- There is a new superintendent in Youngstown City Schools. In a surprise to almost no one, it is not one of the out-of-towners recommended by the school board. It is instead, the current interim supe, a district veteran. (Youngstown Vindicator, 7/29/17)
- Speaking of school districts under the aegis of an Academic Distress Commission, Lorain’s police chief continued his sudden and inexplicable opining against said ADC in the Morning Journal over the weekend. (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 7/30/17) Back in the real world, here is a very very detailed discussion of the new Freshmen Academy in the Colossus of Lorain (a.k.a. – the schmancy new-ish high school), which it appears is so “huge” and “giant” that last year’s high school freshmen got lost in the shuffle. I must admit I can’t understand most of it, but I am assured by a trusted adviser that all of the plans described here are solid efforts to make sure they will be lost no more. Good luck to everyone! (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 7/30/17) Sounds like a similar story back in Youngstown, where supporting students with special needs is the focus of teacher development efforts and a new Multi-Tiered Support System being put in place for next school year. (Youngstown Vindicator, 7/30/17)
- In other teacher-related news, the D is reporting that Reynoldsburg City Schools has successfully reached agreement on a new contract with its teachers union, avoiding the rancor/division/strike of the previous contract process. It is noted that all of the negotiating team on the management (board) side are new and were not involved in the previous negotiations. The folks on the union side, I assume, are all the same. Wonder if that dynamic had anything to do with the “success” of this negotiation? Speaking for the board in this piece is the prez, who was not a member of the negotiating team because he is a teacher in Columbus City Schools (say what?) and therefore a union member and so recused himself. Also probably not a factor. Probably. (Columbus Dispatch, 7/28/17)
- Anyone hankering for a detailed history lesson (nearly 2000 words in the article alone!) on the creation of the state’s largest online school (or is it?) is directed to this Candisky and Siegel opus in the D this weekend. If that’s not your bag, then read it for the copious mentions of the Waffle House. (Columbus Dispatch, 7/30/17) In case you’d prefer your copy without reference to waffles or Nanas or Florida retreats, I direct you to two instances of the more typical opining against the state’s largest online school (or is it?) in the Dispatch… (Columbus Dispatch, 7/30/17) …and in the Plain Dealer. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/30/17)
- Finally today, “Hillbilly Elegy” author J.D. Vance’s popularity in Columbus is likened to that of a boy band. You can also find out where he gets his coffee (NOT the Waffle House), where he will speak at a luncheon this Wednesday (ahem), and a little of what he’s actually up to these days. (Columbus Dispatch, 7/31/17)
Topics:
