- In case you missed it, the House Bill that proposes to consolidate state oversight of pre-K, K-12, and workforce development into one agency had a hearing earlier this week. Fordham’s own Chad Aldis was on hand to provide testimony in support of the bill. (Columbus Dispatch, 3/7/18) Despite protestations to the contrary, I think the back of his head has never looked better than it does in those Dispatch photos. But if you insist on details of the testimony without PCA (Posterior Cranial Aldis) angles, Gongwer has got you covered. (Gongwer Ohio, 3/7/18)
- In good news news, two high-performing charter schools in Columbus were among the recipients of state construction funds to expand their physical capacity and serve more kids announced yesterday. One of those Columbus schools – United Preparatory Academy – is sponsored by Fordham, as is Dayton Early College Academy, one of the non-Columbus awardees. Congratulations to everyone! (Columbus Dispatch, 3/8/18)
- I always cringe at the phrase “in the wake of recent events,” because it seems like a sloppy sort of shorthand that assumes everyone reading it is not only fully conversant with which recent events you are talking about (many events happen every day outside of your own beat, reporters) but also—and more troubling—that it assumes that all readers share the same interpretation of those events. Therefore, whatever follows the phrase “in the wake of recent events” is assumed to do so logically and with the same logic for all readers. That’s why I prefer the wigglier phrase, “as you may recall”. But of course I am no Ohio University-educated ink-under-the-fingernails hard-bitten veteran reporter so what, ultimately, do I know about it? As you may recall, three members of Youngstown’s Academic Distress Commission have resigned in the last week or so and the district’s CEO is a finalist for a cushy supe gig (if I do say so myself) in a suburb of Denver. Which is actually quite some distance away from Youngstown. Quite logically, in the wake of those recent events (if I do say so myself), the Ohio Department of Education would like a closer look at the sitch up in Youngstown. (Youngstown Vindicator, 3/8/18) Meanwhile, Lorain City Schools has hired its Chief People Officer – a TFAer from Cleveland. (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 3/8/18) Lorain’s CEO took some questions from the audience at a town hall meeting this week too. The headline is about charter schools, but there are also a few other interesting tidbits in there. (Elyria Chronicle, 3/8/18)
- Finally today: What the frack?! The Rover Pipeline (‘memba that?) may provide an imminent windfall of cash for tiny Hillsdale Local Schools. They are ready to spend it on one or more new school buildings as soon as the Ohio Department of Taxation (‘memba them?) tells them how many zeroes they can count on in the final tally. (Richland Source, 3/8/18)
