Gadfly Bites 11/2/26—News from home

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1. Apologies for citing a media outlet from far across the globe for this very local news, but a) it’s huge and I could not wait to share it with you, and b) much of our local and national media bandwidth is…otherwise engaged right now, if you know what I mean. So here it is, direct from India: The U.S. Department of Education has approved Ohio’s ESSA waiver amendment request. Woohoo! Says Education Secretary Linda McMahon: “By embracing new flexibilities and aligning federal resources with Ohio’s own priorities, the state is driving exciting innovation that puts students and workforce readiness at the center.” Says ODEW director Steve Dackin: “The best decisions are made closest to students. We appreciate the U.S. Department of Education’s partnership in allowing Ohio communities to direct resources where they will have the most impact, and we will hold ourselves accountable for the results.” (India Education Diary, 11/2/26)
   
   

2. Meanwhile, back here on the ground, charter school haters are trying to use zoning rules to thwart the expansion of a charter school in rural Athens County. Specifically, businesses with liquor permits fear that a new upper school run by Southeast Ohio Classical Academy might infringe on their ability to souse up the drinking-age populace at some point in the future. Sounds like a pretext to me because a) the building in question used to house the county’s department of job and family services and that didn’t cramp anyone’s style before now, b) the tavern keeper quoted about his concerns also said “I just don’t want kids in this area to miss out on an experience such as Nelsonville-York City Schools.”, and c) I’m not stupid. (WOUB-FM, Athens, 10/30/26)
   
   

3. Finally (and inevitably) today, we are forced to talk about tomorrow’s election. Ohio Excels president Lisa Gray opined in the Enquirer this weekend to clarify the local business community’s stand in Cincinnati City Schools’ levy ask. “The business community did not say ‘never’ to the proposed levy,” she writes. “It said ‘pause.’ Complete the district’s strategic plan. Develop a comprehensive financial strategy. Engage the community in meaningful conversations about priorities, spending, and expected results. Demonstrate how additional resources will be used to improve outcomes for students.” Once those items are checked off, then voters can properly assess whether a levy is needed. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 11/1/26)

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