Gadfly Bites 5/23/25—“I think they get it”

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1. Here is a nicely-detailed story about EdChoice voucher usage in Ashland County. I always give big kudos to reporters when they take the extra step to include private school leaders and parents in these pieces because it forces some positivity into it, even if the overall tone is meant to be negative. Which is, sadly, the typical case. But we actually get something bigger here: A former district superintendent who says (out loud and on the record) that, “Sometimes, for whatever reason, that particular school isn’t working, and my heart breaks for any student that’s not feeling embraced or fully included, and if for whatever reason that isn’t happening, I’m gonna lay down on the mud puddle so they can walk by to get to wherever… That’s why I think a lot of superintendents, [while] I don’t know that they are choice advocates, I think they get it.” That sounds like The Truth to me. (Ashland Source, 5/22/25) If that statement is representative of their leaders, then, what is motivating districts to continue to join up in order to destroy EdChoice and all other voucher programs in the state via lawsuit? If it ain’t The Truth, then it must be something else…. (WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, 5/21/25)
   
   

2. Sounds like a complete ban on cellphones in Ohio classrooms—as proposed in the state budget bill—is a foregone conclusion at this point. We are told in this piece that Cincinnati City Schools has already done so voluntarily. Thus, not only would their students experience no additional restrictions they don’t already face, we can also use Cincinnati’s experience with a total ban to anticipate what other districts and schools will see when they are required to tighten the screws on cellphone use to the fullest extent. I’ll leave you to read what they say and draw your own conclusions (the parent comments solicited by WCPO both for and against bans are interesting). I myself am still waiting for report cards the last bit of “experience” to draw mine. (WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, 5/22/25) Meanwhile, students in Akron City Schools are speaking out against draconian bathroom pass restrictions in their buildings (didn’t we have this same story from Columbus back in September?) as their school year limps to a close. (Signal Akron, 5/23/25)
   
   

3. The superintendent of Canton City Schools is leading the inevitable whining charge against the state budget bill proposal to tighten the screws on Ohio’s school facilities law. Specifically, to redefine the term (and to widely publicize which school buildings fit the description of) “underutilized”, and to force districts to part with them to interested charter and private school operators for below market value. Supe’s objections sound disingenuous to me—as do his protestations that he’s “OK” with current unused facility law—but who cares what I think (at any time and on any subject)? Here’s what Governor Mike DeWine has to say about it: “The problem is that the law for some time has said that if a district is not using a building that it needs to be sold… There’s been some practical problems, frankly, serious allegations that some of these schools are literally holding on to this property for no other reason than to stop them, some competition. So that’s what the issue is.” Yep. Sure is, boss! (Statehouse News Bureau, 5/23/25)
   
   

4. Finally this week: This piece has given me an idea for an unorthodox source from which to recruit new teachers to alleviate shortages in Ohio, especially for math. Take a look and see what you think. (Outdoor News, 5/23/25)

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