Lots to cover today. Let’s get to it.
- Fordham’s Kathryn Mullen Upton shared her views on the state of charter school governing boards in EdWeek, and it’s fascinating, important stuff. Those views are hard won through years of hands-on experience in Ohio. She opines that a lack of expertise among board members on critical issues of governance is often found amid “meltdowns”. As I might have expected, this piece does a pretty serious handwave over elected school boards. Loyal readers of Gadfly Bites will note any number of recent examples of losers (or worse) being voted in to board seats and staying in despite demonstrated incompetence, neglect, dereliction, and even criminality. But perhaps that’s not politically correct to point out, as Governor Kasich has said. (EdWeek, 5/28/15)
- Fordham’s Chad Aldis is also in the news this week, commenting on Ohio Senate testimony in which some charter school advocates sought to carve out exceptions to stringent new restrictions proposed for sponsors. It is not exactly a spoiler to say that Chad’s not a fan of said exceptions. (Columbus Dispatch, 5/28/15)
- Not to belabor the point, but here’s another take on the state of play in charter law reform here in Ohio. What’s interesting here is the possibility that the multiple pending bills on the matter could be combined in some way and what that might look like. It’s wonky, but worth a read. (Gongwer Ohio, 5/27/15)
- One of those pieces of legislation addressing aspects of charter law reform is the state budget bill – HB 64. The governor’s original budget proposal also included a major change to K-12 education funding in Ohio – specifically a removal of the “caps and guarantees” model that we discussed in the last issue of Gadfly Bites. As noted previously, these things tend to distort funding levels and tend to lead to decisions made via emotional pleas rather than rational number-crunching. Read this and you’ll see what I mean as the Senate President tries to re-inject some rationality into the debate and to reopen the possibility of eliminating caps and guarantees. (Columbus Dispatch, 5/29/15)
- Editors at the Big D opine in favor of a new initiative from State Auditor Dave Yost. (Tired of hearing about that guy yet? Me neither!) He plans to issue audit reports that not only enumerate findings for recovery – as he uncovers them – but also list what he terms “abusive” spending: stuff that’s not illegal but that he deems wasteful of public funds. Realize that the auditor’s office looks at municipalities, charter schools, state agencies, etc. There are three examples of “abusive spending” in this op-ed, all related to school district spending. Hmmm…. (Columbus Dispatch, 5/29/15)
- Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools is considering changing its vision statement. Take a look at the subtle tweak to the current statement which is being proposed and see if I’m being overly sensitive. Seems to me that “lifelong learners” might be a modifier for “success” that would take some heat off a district with a historically low ranking in the state. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 5/28/15)
- We finish with a trio of stories from Youngstown. First up, members of the Academic Distress Commission overseeing the district say that poor attendance is a huge impediment to academic improvement. Only 5 of the district’s 16 schools met their attendance targets this year and kids can’t learn if they’re not in school. What’s the answer? More staff to make calls and visit students’ homes. (Youngstown Vindicator, 5/29/15)
- Meanwhile, a delegation from the State Board of Education was in town yesterday trying to find out why Youngstown City Schools has been in such dire straits for so long. They too were directed to the homes of students. Apparently many of the kids who actually show up aren't learning either due to “issues” from their homes which they bring into the classroom. I don’t want to make light of the stresses in some families’ lives, but honestly if all of these staffers and elected officials and volunteers are going to go to all of the students’ homes, perhaps school buildings are not necessary and all teaching could be done via house call. You could hire a lot of concierge teachers if you sold all your buildings. (WYTV, Youngstown, 5/28/15)
- You might have thought that the state board delegation came to Youngstown in response to the Vindicator’s multiple pleas to the state for help in saving a school district which editors said was “on life support” earlier this week. But they either didn’t hear the plea or misunderstood because they turned to Youngstown’s mayor as a possible savior. Surely the Vindy thought about him already. Right? Yeesh. (Youngstown Vindicator, 5/29/15)
