Statewide Education News

Gov. John Kasich rolls out mini-budget with tax, education initiatives taking center stage (Plain Dealer)

COLUMBUS - As Gov. John Kasich rolled out a mid-term budget blueprint highlighted by an income tax cut for Ohioans but a hike in oil and gas taxes, the sales job began to skeptical lawmakers. Kasich's pitch to majority-party Republicans: Make sure Ohioans benefit from the oil and gas dollars expected to flow from the shale boom, not those in faraway area codes. "What we're saying is every Ohioan ought to benefit from this wealth," he told reporters at an afternoon news conference to announce his initiatives. Read More…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture to let schools decide whether to feed pink slime to students (WEWS 5 ABC)

CLEVELAND - The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it will allow schools to choose whether to buy ground beef patties made with or without the pink slime making headlines. They said they will make the announcement Thursday that could affect the food in schools. According to them, the pink slime filler is a low cost ingredient made from fatty bits of meat left over from other cuts and is treated with ammonium hydroxide gas to kill bacteria. Most of us had never heard about this pink slime until weeks ago when some fast food restaurants decided to stop using it. Read More…

Superintendents say proposed school grading system gets F (Morning Journal)

ELYRIA — The proposed new Ohio school district grading scale isn’t getting enthusiastic support by some local superintendents. “I don’t understand what our state is trying to do to our public schools,” Elyria City Schools Superintendent Paul Rigda said. “What do they want from us?” The new proposed grading scale will grade districts on an A through F scale, as opposed to the excellent with distinction through academic emergency scale in place now. Elyria schools, which were rated as effective, would have received a D under the new grading scale. Read More…

Local Issues

City schools to change gifted programs (Dispatch)

Many parents are wary of a Columbus City Schools plan to change its gifted and talented program next school year, but others are encouraged that the new format will serve more than double the number of gifted students. Superintendent Gene Harris explained the changes to an overflow crowd of more than 100 parents and district staff members at a meeting last night at the Downtown High School. Read More…

Parent posts threat on Facebook (Newark Advocate)

BLACKLICK - Licking Heights West has lifted increased security measures it implemented after a parent reportedly threatened a teacher on Facebook. The threat was made Monday night, district officials said, and West responded immediately, implementing its lowest-level security provisions Tuesday. The security provisions continued at the start of the school day Wednesday, but they were lifted by 10 a.m. Read More…

After cuts, Lakota focus is severance (Journal-News)

LIBERTY TWP. — The Lakota Board of Education, which slashed its budget by $10.5 million and cut 141 jobs Monday, is now turning its attention to severance pay. Individual employees cut for the 2012-13 school year will be based on seniority and licensing, said Treasurer Jenni Logan. “Our hope is to have that process firmed up and to formally take action on all of that at our final board meeting in April,” she said, to give those affected as much time as possible to seek employment elsewhere. Read More…

Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board decides not to pursue open enrollment for 2012-13 (Sun News)

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS - The Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board recently reached a consensus not to pursue open enrollment as a district policy for the 2012-13 school year. At a work session Feb. 21, Superintendent Doug Heuer presented information to the board about inter-district open enrollment, which allows a student to attend school tuition-free in a district other than where his or her parents reside. He said each year, the district’s administration must inform the Ohio Department of Education what its position will be on open enrollment. Read More…

Ax to fall on 16 at East Holmes (Times Reporter)

BERLIN — Sixteen full-time teachers or staff members in the East Holmes Local School District are targeted to lose their jobs in the wake of last week’s narrow defeat of a 3.77-mill emergency operating levy. Affected employees formally were notified Wednesday by Superintendent Joe Edinger, with the board of education expected to take action on the recommendation Monday. The 11 teachers, with 75 years of experience, are paid a total of $445,421. The five classified staff, with 15 years of experience, make a combined $42,599. That’s a total of $488,020. Read More…

Editorial

Support Reform In Ohio Schools (News-Register)

If Ohio Board of Education members are reluctant to take a stand on reforming one of the worst school districts in the state, how likely are they to address less serious but still important problems elsewhere? Gov. John Kasich did something unusual a few days ago. He appealed personally to board members to support a plan by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson to improve his city's schools. Board members agreed to discuss the plan next month. For years, Cleveland Municipal Schools have chewed through taxpayers' money at an alarming rate, delivering little in return. Read More…

Youngstown schools system can do without disruptions (Vindicator)

While we have long URGED com- munity participation in the academic and financial rebuilding of the Youngstown City School District, we are strongly opposed to the threat by a community group to peel away a sizeable number of students just because of a perceived slight. The ongoing effort by many sincere, committed individuals to stabilize the district’s finances and improve its academic performance is too important to be undermined by the Community High Commission led by Jimma McWilson. Read More…