- There are a lot of words in this piece (nearly 2,900 of them) talking in the most negative possible terms about state takeovers of chronically-underperforming districts and schools. As a grizzled veteran of Ohio’s most recent effort to turn around schools whose adult leaders really didn’t want that to happen, I only needed 68 of them, carved out of the depths of targeted punditry, to get the point here: “In northeast Ohio, for example, community organizers and a Democratic state legislator, Lauren McNally, are pushing to repeal that state’s takeover law. State takeovers in the Lorain, Youngstown and East Cleveland school districts have been a ‘disaster,’ the organizers say. On the latest state report cards, all three got 1 of 5 stars for academic achievement and were ranked near the bottom of districts statewide on that measure.” Honestly, the middle 18 words were probably enough for me. (Hechinger, 8/4/23)
- Human resource professionals in two suburban school districts in northwest Ohio are cautiously optimistic that teacher shortages are over in their area. The discussion is brief, direct, and politely positive. Whatever the previous issues were, everybody seems to be getting over them at last. Huzzah! (WTOL-TV, Toledo, 8/2/23) The tone is entirely different in this much longer piece talking to district officials in and around Dayton. It is, in my grizzled estimation, far more negative and argumentative than it needs to be. Old axes are most assuredly being ground to a fine point. I would also note that the theme is “teachers are big mad about everything and still leaving/still staying away”, but the data provided on what positions actually remain to be filled for the upcoming school year relate primarily to bus drivers, subs, paraprofessionals, and specialties like elementary music. Not sure why everyone is so cranky about that situation. (Dayton Daily News, 8/4/23)
- Finally this week: Remember back in the day when the state board of education had a dedicated administrator who handled paperwork, communication, and other operational matters for the widely-distributed board members who all also had other day jobs? Good memories for this grizzled veteran. From my read of this piece, it appears that those days may soon be back with us thanks to changes enacted via the state budget, although that admin will have a somewhat grander title. (WKBN-TV, Youngstown, 8/3/23)
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