedom", but to enable their ongoing bigotry by attacking organizations that have a long history of standing up for equality and fairness. Public opinion polls show strong majorities now supporting marriage equalityand how out of the mainstream these Tea Party "Patriots" truly are.

The NEA and its members should be rightly proud of their support for equality, even when it was unpopular to do so.

Big business backers of this effort ought to take a closer look at who some of their allies are. The world has moved on from 1958, but voters are likely to deliver an equally stinging defeat to the purveyors of this ugly bigoted agenda.

Education News for 04-01-2013

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State Education News

  • Catholic schools embrace Common Core (Cincinnati Enquirer)

    • The Common Core isn’t just for public schools anymore. These days, private schools across the country are jumping on the public education standards bandwagon…Read more...

  • Lawmakers aren’t near a school-funding resolution (Columbus Dispatch)

    • Faced with an unpopular formula, a fast-approaching deadline, and an uncertain amount of money, Rep. Gerald Stebelton doubts a final school-funding plan can be crafted by the time the two-year state budget is approved…Read more...

  • Reports of child abuse, neglect increase (Columbus Dispatch)

    • Reports of possible abuse or neglect of children continue to rise in Franklin County, driven in part by more notices from schools, day-care centers and others who work with kids…Read more...

  • Ohio’s new chief educator is expected to seek change (Columbus Dispatch)

    • People who know Ohio’s new state school superintendent have called him provocative, direct and impatient…Read more...

  • Charter schools would receive 'F' in new standards (Newark Advocate)

    • Seven in 10 Ohio charter schools wouldn’t make the grade under Ohio’s new school rating system, which will replace ambiguous terms with an A-F scale…Read more...

Local Education News

  • Treasurer predicts fewer students will leave Akron for charter, private schools (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • Each year in May, Treasurer Jack Pierson prepares a five-year financial forecast for Akron Public Schools…Read more...

  • Lobbying not part of education panel’s expenses (Columbus Dispatch)

    • The Columbus Education Commission had spent just under $360,000 through February and had about $640,000 in city cash and pledges from the business community, officials said last week…Read more...

  • Campus Impact program helps students cope with bullying (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • In light of reports of bullying involving children, preventative programs such as Campus Impact are being sought locally to help students deal with the issue of bullying…Read more...

  • Linkage coordinators reflect on three years helping students stay in school (Newark Advocate)

    • In July 2010, Josh Devoll and Dava Kaltenecker became linkage coordinators…Read more...

  • Mathews teachers, board OK contract (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • Mathews schoolteachers and the board of education have ratified a three-year contract containing no salary increases for the duration of the contract and increased medical premiums in the third year…Read more...

  • Youngstown board members sound off on supt., each other (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • “Fractured” and “strained” are some of the adjectives city school board members used to describe their relationships with one another and with Superintendent Connie Hathorn — but so are “cordial” and "professional."…Read more...

Editorial

  • Medina situation in a word: Disconnect (Canton Repository)

    • Medina residents are rightly upset about their school board’s lax policies on spending. They aren’t likely to rest until they’re satisfied that the board and administration are making resolution of this issue a top priority…Read more...

  • Give consideration to school consolidation (Lancaster Eagle-Gazette)

    • This past week, we raised the question: Does Ohio need 612 school districts? There is no clear-cut answer, but we believe it’s a question worthy of closer scrutiny…Read more...

School funding disaster in the making

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The Dispatch may have published this story on April Fools Day, but it is no joke. Lawmakers aren’t near a school-funding resolution

Faced with an unpopular formula, a fast-approaching deadline, and an uncertain amount of money, Rep. Gerald Stebelton doubts a final school-funding plan can be crafted by the time the two-year state budget is approved.

We have some sympathy for Rep Stableton. The Governor crafted his ill conceived defunding plan in secret, with little or no input from any stakeholders. The Governor then spent over a week trying to bamboozle everyone with his ridiculous claims of what his funding plan would do, only to have those claims fall to pieces once details of the defunding plan emerged.

The Lancaster Republican said the plan is for the House to pass “something,” and then send it to the Senate in April for more work by the June 30 deadline. But with time running short, he thinks it’s unrealistic that it can be fully resolved and provide school districts with answers about how funding will work in the future.

This is where our sympathy begins to run out. The GOP dominated legislature are struggling to devise an adequate and equitable funding system because they don't want to commit the money necessary to make that possible. Consequently they are left trying to move an inadequate amount of funding around in the hopes that they can find some magical distribution that works.

They are never going to find that solution at the currently proposed funding levels - levels which fall below those seen in 2009. Instead of adequately funding public education, the Republicans have an income tax cut fetish that few others support.

It is troubling that a Republican legislature is once again going to punt on creating a funding formula that works, and instead continue to lock in funding levels that are woefully inadequate.

And if you need any more proof that Michelle Rhee's billionaire funded StudentsFirst organization is nothing more than an anti-tax front group, this should do the trick

StudentsFirst, an education-reform organization founded by former Washington, D.C., schools’ chief Michelle Rhee, has proposed reworking the formula while spending no additional money.

We are not aware of any other pro-public education organization that thinks a workable solution can be found at the currently proposed funding levels. And as for Dick Ross, the architect of the currently proposed disaster of a funding plan, the State Board of Education just made him the State Superintendent.