- I hate to be the one to break it to you, but summer will be over sooner than you think. Don’t blame me; blame LeBron James. Because his new I Promise School in Akron opens next week! I’m sure the documentary camera crew will be there for LeBron’s big day, which is apropos, given this piece talking about the high tech media lab which the new school will contain, thanks to generous support. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/23/18)
- Akron may have LeBron and his foundation, but not to be outdone, Youngstown has former Buckeye Maurice Clarett. Specifically, it has The Red Zone, a behavioral health agency founded by Clarett that works to support students facing “tremendous personal obstacles that inhibit them from doing well in school”. A new report indicates that whatever The Red Zone is doing, it has helped raise some GPAs for Y’town students. Interesting. (WFMJ-TV, Youngstown, 7/23/18)
- However, Akron City Schools has another big player on its team as well—Bridgestone. This week, it was announced that the tire giant will be the sponsor of the new Academy of Applied Engineering and Technology at East High School. With their support and $200,000 contribution, the existing automotive tech lab at East will be remodeled into a student-run Firestone Complete Auto Care center. Up to 100 students will get the opportunity to get hands-on experience working with car repair technology as well as the skills involved in running a retail store. Fascinating. (Akron Beacon Journal, 7/24/18)
- Kids in Columbus City Schools have American Electric Power on their side. The first students anywhere in the state eligible for and on track to earn the OhioMeansJobs-Readiness Seal on their high school diplomas are these four Columbus students. They have so far completed a 10-week internship with the utility giant and had their professional skills learning verified by an AEP staffer. There will be more connection with utility professionals as trainers and mentors going forward. And more students should be along shortly via other companies across the state. (Columbus Dispatch, 7/25/18)
- In Canton City Schools, students have the new Accelerating Innovative Minds Academy, the district’s first year-round school. AIM Academy will focus on literacy, technology, leadership, and Spanish. A big festival was held at the building this week to get the 400 kids and their families excited for the new adventure. School also starts at AIM on July 30 and it seems there are still some seats available if anyone out there is interested. (Canton Repository, 7/24/18) What do editors in Canton say about the new year-round school? They are largely positive. (Canton Repository, 7/25/18)
- Meanwhile, students in Dayton City Schools have several outside-run after school programs to support them. (Dayton Daily News, 7/23/18) And students in Elyria City Schools have five new school buildings to look forward to over the next three years. (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 7/25/18)
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