- In case you missed it on Wednesday, the Ohio Department of Education sent letters to four charter schools it sponsors informing them of their intent to close the schools for, among other things, poor academic performance. There’s a lot to this story that actually goes back a couple of years, but the bottom line is that this is exactly how sponsors should handle such situations. Kudos to ODE for making the tough decisions required in the best interests of students. For a boring version of the story perhaps a bit too light on details, check out the Dispatch (Columbus Dispatch, 6/4/15). For an interesting in-depth version of the story – three of the schools are in Cleveland after all – with lots of links to explain the history, check out the PD. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/3/15). And for a predictably unique version, you can check out the ABJ. (Akron Beacon Journal, 6/4/15)
- And since those initial stories ran, the schools on the chopping block in Cleveland responded to the press. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/4/15) So did the school in Canton. (Canton Repository, 6/4/15) Expect more on this situation next week.
- Hannah Sparling has a great piece on the state of Catholic education in Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Urban areas languishing; suburban areas booming. Particularly interesting in light of the startup of the Accelerate Great Schools project in Cincy, of which the diocese is an integral part. Fascinating. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 6/3/15)
- Both school districts under the aegis of an academic distress commission are on the hunt for new superintendents. The group of nine we told you about in Youngstown has been whittled down to four. Still not much detail provided by the Vindy, but it appears that the former charter school leader in the original group didn’t make the cut. Interviews Monday. (Youngstown Vindicator, 6/4/15) In Lorain, they’re down to six candidates and the final three interviewed with the board and the distress commission this week, including the current assistant supe. Decision could be made as early as tonight. (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 6/4/15)
- Not sure what we’re going to do for editorials once the sale of the Columbus Dispatch to a media holding company goes through. Sad – and quieter – times ahead for Gadfly Bites, I’m sure. But until that happens, enjoy this typical gem as the Big D’s editors opine in favor of eliminating caps and guarantees in school funding. (Columbus Dispatch, 6/5/15). Business and city leaders and school administrators in Mason City Schools disagree with that opinion rather strongly. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 6/5/15)
- Gadfly Bites has two interns today, who each chose a story to clip from the myriad of good stuff on offer around the state. Their last names may be familiar.
Nola Murray, quiet Minecraft and math whiz, would like you to pay attention to this: Here is a story about a 14 year-old girl named Emma Moris who is about to graduate high school. She will be the youngest person in Springboro Schools’ history to graduate. She has a 4.0 GPA and is ranked 20th in her class of 423 students. She will be attending Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. She is a very talented girl and will probably be a very successful person. (Columbus Dispatch, 6/5/15)
Astrid Murray, slightly louder musical theatre aficionado, wants to bring this story to center stage: This is a story about theatre kids at Cleveland Heights High School. When budget cuts caused the school board to fire their stage crew director, they fought back. The students started a petition and presented 485 signatures to the school board on Tuesday. It's great to see young thespians fighting for what they care about. Looks like we have "Something to Believe In". (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/3/15)
- Finally, here is yet another positive story about a charter school from the Glass City. Toledo Maritime Academy and the Toledo Rowing Club have banded together in a shared love of rowing and to help increase rowing opportunities for students. Nice. (Toledo Blade, 6/4/15)
