Gadfly Bites 8/25/25—Ohio’s private school community is calling attention to itself. Are you listening?

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1. This probably qualifies as old news, but it’s new to me and the resolution is recent, so here it is: A veteran teacher at Poland Local Schools in northeast Ohio was cheesed off at the teachers union because they had bargained away about $9,000 of her salary during contract negotiations a while back, sacrificing it for some other concession they wanted more. She asked to leave the union, which was her right, and of course to stop paying dues, which apparently was not done—with monthly deductions being made automatically for quite some time despite repeated requests to stop. She sued the local, state, and national union organizations asking for the groups to stop charging her credit card, to refund the money taken after she quit, and for payment of her court costs. There’s no detail on the settlement amount, but she and her representatives seem happy with it, and the fact that the ordeal is finally over. (The Center Square, 8/22/25)
   
   

2. Despite the fact that Dayton City Schools is once again able (and even more eager than before) to give public transit passes to high school students to get to and from school every day, this quick survey of parents at the district’s Dunbar High School indicates that they never really had much use for the passes and aren’t jumping to grab them now either. Lots of carpools have sprung up in the first weeks of school, as well as community support for rideshares, although a functioning yellow bus service—with some precise description of the term “functioning” provided by one dad interviewed—is apparently the preference. (Dayton Daily News, 8/22/25)
   
   

3. Here’s a great back-to-school message from the superintendent of schools for the Cincinnati Catholic Diocese: Matt Daniels reiterates the educational mission of the church and that private schools of all types are just as essential to their communities as any other type of school. “Ohioans have long valued educational subsidiarity, where decisions are best made close to home,” he writes. “No decision is more local than parents choosing a school for their children at their own dining room table. Moreover, supporting parental choice does not undermine any educational institution; it affirms a fundamental truth: parents are their children’s first and most important teachers, and they deserve the freedom and resources to fulfill that sacred role.” Sounds like the perfect tone with which to greet the new school year. (Dayton Daily News, 8/22/25) It is interesting that the Cincy Catholic supe’s column did not run in his hometown paper, but in the Dayton Daily News instead. Similarly curious: Columnist Charita Goshay praises the new private school Dreams Academy in an op-ed for her hometown paper in Canton, rather than the Akron Beacon-Journal, in the town where the school is located. Just sayin’. (Canton Repository, 8/25/25) No such problem in Van Wert, where the arrival of a new private school in this tiny northwest Ohio community is worth touting. (Why yes, Kingdom Connection Academy does accept EdChoice vouchers; thank you so much for asking.) But this seemingly tiny happening is actually part of a much bigger deal in my opinion: the seeding of new private schools across the state due to EdChoice expansion to near-universal eligibility three years ago, is  beginning to bear fruit—even in smaller communities that have traditionally had fewer options for families. And it ain’t over yet! (Van Wert Independent, 8/23/25)
   
   

4. One private school I would like to have 10 more of across the state is Cristo Rey, the college- and career-focused Catholic program aimed at traditionally-underserved students and with three schools operating in Ohio currently. Here’s a fantastic look at the first day of the new school year at Columbus Cristo Rey High School. It is touted as a “draft day” and it’s when all of the students are matched with their work-study job for the year…in a huge, public ceremony. Wowza. I am particularly happy to see that it’s not all for show, with the companies and non-profits sitting down with their matched students (many of whom are returning for a second or third year to the same company) to celebrate, catch up/meet for the first time, and to plan their work activities for the year. Awesome! (Columbus Dispatch, 8/24/25)

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