Gadfly Bites 7/7/25—“Now that it’s done….”

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1. Welcome back after the long holiday weekend. Hope everyone is staying cool! We start with what I think is bombshell news (see what I did there?) from the chief communications officer of Cleveland Metropolitan School District. To wit: CMSD enrollment has decreased by a whopping 50 percent over the last 25 years, and thus the district is compelled to close buildings and consolidate students to be able to offer important stuff like advanced academics and extracurricular activities to all. Dude called it “right-sizing” and made it sound like a real thing that will actually happen. Wowza. This is the plainest speaking I myself have ever heard on this topic from any district representative in Ohio. And I like it. Even more directly: He refused to blame the growth of charter schools for the enrollment declines (“not as much as you would think,” said he) but focused instead on the baby bust and other adverse population dynamics in northeast Ohio. This was really frank and important talk if you ask me, and it was all dropped so casually, at an informational gathering held by one city council member for residents of her ward. Perhaps the rhetorical tide on school closures really is turning. (Signal Cleveland, 7/7/25)
   
   

2. No such luck in Dayton, where grumpy district officials responded to the state budget’s curbs on student use of public transit passes by immediately suggesting the curtailment of school choices, including intradistrict options for its own students. (Dayton Daily News, 7/3/25)
   
   

3. In contrast with the foregoing, this interview with the new principal of Bishop Fenwick Catholic High School, located in a smallish town between Dayton and Cincinnati, feels intelligent, heartfelt, and student-focused. No negative words for any other school or school type, no sense of competition, and an honest appraisal of the type of education that students who choose Fenwick will receive. All with an eye on the future success of graduates and not an ounce of whining about any aspect of state government. How lovely. (The Journal-News, 7/6/25)
   
   

4. For another contrast, here’s a nice profile of Springfield Sports Academy, a charter school founded by former Ohio State and NFL player Braxton Miller. He even recruited his favorite teacher from his own suburban school days to come out of retirement and lead the new school. “Ms. Fugate was one of those rare teachers who made every student feel seen and heard,” Miller said. “She always had high expectations, but she paired them with encouragement and kindness. I remember her always pushing us to think bigger and dig deeper — not just in academics, but in who we wanted to become as people.” SSA’s model combines academics, character education, mental wellness, and competitive athletics every day. We are told that students receive double the standard instruction time in reading and math as well. (Springfield News-Sun, 7/7/25)
   
   

5. Finally today, here’s the first quick-hit recap of education provisions in the state budget signed into law last week, courtesy of Eileen McClory. (Dayton Daily News, 7/3/25)

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