Gadfly Bites 3/9/26—Sweetheart deals

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1. Here’s a piece looking very generally—and pessimistically—at the report card performance of charter schools in the Dayton area last school year. (I say “generally” because some time is spent discussing the Dayton Regional STEM school, which is then caveated with the note that it’s “not technically” a charter school. It is, as I know you all know, categorically not a charter school, but who can quibble with any reminder of STEM school awesomeness?) And while at least one dropout recovery charter is included as an example of a poor performer, a) schools like them are the ones more aptly described as “technically” charters IMHO, but b) it is at least nice to see a school representative spelling out all of the specific efforts its teachers and staff are currently implementing to help boost the achievement, based on the report card results. Which is the intention of report cards. Our Aaron Churchill is also quoted here, both as education data guru and in recognition of Fordham’s role as sponsor of noted high performer DECA. (Dayton Daily News, 3/6/26) Kathryn Mullen, Fordham’s vice president for sponsorship, is quoted in this companion piece, looking at two Dayton charter schools whose poor report card performance earned them one “strike” from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce toward permanent closure. One of these is the Fordham-sponsored Dayton Leadership Academies. It’s obviously not good news, but please do take note of the detailed efforts outlined by both Kathryn and school leader Tess Mitchner Asinjo—already underway this year—to improve student outcomes based on the report card data. Just the way it’s supposed to happen. And I would also ask you to remember that only charter schools in Ohio can be closed due to extended poor academic performance such as this. Not districts. (Dayton Daily News, 3/6/26)
   
   

2. Another reminder for you: Charter schools in Ohio can also be closed for extreme financial distress, while districts facing such trouble get a ton of help from the state instead. With that in mind, here’s a look at budget woes in Barberton City Schools, which have landed them on the first rung of the state’s Help Ladder: fiscal caution. And they’re probably going to need to climb at least one more rung because this piece tells us they are in so much trouble that not even the combination of a $7 million budget cut and a new money levy (which is no sure thing for passage) will alleviate their projected deficit. Also climbing the Help Ladder across Ohio, as noted in this piece: Springfield Local (fiscal watch) and Mount Healthy City and Trimble Local (fiscal emergency). So much help coming their way. (Akron Beacon Journal, 3/8/26) You can add Parma City Schools to the list of districts eliminating school choices within their borders in order to save money to avoid deficits. This includes all elementary and middle school choice as well as their SARS-CoV-2-era virtual academy. Sounds like they’d axe high school choices if they could, too, but the popularity of CTE prevents this for now. (Cleveland.com, 3/9/26) Budget projections must still be decent in Alliance City Schools. Because they have held onto (and paid to maintain) at least one empty lot for more than 3 years after demoing the school building that was there. In this piece we learn that they are finally selling one piece of ground–to the City of Alliance—for a measly $10. Sounds like a sweetheart deal to me…but not for the district. (Canton Repository, 3/9/26)
   
   

3. To be frank, though, we all know the only deal school districts are really looking for is more money for less responsibility. And a couple of sweethearts in the General Assembly have just put a new one on the table: Ohio House Bill 545 which would, among other things, give districts an additional $88 million to pay for student transportation while also allowing them to dictate the timeframes in which they will and will not provide busing for charter, private, and STEM school students, effectively controlling the start/end times for their competitors. Can’t get any sweeter than that. (Dayton Daily News, 3/9/26)

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