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Education News for 05-21-2013

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State Education News

  • Legislature may ditch takeover proposal for Columbus schools (Columbus Dispatch)

    • As hearings start this week on a Columbus school-district reform bill, an earlier proposal allowing for a state takeover of the state’s largest district is likely to vanish…Read more...

Local Education News

  • North Canton school officials take steps to increase building security (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • The Board of Education has approved the purchase of digital radios and antennas as part of a district-wide safety and security initiative…Read more...

  • Akron board cuts Akron Digital Academy loose (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • The Akron school board effectively severed ties with Akron Digital Academy — after sponsoring the online charter school for more than a decade…Read more...

  • A look inside the future of education (Cincinnati Enquirer)

    • In a new building just outside of Indianapolis’ downtown, Darren McCorkle sits at a desk in a sea of short-walled cubicles, taking an eighth-grade algebra lesson online…Read more...

  • Teachers negotiating (Findlay Courier)

    • Contract negotiations between Findlay's teacher union and the district administration are progressing smoothly, according to Superintendent Dean Wittwer…Read more...

  • Lorain City Schools' staff looks to change culture of low expectations (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • Lorain City Schools’ staff has developed a “widespread culture of low expectations” but hope is budding among employees under its new administration, a state assessment determined…Read more...

  • Lots of changes in Warren district (Marietta Times)

    • The Warren Local school district will look very different next year with a new superintendent, new high school and elementary administrators and the return of high school busing…Read more...

  • Boardman schools official warns of 5% cut in funding (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • The Boardman schools director of instruction said she expects a 5 percent cut in funding next year for the four federal programs for which the school district receives money…Read more...

Editorial

  • Dollars in the classroom (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • State Sen. Peggy Lehner wants to devote an additional $100 million to early childhood education in Ohio. The Kettering Republican cites the handsome return, $10 or more for every dollar spent…Read more...

  • Added scrutiny of charter schools in city and state is overdue, but finally coming (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • State and local education leaders are committing themselves to beefed-up monitoring of Ohio’s ballooning network of charter schools…Read more...

Education News for 05-17-2013

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State Education News

  • Legislature could require Columbus school levy to support charters (Columbus Dispatch)

    • After a mayoral education commission recommended sharing Columbus schools’ property- tax dollars with charters, two lawmakers introduced a bill yesterday requiring that such a levy go before district voters…Read more...

  • Educators, legislators aren’t on same page on Ohio school reforms (Columbus Dispatch)

    • A survey of more than half of Ohio school superintendents revealed, with few exceptions, a wide gap between themselves and legislators…Read more...

  • Legislator’s plan would provide preschool vouchers for 22,000 (Columbus Dispatch)

    • A Senate Republican leader on education policy wants to create a $100 million voucher program over the next two years to allow thousands…Read more...

  • Brookfield schools unsure of fiscal future (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • The state auditor’s office said the district will face fiscal emergency even if a school levy is certified as passed…Read more...

Local Education News

  • BYOD program makes learning fun (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • Usually students are discouraged from bringing electronic devices into the classroom. The fifth grade classes at Ely Elementary School in Elyria, though, are encouraged to bring their iPhones, iPads…Read more...

  • Avon Lake schools put new student safety plan into motion (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • In light of recent school shootings, students and staff at Avon Lake schools have a new safety plan in place to ward off intruders and bullies…Read more...

  • Bedford Schools to lay off 14 to 17 teachers, educators (Toledo Blade)

    • The Bedford Public Schools will send layoff notices to 15 teachers and other educators for the next school year to help close a persistent operating deficit. The board of education authorized the potential pink slips…Read more...

Editorial

  • Lack of a guarantee (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • Beginning next school year, with a few exceptions, Ohio third-graders who are unable to read at a level specified by the state will not be promoted to fourth grade…Read more...

  • Partners for change (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • The Cleveland school district is making itself a showcase of how to go about transforming a school system. Last week, the district and its teachers union unveiled a tentative…Read more...

Education News for 05-06-2013

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State Education News

  • Transportation costs squeezing school districts (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • Mogadore, Cuyahoga Falls, Akron and Barberton schools have more in common than interconnecting county highways…Read more...

  • Auditor’s focus in records seizure was mostly grade changes (Columbus Dispatch)

    • State Auditor Dave Yost seized records of grade and attendance changes for more than 870 students for his data-tampering…Read more...

  • Ohio's education standards debated (Columbus Dispatch)

    • New math and English standards known as the Common Core are already in Ohio classrooms, even as opposition mounts from groups that include those affiliated…Read more...

  • School funding plan improving (Findlay Courier)

    • Legislators don't often change their minds on important policy issues, but state Rep. Robert Sprague said he did when he learned the details of Gov. John Kasich's school funding plan…Read more...

  • Early start, better finish? (Newark Advocate)

    • As a single mother working full-time, Jessica Dyer doesn’t have much time to work with her 2-year-old daughter, Annabelle…Read more...

  • Health department, school monitor MRSA (Springfield News-Sun)

    • The Ohio Department of Health and the Clark County Combined Health District are working with Springfield school officials to address recent cases of the staph infection…Read more...

Local Education News

  • Transportation disparities put many students walking to school on dangerous path (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • Anise Moore had mixed feelings about safety in the rough neighborhood where her kids walk to school…Read more...

  • School levies asking for new money on rise (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • All but two of the 15 school districts in the five-county Akron-Canton area with an issue on the May 7 ballot are proposing tax hikes for homeowners — a request that’s increasingly frequent…Read more...

  • Gay Catholic-school teacher’s firing raises questions (Columbus Dispatch)

    • The firing of a gay Catholic-school teacher by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus raises competing constitutional questions about religious freedoms and civil liberties…Read more...

  • BYOD lets NHS students to bring their own technology to school (Newark Advocate)

    • For the past few years, Brian Stepanic had a sign in his classroom instructing students not to use wireless devices such as cellphones and tablets during school…Read more...

  • State calls East Portsmouth Elementary a “School of Honor” (Portsmouth Daily Times)

    • The Portsmouth City School Board rewarded faculty and staff of East Portsmouth Elementary School with a special luncheon…Read more...

  • Campbell schools receives grant from state (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • The Ohio Department of Education has awarded the Campbell school district almost $120,000 for a 2013-14 elementary school reading program…Read more...

Editorial

  • Cleveland schools leaders lay out broad transformation ideas (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

    • It's taken a while to get here, but there's a lot to like in the first draft of the Cleveland Plan for Transforming Schools, which aims to turn around 13 failing schools…Read more...

  • Is minimum OK with Elida voters? (Lima News)

    • Administrators at Elida Local Schools are running out of tricks when it comes to offering a quality educational experience on minimal funding…Read more...

Education News for 04-19-2013

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State Education News

  • Projections show funding increases for charter schools (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • After cutting $82.2 million from Gov. John Kasich’s original school funding proposal, recent reports detailing…Read more...

  • Emotions run high at 1st school board meeting since Strongsville teachers strike (Sun Newspapers)

    • Emotions wound taught and simmering frustrations snapped and boiled over…Read more...

  • Strongsville teachers continue workplace picketing (Sun Newspapers)

    • At the end of their seventh week on strike in Strongsville, teachers there have resumed picketing at workplaces of school board members…Read more...

Local Education News

  • Medina levy issue crumbles as state probes district, superintendent’s finances (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • The Medina school board has rescinded Superintendent Randy Stepp’s contract…Read more...

  • Geneva BOE: Rehiring Zappitelli saves money (Ashtabula Star-Beacon)

    • Geneva Board of Education members have not been shy about their intention to retire, then rehire Superintendent Mary Zappitelli, and have given official public notice and scheduled a public hearing on the matter…Read more...

  • Emphasis placed on ability to write (Cincinnati Enquirer)

    • Northwest Local Schools is making big changes in its three middle schools to get its adolescent students writing papers before they get to high…Read more...

  • Participation fees might see reductions by Northridge board (Newark Advocate)

    • The Northridge School Board is considering eliminating school fees for students and reducing pay to participate fees…Read more...

Editorial

  • Reeling in Medina (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • It won’t be easy, and it probably won’t be cheap, but the Medina school board must find a way to move forward, rebuilding public trust shattered by revelations…Read more...

  • Relief from dysfunction (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • Medicaid expansion will remain a contentious issue for many more weeks as Ohio debates the next biennial budget. Advocates of expansion…Read more...

  • Inspired teachers inspired students (Columbus Dispatch)

    • Great teachers don’t just pound knowledge into a student’s head; they care, inspire and change lives. They teach with such passion…Read more...

Education News for 03-08-2013

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State Education News

  • Charter schools decry proposed cuts in state funding (Columbus Dispatch)

    • Charter-school supporters like to tout that the privately operated, tax-funded schools do more to improve student achievement with less money than traditional public schools…Read more...

Local Education News

  • Rotary Club, UA unite to promote child literacy in Akron schools (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • Kolaiah White looks comfortable in front of 75 fidgeting third-graders…Read more...

  • Medina school superintendent to give back bonus amid community protest (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • Medina’s school superintendent agreed Thursday to give back a bonus and potential merit raises in his new contract…Read more...

  • Tax ruling may cost county, schools millions (Hamilton Journal-News)

    • A ruling granting a West Chester Twp. hospital a tax exemption for charitable purposes may mean the loss of millions to Butler County and the Lakota Local School District…Read more...

  • Clear Fork student drug test policy updated (Mansfield News Journal)

    • The Clear Fork Board of Education will consider changes to a proposed plan to drug test student-athletes and drivers…Read more...

  • Armed resource officer hired for Sandy Valley schools (New Philadelphia Times-Reporter)

    • As superintendent of Sandy Valley Local School District, David Janofa believes his district is among the safest in the Tuscarawas Valley…Read more...

Education News for 02-15-2013

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Local Education News

  • James tackles Akron, state issues in ‘State of the Schools’ speech (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • Akron Public Schools Superintendent David James gave his fifth annual “State of the Schools” address Thursday, detailing challenges stemming…Read more...

  • Normal school security routine returns Monday (Chillicothe Gazette)

    • The atmosphere at Chillicothe Middle and High School is expected to regain a sense of normalcy on Monday after a week of boosted police presence at the campus…Read more...

  • Findlay evaluations will look for gifted students (Findlay Courier)

    • Findlay City Schools Gifted Services is arranging evaluations of students in kindergarten through 12th grade to determine if they are gifted in the visual and performing arts areas of dance, drama, music and visual arts…Read more...

  • New internal assessments elicit cautious optimism for Toledo Public Schools (Toledo Blade)

    • As Toledo Public Schools found itself mired in public turmoil in recent months, with a search for a new superintendent, a state investigation that criticized attendance…Read more...

  • McDonald officials reject arming teachers (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • McDonald schools have hired local off-duty police officers who will rotate for an eight-hour shift daily to provide additional security at the schools…Read more...

Editorial

  • Question of adequacy (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • For more than 20 years two concepts have dominated the school-funding debate in Ohio: adequacy and equity. Equity points to a distribution issue…Read more...