- An interesting, if tangential topic to start our Friday: The latest annual report on poverty trends from the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies notes an ongoing lack of broadband access in some parts of the state (you know what they mean) as an important issue holding back low-income Ohioans. However, the report’s focus is such that remote education implications do not even make the cut in this reportage on it…even though there is a brand new “dashboard” feature this year that includes data on graduation rates and FRPL. (Gongwer Ohio, 8/9/21) Some of the more obvious roadblocks to rural broadband access are documented in this brief piece from southwest Ohio, which touches a little more squarely on education-related issues. While I am sympathetic to the concerns expressed by residents, and even more sympathetic to education equity concerns not expressed here, it seems that neither residents nor reporters understand the path from signed legislation to progress on the ground. I’m just sayin’: there are no fewer hollers between the tower and the residents today than there were in July. It’s hugely important, but it’s also a big lift, people. (WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, 8/9/21)
- Also tangential, but too awesome for me to skip: Here’s a profile of a fantastic-sounding fashion internship program for young people, held this summer here in central Ohio, which allowed them to learn from professionals about everything from designing and creating products to marketing and merchandising them, and from order fulfillment to retail sales and publicity. It is run by two nonprofit organizations, is almost exclusively populated by guys, and pays its young participants $300 per week while teaching them a ton of hugely valuable skills. One young man said he learned more in the two-month immersive program than he did during his entire freshman year in college. I’d love to know if the recent high school grads participating had a similar assessment. (Columbus Dispatch, 8/11/21)
- Meanwhile, Akron City Schools is touting its new “bug bomb” style disinfectant. Not only will it supposedly sanitize the school buses in which it will be deployed twice per day this school year, it is also said to prevent mold and mildew. But wait! There’s more! There is also an app for that. (Fox8 News, Cleveland, 8/11/21) East Knox Local Schools has been notified that it is in breach of its maintenance of effort requirement for funding of federal special education services. In order to “fix” the problem, the treasurer said she is currently combing last year’s budget for other spending items they could “adjust” to recode toward special education. Plan B is to ask for a waiver of MOE requirements due to…whatever they might determine to be the cause of the underspend. Neither the speculation reported here about those possible causes nor indeed any of the discussion around other board meeting agenda items covered in the piece inspire much confidence in your humble (but possibly doused with curmudgifier-filled bug bomb recently) clips compiler. (Knox Pages, 8/12/21)
- Finally this week, I had a ton of OMG moments while reading this piece, both good and bad. I won’t bore you with all of them as a) You should definitely read all of this lengthy status update on the proposed new Greater Dayton School—a private school for low-income and other underserved students which is jumping determinedly through some frankly ridiculous hoops—for yourself because it’s important, and b) I have confidence you will find lots of places to OM your own G when you do read it. (Dayton Daily News, 8/12/21)
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