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- Here’s a quick look at some education provi$ion$ in the Ohio Senate’s version of the state budget bill, unveiled yesterday. The usual suspects from the traditional district education blob are decrying mo$t of them (the ones with dollar $ign$, that i$) full-throatedly…when the media folks aren’t already doing so on their behalf. (Cleveland.com, 6/3/25)
- Meanwhile, the fiscal oversight board impaneled by the state to help Trimble Local Schools finally overcome their deep financial woes met for the first time last week. Recall that the district’s troubles were primarily the result of mistaken double spending of grant funds that took the elected school board years to recognize, exacerbated by a revolving door of treasurers over the same period. District officials have been begging for state fiscal oversight since December, and now they have it. These folks will surely uncover even more issues that led to deficits over and above the grant-related error and will surely recommend deep cuts to get out of it. (WOUB-FM, Athens, 6/2/25)
- Columbus City Schools is still some distance away from their fiscal cliff, despite continued enrollment declines. Kudos. Thus their elected school board continues to baby step discussions about school closures and consolidations which could, if actually executed, keep them out of financial danger for many years. But what’s the rush, eh? Among the new information released at yesterday’s board meeting, which to me casts doubt on the entire enterprise: The first two schools on the list could close by the end of next school year (emphasis on “could”) if there’s no further pushback, and one of the consolidations previously approved is likely not going to happen as proposed because they’ve realized that pouring one quarter-full school into another will result in a single facility that’s still “significantly underutilized” and save them nothing. It is also unclear to me that the immediate closure of the district’s downtown office space, approved in December, has actually occurred either. Classic! (Columbus Dispatch, 6/4/25)
- Finally we have Dayton City Schools, which has also been swimming in dough for many years now. Despite having already said they won’t/can’t change student transportation for next year—despite a strongly-stated desire to do so—Dayton’s elected leaders are still out there complaining about the fact that they are saddled with busing charter, private, and STEM school kids who live within their borders but choose to go to school elsewhere. You know: that pesky thing called state law. “I wish the other schools would step up and lighten the load a little,” says elected school board president Chrisondra Goodwine, “but that hasn’t happened.” If only someone could tell her the reason in a way she might actually hear… (Dayton Daily News, 6/2/25)
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