Sorry to be out on Monday. Unavoidable again.
- So what was I doing while not providing you all with snarky clips earlier this week? Trying to suss out the truth about these “teacher shortages” we’ve all been hearing of. And guess what? I think I may have found it: Here’s the story of one Ohio district (a big one) that is currently experiencing a 100 percent teacher shortage. That’s gotta put a dent in those numbers. (CNN, 8/24/22)
- In other news, Fordham’s Chad Aldis was interviewed for this entry in the ongoing series about how Covid-relief money is being spent (or not spent, in many cases) in districts throughout the Miami Valley. Chad suggested schools avoid spending on ongoing items—like increases in staffing—which will need new money to be continued after the federal funds are gone and also suggested focusing mostly on expenditures aimed at boosting student achievement. (Dayton Daily News, 8/21/22) Seems like the good folks at Huber Heights City Schools were sorta listening to Chad. In this series entry, we learn that Huber Heights officials spent tens of thousands of Covid-relief dollars for trips to visit schools in other states—“exemplary schools within the deeper learning model or project-based learning model”. Models which they might someday implement. That seems at least tangentially related to improving student achievement, I figure. And the pricey lobster feast they enjoyed on one of those trips falls firmly into the category of non-ongoing expenses. Hopefully. (Dayton Daily News, 8/22/22)
- Here’s a story from the first week of school in Cincinnati: Yet another transportation nightmare scenario for charter school families. With a twist. As I got to the twist, I was curious whether the reporter might have gained a new insight into the school choice/busing issue about which comes up often on her beat. I’ll let you read the whole thing and see if you think anything new was taken onboard. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 8/21/22) Second week of school and similar problems continue in several districts in the Dayton area. Once again impacting charter and private school students. (Dayton Daily News, 8/24/22) Meanwhile, there are folks in Sylvania, Ohio, who still can’t understand why some private school families are fighting a new busing plan they are certain will lead to long, circuitous commutes to and from school every day. Mediation is underway. (Toledo Blade, 8/22/22)
- A conversion to block scheduling in Toledo City Schools remains on the table. As soon as kids are settled in for this school year, they will be surveyed on their thoughts about a change. While we have noted in previous coverage that block scheduling has been tried and terminated in the district before, commentators on this piece note that “good schools” in the area have been using it successfully for years. Exemplars noted are private school St. Ursula Academy and charter school Toledo School for the Arts. Just sayin’. (Toledo Blade, 8/22/22) Speaking of district/charter synergy (were we?), here’s a piece noting that the Bowsher High School volleyball team includes students from TSA as well as other intradistrict high schools of choice. Nice! Perennial powerhouse St. Ursula (so I gather, I don’t really speak “sports”) will apparently just have to destroy everyone else with its own students. (Toledo Blade, 8/23/22)
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