- The Akron Beacon Journal’s former education reporter Doug Livingston, current state Rep. Kristina Roegner, and others participated in a panel discussion last week on how awful charter schools are at the behest of the Hudson League of Women Voters. Nice summary article on the manifest evils of charter schools from the paper. No charter school supporters were invited to participate, for which Aaron is grateful. (Hudson Hub Times, 4/27/16) If you think that description of the event overblown on my part, I encourage you to check out edited video of the panel on YouTube. The well-timed gasps from the audience will tell you all you need to know.
- Back in the real world, Tornado pride is on the rise again, y’all! West Muskingum’s school board voted unanimously to eliminate pay to play fees for all middle and high school sports. I’m not sure from what new pot of money this largesse is emanating but lots of folks are happy about it. Honestly, reading some of those quotes from community members and staffers makes it sound like the old fees were really divisive on a very personal level. Perhaps the folks in West Muskingum need some perspective. Next up on the to-buy list for this boundless new fund: lockers! (Zanesville Times Recorder, 5/1/16)
- I think the theme of today’s brief news clips is: don’t mess with school districts’ money. It is theirs after all, amiright? That theme continues here as Mentor City Schools gets ready to argue in an appellate court that the local Education Service Center overbilled them for services not rendered, to the tune of $476,000. You may remember that Mentor got skunked in court last year, but Round 2 will take place this week and it’s anybody’s game. Maybe. (Willoughby News-Herald, 5/1/16)
