- We start today out in the ‘burbs. (I know, right!) First up is a lengthy piece about some “options” for suburban kids for whom the traditional classroom route just doesn’t seem to work. It’s not a charter or a standalone STEM school, mind, but kids in Westerville and Gahanna do have some great-sounding IB, science, and career tech options. Those latter two are thanks to Ohio’s Straight-A Innovation Fund as well. Nice. (ThisWeek News, 5/24/17) Meanwhile, adults in Grandview Heights schools have a somewhat rosier view of how their kids behave when out of their sight than did the adults in Unioto schools discussed earlier this week in the Bites. Instead of slovenly, barbaric, screen-addicted couch rats who need stringent summer rules, warnings and checklists to remind them to “be more human”, Grandview teachers and librarians think their kids just need to read a lot and get out a bit, and maybe attend a summer camp if possible. Sounds more like it to me. (ThisWeek News/Tri-Village News, 5/23/17) Further north, the Sylvania school district in suburban Toledo is still facing stiff opposition to its efforts to redraw school building boundaries. (Toledo Blade, 5/26/17) Probably coincidentally, it was announced this week that the superintendent of Sylvania schools will resign effective July 31, even though three years remain on his current contract. His replacement has already been named. Ouch. (Toledo Blade, 5/26/17)
- While some may consider it a distant suburb of Columbus, Delaware City Schools seems to be facing some familiar urban school district problems at the moment. Deficits, staffing issues, benefit requirements, etc. And when the Auditor of State comes calling (Yost!) with some sobering audit results and a lot of sharp-edged recommendations, it’s probably safe to assume you’re in the big time. And not in a good way. (Columbus Dispatch, 5/25/17)
- How do education professionals and policy makers feel about the Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) program, designed to support young and early-career teachers in the Buckeye State? Based on Senate testimony last week, opinions range from “well-intended but problematic” to “daunting but necessary”. And those are the best things I could find. The program is currently slated for elimination via the state budget – which is the wish of the “well-intended by problematic” folks – but several members of the “daunting but necessary” brigade argued for tweaks rather than outright elimination. (Gongwer Ohio, 5/25/17)
- Despite the other issues taking up his time these days (see Wednesday’s Bites for more details), Lorain City Schools supe Jeff Graham still has time for his monthly meeting with the district’s Student Advisory Council. Here’s a look at the topics covered at their most recent meeting. Sounds pretty good. I’m sure the new district CEO – whoever that may be – will continue this worthy endeavor. (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 5/24/17) Speaking of which, the chair of the new Lorain Academic Distress Commission was named this morning. He is Anthony Richardson, Admiral King HS grad, former Lorain city councilman, and currently program officer of The Nord Family Foundation. Congrats! Next stop: hiring that aforementioned CEO. Wonder who it will be? (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 5/26/17)
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