- We get a two-fer out of Columbus City Schools’ most recent Zoom-based board meeting. In a nod to the post-pandemic world, we learn that the district has agreed to sell two of its many shuttered buildings to charter school operators – namely, United Schools Network and ACCEL Schools. Nice! But, still mired in the current emergency, the board took most of its time to discuss—and then vote to adopt—a pass/incomplete system for the fourth quarter grading period. It is interesting to note that kids are still working to improve their third quarter grades, the last ten days of which fell at the start of the building closure order, although time is running out for that. It is not clear whether that work also follows the pass/incomplete framework. It is also interesting to note that students will have a full six months (until September 15, well into the following school year) to complete fourth quarter work. Crazy times. (Columbus Dispatch, 4/22/20) A two-fer in Dayton also. This week’s Zoom-based board meeting included details on demolition of two closed buildings and the sale of another. No charter schools were involved in either of those decisions. The second big item is put forward as a contract cancellation, but it’s more than that…as you will see in Item 5, below. (Dayton Daily News, 4/22/20)
- But we’ll stick with pandemic-related news for a moment. With the hope for a return to in-class instruction this year now dashed, Yellow Springs Exempted Village Schools will be calling it a year two weeks earlier than previously scheduled…just as soon as they hit the state mandated hours of instruction. (Yellow Springs News, 4/22/20) Not to be outdone, Revere Local Schools will be lopping off three weeks from their previously-calendared year. (Akron Beacon Journal, 4/23/20)
- Perhaps those schools should not be blamed for trying to get out of the distance learning game as soon as possible. I gather that it’s not for everyone. This mom from Gallipolis (who is not, by the way, a teacher) says her district was not ready for the online learning pivot. (ABC6, Columbus, 4/22/20) Speaking of parents, editors at the Dispatch seem to want to place most of the onus for success or failure of this “unpredictable” school year squarely at their feet. (Columbus Dispatch, 4/23/20)
- Meanwhile, a 16-year-old sophomore at Lorain High School has hacked the code on the state’s ‘rona website and tweaked it to make it more user friendly for folks who can only access it via mobile devices. (You know who he means.) It’s either the coolest thing I’ve heard this week or the mildest episode of Mr. Robot ever. (Elyria Chronicle, 4/23/20)
- Now let’s zip back to Dayton and a story that has nothing to do with any pandemic. Well, not with a virus-related pandemic anyway. The board voted 5-0 (with two abstentions) to eliminate the Males of Color program, aimed at supporting African American boys in the district, to dismiss all its staff, and to reject the remainder of the grant funding they were awarded to fund it. The explanation for the move is a bit muddy, as is the promised replacement effort. (Dayton Daily News, 4/22/20)
- Here’s a great story of a charter school helping to honor its graduates. The principal of Toledo School for the Arts surprised the Class of 2020 with colorful yard signs paid for by the school and planted by the principal in each of their yards. (Toledo Blade, 4/22/20) Meanwhile, one of the last remaining drive-in movie theaters in the state has offered to host drive-in graduations for any school looking to hold a ceremony with pandemic protocols in place. And popcorn delivered to your car! (ABC News 4, Cincinnati, 4/23/20)
- We began today with a nod to the post-pandemic education landscape and we will end with another one. And this one likely has some larger resonances for that world. Struthers City Schools in Mahoning County is extending its deadline for open enrollment for next school year. That’s right, anyone who would rather send their child to Struthers schools instead of, say, Youngstown, Canfield, Poland, Lowellville, Youngstown, or other nearby districts can do so well into August. Seems like a big deal to me. (WKBN-TV, Youngstown, 4/24/20)
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