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- I don’t know how you officially take back kudos, but I think I’m going to have to go through that process since the leadership of Akron City Schools has decided to get a little stroppy about the overpayment they received from state Science of Reading curriculum funds. Rather than the district returning the erroneous money, as it sounded like would happen—and which your humble clips compiler praised—in Monday’s report, the state will be withholding the $800K from the district’s next regular payment to make things right. On top of that, district officials are now blaming the structure of the state’s electronic survey as being “ambiguous”, claiming that led to the mistaken reporting and overpayment in the first place. Too bad. While embarrassing, the original “we made a mistake and will give back this money which we don’t need” message was far preferable. (Akron Beacon Journal, 9/10/24)
- On to some actual kudos that should definitely stick: Steubenville City Schools is once again held out as an exemplar of how district schools in low-income areas can successfully serve their students with high-quality education. That revelation—not for the first time—comes as part of new nationwide research on schools which are doing the best job at teaching their young students to read proficiently. There are whiz-bang graphics here and a lot of available data to go through. But the bottom line is that schools predominantly serving poor students can do so to a very high level; and those that aren’t, need to do better fast. (The 74, 9/10/24)
- Add private school students who live in the Marysville City School District and rely on the district for transportation to this list of those having bus trouble so far this school year. Fingers mainly point to a bus driver shortage as the cause, but there is some disingenuous supposition that passing the district’s levy in November would help remedy the problems. “Parents and students who have been impacted by our transportation issues early this year are rightfully frustrated,” said the district treasurer, “but a failed levy is not going to improve that issue.” Neither, I think, would a passed levy either. We are told here that “the 5.5 mil levy would help the district fund day-to-day operational expenses such as utilities, bus fuel, classroom supplies and quality teachers and staff.” So: more fuel for buses without drivers? Neato. District officials also said the revenue would “help maintain current services provided to the school community.” Yes. Now that seems right. Although I don’t think it means what they think it does. (ABC 6 News, Columbus, 9/9/24) All of the various reasons/excuses/official explanations for poor student transportation in Columbus City Schools and elsewhere got a full airing in the first forty minutes of yesterday’s edition of the All Sides radio program—with the repeated refrain of “districts have tried everything”. Then, in the last 20 minutes, Senate Education Committee Chair Andrew Brenner comes on and demolishes them all with facts and data. Good stuff. (WOSU-FM, Columbus, 9/10/24)
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