Gadfly Bites 8/5/26—Vintage

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1. This piece presents as an up-to-the-moment discussion of a current issue in the Ohio gubernatorial race—merit pay for teachers. However, it includes two…shall I say…“archival”…contributions from Fordhamites. Thus while it has ended up as a nice, nuanced take on the topic, helped immensely by Jessica Poiner’s clear-eyed analysis, it feels to this old timer like coverage that’s been fermenting in the darkened journalistic cellar for some time, waiting for the right moment to emerge. No idea, though, why today is that moment. (Columbus Dispatch, 8/5/26)
   
   

2. Speaking of vintage topics, here’s an editorial from Vindy.com discussing that perennial bugbear, student transportation. Feels like the editorial board agrees with the basic findings of the Ohio Pupil Transportation Workgroup. (That is, that things need to change for the better.) But they can only get consensus on one next step to help things to improve: More money. Classic! (Vindy.com, 8/4/26)
   
   

3. A decision by the elected board of Lakewood City Schools to close an elementary school building in order to right-size their footprint has been successfully derailed by a legal challenge related to public meetings laws. The needed savings will not materialize unless they can get their act together for another try. (Ideastream Public Media, 8/4/26)

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