Gadfly Bites 5/22/24—Ohio shows the world

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We’re back after a week’s break with a few things to talk about. (Not the big one out of Columbus City Schools, though; that’s for Friday after some of the dust has hopefully settled.)

1. Before we hit the new new stuff, let’s start where we ended last Wednesday: Chad Aldis’ invited testimony before the House Higher Education Committee. Topic: How ed schools across the state are handling the switch to science of reading. The hearing is covered (and Chad quoted) in this piece from local news in Columbus… (NBC4 News, Columbus, 5/16/24) …and in Statehouse news from the OCJ. TL;DR. The answer seems to be “pretty good so far”. Yay. (Ohio Capital Journal, 5/16/24)
   
   

2. In newer but still not super new news: Our own Jessica Poiner published an op-ed in the Blade over the weekend on a similar subject, taking the Frogtown ed board to task over their recent suggestion that Ohio eliminate the last vestiges of the retention requirement to help support struggling third grade readers. Blistering. (Toledo Blade, 5/18/24)
   
   

3. Meanwhile, Patrick O’Donnell is here to tell us that Indiana just reinstated a third grade retention requirement for its struggling readers. “The students who are just moving on are never passing. Ever. Ever,” says the state’s education chief. “It’s hard to say that, but it’s honest.” The Hoosier State is compared to Ohio and comes off looking better. Just bein’ honest. (The 74, 5/19/24)
   
   

4. Speaking of honesty, righting the financial ship in Mt. Healthy City Schools starts with getting the numbers right. An audit report issued by the state last week shows not only a far worse financial outlook than even the various previous projections indicated, but also points to a number of errors in procedures and forecasting that likely contributed heavily to the problems before them. It’s a conundrum for sure in that the long academically-troubled district is now touting a number of substantial test score gains for its students as a result of increased hiring undertaken with Covid-relief dollars. However, the hiring of 24 teachers without a solid financial forecast (or a plan for what would happen when the Covid money inevitably ran out) will likely result in the elimination of three times as many staff positions as those previously added. (The Center Square, 5/20/24) The state audit report for Mt. Healthy also included 19 recommendations for ways the district could save money and shave its impending deficit. However, even if all of them were adopted in full immediately, there would still be red ink aplenty. One suggestion proposed by Auditor of State Keith Faber in a news release accompanying the report is that the tiny and struggling district might consider consolidation with another nearby.  Reasonable? Yes. Honest? Definitely. Popular? Of course not. “Before dismissing an entire school district to be absorbed,” said district superintendent Valerie Hawkins, “I would challenge Auditor Faber and other legislators to help us seek solutions for solvency.” Yep. As ever. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 5/16/24)
   
   

5. Also last week: Governor Mike DeWine signed into law a bill that will revise the state’s military enlistment seal aims to curtail cellphone availability for students during class time. Everyone rejoiced because of the huge benefits that will undoubtedly accrue to adults kids (and also adults). Here’s a quote from the PTA president at Hughes STEM High School in Cincinnati, which cracked down on student cellphone use last year: “It’s increased our graduation status, it’s cut down on bullying… It’s not eliminated it entirely, but it’s cut it down a lot.” Wonder if any of them were interviewed over their cellphones? That would be funny. (Fox 19 News, Cincinnati, 5/17/24) And Ohio’s bold and dedicated efforts to do what’s best for kids (and also adults) are clearly lighting a beacon for the world. You love to see it. Here’s an example from Victoria, Australia, where a bougie private school just last week implemented a ban on the same kind of classroom distraction (with a side order of bullying and violence reduction), citing them as “unnecessary” to young people’s wellbeing, despite what others may think, and detrimental to academic achievement in ways that… Wait. I’m being told that I have it wrong (drat those beautiful but impenetrable accents!). The Aussie school’s ban is NOT about cellphones but about water bottles in class. You love to see it? (ABC Ballarat, 5/20/24)

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