- We noted last week that Columbus City Schools hired its first ever chief equity officer. The Dispatch this week took a look at what that work entails in a district as large—and as inequitable in academic outcomes—as CCS. The discussion is conducted amid the very current backdrop of the Black Lives Matters movement, but the inequity in Columbus and in districts across the state goes back quite a bit further than that. (Columbus Dispatch, 6/29/20)
- We have already seen those long-standing inequities in Ohio’s schools and districts shown up in a very bright light during the pandemic-mitigation shutdowns this spring. And those same inequities could play out again in the fall, given Columbus’ limited school reopening plans announced this week, with or without someone in charge of solving them. (Columbus Dispatch, 7/1/20) Cincinnati City Schools’ fall plans were also announced this week. Different version of hybrid than Columbus’, same potential equity problems. Not to mention another Ohio district which cannot count to 6 feet. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 6/29/20) Folks in Akron City Schools at least know how many feet make 6. And for that reason (at least partly), their plans include a fully online option…with a whole ‘nother set of long-entrenched equity concerns. (Akron Beacon Journal, 6/30/20)
- Olmsted Falls City Schools has not, as yet, determined what their return to school in the fall will look like. Superintendent Jim Lloyd seems determined not to do remote learning again. “That’s not what school is for,” he opined matter-of-factly. “School is to have people in buildings.” (Silly me: I thought school was for teaching and learning.) Supe says he is supported in that opinion by the results of a recent survey of district parents and students soliciting their thoughts on how the impromptu remote learning of this past spring went for them. You can read those results and see if you agree with his take, but I think he’ll probably change his tune anyway—for reasons well outside the scope of that survey. If parents are going to opt to keep their kids out of those buildings in the fall, he says, “they’re going to look for a distance learning kind of option. If a school district doesn’t provide that distance learning option, they may go out on the charter (school) markets to find an option. If that’s the case, we lose between $4,000 to $6,000 per kid. So that could become an economic issue for us as well.” Well, as long as we’re all clear what school districts are for. (Cleveland.com, 7/1/20)
- Speaking of pandemic-related education impacts, the good folks at Gongwer are digging a bit more into the recently-passed HB 164 to highlight all the neat stuff the legislature seems to be giving schools and students a pass on for the future. This includes the ever popular efforts here in Ohio to make diplomas meaningless pieces of paper. (Gongwer Ohio, 6/29/20)
- Meanwhile, perhaps smelling victory in the air this time, the usual suspects are making the same old arguments while pushing again to end Academic Distress Commissions in Ohio. (WKBN-TV, Youngstown, 6/30/20)
Did you know you can have every edition of Gadfly Bites sent directly to your Inbox? Subscribe by clicking here.
Policy Priority:
Topics:
