Statewide Education News

Financial and academic changes bring uncertainty to area districts (Marion Star)

MARION - As area school districts look ahead, it's likely to be all about the money. Included in that is how much they can expect to get under a new school funding method expected to be released early this year. There also will be continued talk of doing more with what they have. School officials started 2011 waiting to see what state funding there would be in the future. Among changes with incoming Gov. John Kasich was the phase-out of reimbursements that school districts were receiving in place of tangible personal property tax. Read More…

Local Issues

Bucyrus school alters program (News-Journal)

BUCYRUS - Rewarding students who achieve high marks and attend class has long been practiced by area schools. One of those schools is Bucyrus High School, which has tweaked its program. In the past, top students based on grades, behavior and attendance received Gold Cards -- exempting them from taking exams. But there was a drawback to that plan. Some students had not taken any exams before heading off to college, hurting their test-taking skills. Read More…

Workshop to take on bullying (Dispatch)

Starting in February, local schools will have another tool for dealing with bullies: family Saturday school. “If you’re a bully, and we suspend you for five to 10 days, when you come back, you’re still going to be a bully,” said Rich Playko, who oversees student services for Groveport Madison schools. “We’ve done nothing to change the behavior.” The district plans to send first-time offenders to the workshop. It won’t be mandatory, but students who attend with their parents can reduce the length of their suspension. Read More…

Editorial

Take time to develop school plan (Tribune Chronicle)

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, 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. Read More…