- It has been said (mostly by me, probably) that there are only three seasons in Ohio – budget season, campaign season, and summer vacation. I invite all five of my loyal Gadfly Bites subscribers (yes, it’s been a successful couple of months) to guess which one we’re in right now. The only clues I’m going to give you are the comments and accusations regarding the Youngstown Academic Distress Commission included in this piece. You have 30 seconds. (Youngstown Vindicator, 2/9/18)
- Speaking of districts operating under the aegis of Academic Distress Commissions, it turns out that Lorain CEO David Hardy wasn’t kidding when he suggested earlier this week that his academic turnaround plan could mean big changes at the Colossus of Lorain (a.k.a. the schmancy, not-as-new-as-it-once-was-but-still-shiny-enough, high school). To wit: the phase-in of a set of smaller, themed “academies” within the single building. (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 2/8/18) You’d think that the development of academic pathways focusing on STEM, performing arts, early college access, and the like would be cause for celebration. But alas both the Morning Journal and the Chronicle report the biggest attention-getter in Hardy’s proposal was the possibility that “those kids” would be allowed back into the Colossus. Everyone who has followed Lorain’s “Knucklehead Chronicles” via the Bites will know what I’m talking about. “New Beginnings”? Sounds more like a perpetual cycle of “Unhappy Endings” to me. (Elyria Chronicle, 2/8/18)
- Speaking of things that sound like unhappy endings, Insight School of Ohio—a statewide online charter school based in Columbus—was non-renewed by its sponsor for academic reasons and must either find a new sponsor or close down at the end of the school year. (Columbus Dispatch, 2/8/18)
- For a dose of good news today: here is a profile of United Schools Network founder and CEO Andy Boy. Extra bonus: finding a new Columbus news outlet that I had never heard of before. But I’m still not going to a meadery, no matter how hip you guys make it sound. (CityPulse Columbus, 2/8/18)
- Finally today, who says no one wants to take on lunch duty? One Ohio insurance company seems to be everywhere doing just that. First up, Stewart Elementary School in Columbus. (Columbus Dispatch, 2/8/18) Simultaneously, insurance company staffers are doing the same at Harris-Jackson Elementary School in Akron as well. Awesome. Whenever you get all the trays cleaned up, can we talk about your company’s core business for a sec? I have questions. (Akron Beacon Journal, 2/8/18)
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