- A teacher unionization effort is underway at Menlo Park Academy, the only Ohio charter school specifically for gifted students. You might figure that all the smarty-pantses there could figure out how to manage it without kerfuffling, but it appears you’d be wrong. Side note: Lawyers seem to be, as ever, cleverer than everyone else involved. (Cleveland.com, 12/14/21)
- Speaking of unusual charter school happenings (were we?), I believe that this story marks the first documented effort to open a new school in an area of Ohio which was previously off-limits. Specifically: that bougiest of all bougie Columbus suburbs, New Albany. You may recall that the most recent state budget included a provision removing geographic restrictions on charter location. And if all goes well with the various zoning board and city council hoops, Cornerstone Academy (with two buildings currently bursting at the seams, so they say) will open a 6-12 school in New Albany to serve its growing enrollment. (ThisWeek News, 12/8/21)
- Have some sympathy for current Youngstown schools CEO Justin Jennings, whose bid to leave the district for greener pastures in Akron City Schools was tabled Monday night with no action taken. The good folks at Vindy.com take pains to reiterate that the elected board has had a "contentious relationship" with him over the years. And while the chair of the Youngstown ADC thinks Jennings is the bee's knees, I can't imagine this helps too much with his chances anywhere in Ohio...and probably beyond. (Vindy.com, 12/15/21)
Did you know you can have every edition of Gadfly Bites sent directly to your Inbox? Subscribe by clicking here.
Policy Priority:
Topics:
