Remember when we reported that, despite major budget concerns, Columbus Public Schools planned to keep its closed school buildings rather than sell them to charter schools? (See here.) It seems that sentiment has reached Cincinnati, too. In many states, when a district wants to rid itself of a school building, charter schools get first bid. However, Cincinnati Public Schools took advantage of a loophole that allowed them to sell their old school buildings to non-educators rather than to needy charter schools. One of their buildings houses East End Heritage Community School (serving 186 children), which is a charter school sponsored by the district. The district has decided to evict East End school at the end of the Spring term so it can offer its building to non-educators. How's that for an example of putting kids first?
"Schools' sale brings in $3.4 mill," by Julia Silverman, Cincinnati Enquirer, December 30, 2005
"District will keep closed schools for temporary classes," by Bill Bush, Columbus Dispatch, December 5, 2005