- Fordham was namechecked in two stories noting that another charter sponsor has joined the “Exemplary Ranking” club…and that two have been named to the “Ineffective Ranking” club, the lowest possible rating. Check out coverage in the Big D (Columbus Dispatch, 6/10/15) and the Enquirer. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 6/10/15) Also noted nationally in Politico this morning, along with a quote from Chad. Nice.
- Speaking of charter schools, what’s up with management companies in Ohio? The Beacon Journal is still digging into Summit Academy Management. To wit: multiple breach-of-contract proceedings against teachers at their schools who quit to take jobs at other schools…mainly district schools. (Akron Beacon Journal, 6/8/15) But I think the real story – which the ABJ will get to in due time, I’m sure – is this one: Akron-based journalist-fave White Hat Management is considering selling off operation of 12 of its K-8 academies to an out-of-state company. The PD’s story seems pretty tame given all the history (how did that story not get around to noting the potential new operator is also a for-profit company, for instance), but I’m sure that will change soon enough. Seems like this could get huge. More to come. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/9/15)
- A little closer to the ground – the list of candidates for interim supe in Youngstown is now down to two after interviews on Monday. (Youngstown Vindicator, 6/8/15) And Vandalia-Butler Schools have voted to spend over $2 million to purchase their own school buses, ending a contract with an outside vendor, but stopped short of hiring their own drivers. That will still be outsourced, just to another company. (Dayton Daily News, 6/8/15)
- And we finish today pretty far away from the real world – the state legislature. Wherein budget changes proposed in the Senate include (among other things that people care about) no further rounds of funding for the Straight-A Innovation Fund, as opposed to the Governor’s and House’s version. Where will that proposed funding go? I think the Senate was looking to the recent example of Columbus City Schools: instead of incenting excellence (If Excellence was Easy, Everyone Would Do It, after all), let’s just use the money to give increases across the board, regardless of excellence or innovation. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/9/15) And in the House, testimony on a bill proposing universal cursive handwriting curriculum across the state took a turn for the slippery when a co-sponsor said, “Starting today, this committee needs to look at all curriculums… "I think we as a Statehouse... need to start taking a look at what is going on in the curriculums of our various school districts. Because I think they are doing away with some of the very things that are foundational.” Look out locals! Yowza. (Gongwer Ohio, 6/9/15)
