- The General Assembly passed a sweeping education bill this week aimed at supporting schools—and providing clarity on some important issues—in their ramp up to post-pandemic normalcy. Provisions included relate to funding, graduation requirements, and third grade reading. One provision not ultimately included related to furloughs. You know what I mean. (Dayton Daily News, 6/11/20) Gongwer’s coverage of the bill notes some more specific provisions of import to charter schools, such as allowing for remote learning in 2020-21 and making changes to sponsor evaluations, service on charter boards, and the quality charter school fund. (Gongwer Ohio, 6/10/20) It is expected to be signed into law by Governor DeWine soon.
- This is probably one of the more interesting non-pandemic education stories we’re likely to see for a while. A Dayton businessman announced this week his intention to found a new private school in the Gem City targeted to start in fall 2022. This fact in itself is pretty interesting—I mean, when’s the last time a new private school opened in your area? And the early details provided here on the model—targeting “under-resourced” students and including a “significant social services” component for students and families—raise the game a bit further. But for my money the most interesting thing here is the “involvement” of Dayton City Schools in the announcement. I’ll leave it to you to see the results of the district’s efforts to bring the new school under its aegis and the compromises made by the school’s founders as a consequence. Even more interesting are the compromises not made, although you’ll have to fill in some of those details yourself. (Dayton Daily News, 6/10/20)
- Apparently, the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland heard about the above story and said, “Hold my wine.” It was announced yesterday that two Catholic schools in Cleveland will soon be under the management of Partnership Schools, the nonprofit education management organization that runs seven schools in New York. “The partnership between the Diocese of Cleveland and Partnership Schools will continue to improve Catholic schools, maintain academic excellence and instill faith-filled values that transform lives,” said diocesan administrator Father Don Oleksiak. Amen, Father. Seems like this should be huge news for a number of reasons. But here I clip a news release from the diocese. (Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, 6/11/20)
- Meanwhile,
down in the dirtin more terrestrial matters, another property transfer issue will hit the ballot in August. The elected board members of Bowling Green City Schools voted, grudgingly it seems, to make that happen as they are (still) required to by law. There is some interesting speculation by “a financial consultant serving [the district]” as to why the families in question want to transfer, most of which is uncharitable if I do say so myself. What do you think, Father Don? (Toledo Blade, 6/10/20) To paraphrase Shakespeare: For aught that I could ever read, could ever hear by tale or history, the course of merged school districts never did run smooth. Case in point, the Newbury and West Geauga district merger which we seem to have been following since William S was a lad. What’s much ado this time? Empty school buildings left behind in the merger need to be disposed of. But the law says that those dastardly charter schools get first crack at buildings put up for sale…unless a friendly deal can be reached with another public entity before the sale. But it seems that all that vitriol poured out like the wine of life during the fight against the merger may have left nothing but mere lees (look it up!) along the ground of Geauga County and thus a deal is taking a very long time to materialize. Personally, I think a very different quote will ultimately rule the day here: the enemy of my enemy is my friend. (Geauga Maple Leaf, 6/11/20)
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