Gadfly Bites 11/13/26—Tough sell

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1. Last week, I incorrectly celebrated what I believed was the U.S. Department of Education’s approval of Ohio’s amendment request, designed to change certain facets of the state’s ESSA plan. I should have known it wasn’t the right approval at that time because the haters who have been hating on numerous aspects of that ESSA request for months now weren’t decrying it last week. But judging by the vitriolic reaction in this coverage from yesterday, now it’s time for me to celebrate the proper amendment having been approved. Yay. (Cleveland.com, 11/12/26)
   
   

2. Vandalia-Butler City Schools is facing a budget hole on the horizon and is working with the state to try and avoid falling into it. A new plan announced this week would close one elementary school building and reconfigure grade levels among existing buildings. And for folks who insist that such closures don’t save much money due to unspecified “fixed costs” and the like, the number crunchers at Vandalia would like a word. “Under the reconfiguration option, $1.25 million would be cut from K-12 certified staff, targeting savings through nine to 10 retirements… The reconfiguration proposal also lists savings of $500,000 in purchased services; $315,000 in administrative and support reductions; $265,000 in classified staff reductions; $100,000 in building operations; and $70,000 in athletic transportation. The transportation savings would involve limiting return trips, according to the presentation.” Even better: The district’s high school is currently operating at about 50 percent capacity (700 kids in a building built for 1,400) and moving seventh and eighth graders into that building would allow for more efficient use of remaining space. Voila! The only thing that would make this better would be for the district to sell the closed building to a charter or private school immediately and actually snag millions in new revenue. But let’s actually get through the closure part first. Sounds like it might be a tough sell. (Dayton Daily News, 11/9/26)
   
   

3. Finally this week, here’s a look at the Genesis School, a brand-new, non-sectarian, PreK-8 private school in Cleveland. They are trying to make their model—and the budget numbers—work without charging families anything for tuition. Also sounds like a tough sell to me. (Spectrum News 1, Ohio, 11/12/26)

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