- I know that almost no one gets tired of hearing from State Auditor Dave Yost (!) – especially not me. What does the state auditor think of the recent $71 million grant award Ohio won from the U.S. Department of Education to help beef up its charter school sector? He is “shocked” to learn that we were ever in contention for federal funds, let alone able to win. But that boat has already left the dock and more important is what he and his office plan to do once the money hits Ohio’s coffers: “My concern is that it is well-spent with proper monitoring. We’re going to haul out the microscope on this. We’re going to have active observation.” Yep. Classic Yost. (Columbus Dispatch, 10/3/15)
- What do editors in Akron think of the recent $71 million grant award Ohio won from the U.S. Department of Education to help beef up its charter school sector? “The grant award clashes with what Ohioans know about the sorry state of charter schools here.” Yep. Classic ABJ. (Akron Beacon Journal, 10/2/15)
- Here is an interesting story about a potential new charter school in Cincinnati – a second location for Carpe Diem Schools, charters created and sponsored by Cincinnati Public Schools. As if that weren’t wrinkle enough in the charter school debate, the proposed new location – within the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center complex – may be a bit too big a wrinkle for even supporters to overcome. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/4/15)
- The latest in the Plain Dealer’s series on Ohio e-schools was published over the weekend. This time, a look at the demographics of the students who attend e-schools. Fascinating stuff, especially as it uses data from an unpublished study of e-schools contained in the 10,000 pages of emails and documents obtained via data request from the Ohio Department of Education. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 10/3/15)
- Longtime Gadfly Bites readers may remember the long and twisty saga that ended with the merger of the Ledgemont and Berkshire school districts in Geauga County. A coda of sorts this weekend as the former Ledgemont high school was auctioned off – including its contents. Sounds like a bittersweet reunion for old timers, but it seems the land and building may get a productive new life as a home for senior citizens and a care center for people with Alzheimer’s Disease. (Willoughby News Herald, 10/3/15)
