- The Senate Education Committee heard testimony on SB 1 yesterday. (That’s the one that would, among other things, lead to a big revamp of education policy governance in the state, in case you had perhaps forgotten.) Fordham’s Chad Aldis was there, telling committee members that the current set up of the state board of education is “a recipe for gridlock, discord, and a lack of accountability”. Yowza. Chair Brenner noted several amendments likely to be added to the bill before passage. (Gongwer Ohio, 2/14/23) Chad’s full testimony is here, if you are so inclined.
- Speaking of Fordham: I don’t know why nobody called our own Aaron Churchill to help out with this piece about the possible cost of voucher eligibility expansion in Ohio. Oh wait. Yes I do. (Columbus Dispatch, 3/13/23)
- But seriously, folks: When has anyone ever correctly predicted the cost of an education initiative in Ohio? Here are two additional clips to illustrate that point. Lake Local Schools is staring down a projected deficit of over $3 million dollars. (In the year of our lord ESSER 2023, how?!) Plan A for dealing with it is, of course, getting more money from voters and doing nothing else differently or better or more efficiently. Plan B, which the elected board only discussed due to “statutory requirement”, is to reduce salaries “by attrition”. Leaving aside the fact that this is lame and passive, the idea that even attrition-based expense reduction is not part of the primary solution to an imminent “we don’t have enough money to operate as we have been” problem shows that no one in education gives a fig about budgets and planning and adhering to them. And that the crie de coeur “it costs more than we thought” is only a problem when the other guy is saying it. (Canton Repository, 2/14/23) Meanwhile, the sudden and immediate resignation of Akron City Schools’ superintendent is going to require the district to shell out a lot of money this year—just south of $500,000—that one imagines its treasurer and elected board members did not budget for. Said the elected president of that elected board: “While the sum may sound large to some people, it’s an inconsequential number as it relates to our budget.” Inconsequential, eh? Does that sound right? (Akron Beacon Journal, 12/15/23)
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