- Pretty busy meeting for the Columbus school board last night. Suspensions were approved for two more data scrubbing administrators. Both will retain their jobs after the sting of that wrist slapping abates. (Columbus Dispatch, 11/21/17) The board voted unanimously to reinstate the no-religious-music-at-graduations policy that should never have been taken out in the first place. (Columbus Dispatch, 11/21/17) The board also voted unanimously to hire as interim supe the guy who may have been responsible for the deletion of that policy. Quite an unlikely trajectory to that top seat, if I do say so myself. Check out the details in this piece if you doubt. (Columbus Dispatch, 11/21/17)
- Meanwhile, at Dayton’s school board meeting last night, members present voted unanimously to place Superintendent Rhonda Corr on leave, effective immediately, pending the outcome of a likely disciplinary proceeding. (Dayton Daily News, 11/22/17)
- Meanwhile, the Youngstown school board held a community meeting last night to try and get some support in their dislike for the CEO-style Academic Distress Commission under whose aegis they are operating. One board member from similarly-afflicted Lorain City Schools joined them in commiseration. (Youngstown Vindicator, 11/22/17) Meanwhile, the board’s allies in the Statehouse are calling for an ethics ruling on a possible conflict of interest in regard to one of CEO Krish Mohip’s contracted service providers. (Gongwer Ohio, 11/21/17) Meanwhile, CEO Mohip has the continued vocal support of the Youngstown chapter of the NAACP, whose leader was invited to but declined to attend the woe-is-us meeting. (WKBN-TV, Youngstown, 11/21/17) Meanwhile, Mohip’s efforts to equalize the offerings at East and Chaney high schools extends to sports, meaning Youngstown will field two smaller football teams next year rather than one district-wide combined team as in the past. Thus, the district announced it would withdraw from the regional athletic league in which it has competed for years and go independent. Schedules will be drawn up from those teams willing to compete against them. FYI, Louisville High School is less than an hour away. Just sayin’. (Youngstown Vindicator, 11/22/17)
- The Ohio Department of Higher Education this week reported some pretty impressive stats for the second year of the College Credit Plus dual enrollment program across the state. Participation and course passage rates continue to climb. As do the costs. Oops. (Gongwer Ohio, 11/20/17)
- Year round school is coming to Canton City Schools, starting next year. The program will be aimed at grades K-5, focus on three primary academic areas (literacy, world language, and leadership), and attendance will be voluntary. It will also include remediation time during the “intersessions” so children who need it can receive catch-up instruction. A recent survey of district parents indicated that sixty percent of respondents would be interested in having their children attend a school with a “balanced calendar” like this. It will mean a reshuffling of a number of district programs – including relocation of some brand-new bocce courts, darn it – but I know they can do it. Best of luck to the district as it embarks on this ambitious effort. (Canton Repository, 11/22/17)
- Finally this week, a preschool program previously housed at the Toledo Zoo was permanently discontinued this week following a prolonged closure that was initially described as temporary. At least one local parent is mad as wet cassowary over the change. The zoo will instead reach out to provide programming to as many existing preschools as its resources can accommodate. (Toledo Blade, 11/18/17)
