- Unless I missed something, the last (I mean it!) EdChoice Scholarship application deadline finally occurred last Friday. So it is fitting that we learn today that School Choice Ohio’s legal action against Cincinnati and Springfield school districts to get them to provide requested directory information has been 50 percent successful. To wit: a settlement has been reached in mediation with Cincinnati Schools – details to be revealed later. Mediation efforts with Springfield were unsuccessful and so that case will continue in the courts. (Gongwer Ohio)
- Late yesterday, a 10-day strike notice was filed by teachers in Reynoldsburg. There’s the brink, folks. Let’s try not to go over it. No one wants to relive 1978 again. No one. (Columbus Dispatch)
- Gov. Kasich was cornered by the Big D’s editorial board and asked about the prospects for Common Core repeal in Ohio. The full story is worth a read – just to get to know how Kasich answers questions – but here’s the gist: “Until somebody can show me we’re eroding local control, I see no reason to do anything. And I don’t think they’re (the House) going to do anything, to tell you the truth,” Kasich said. “In my judgment, it isn’t going to get to me, and if it does, it isn’t going to look anything like it is." (Columbus Dispatch)
- Out with the old… We told you some weeks ago about the brouhaha over the Kings school district’s interim superintendent – including name calling and threats of legal action – and now he’s out. (Cincinnati Enquirer)
- And in with the new… The first Generation School in Ohio opened September 2 in the North Fairmount area of Cincinnati. Have a great year everyone! (Cincinnati Enquirer)
- Lorain City Schools is celebrating an increase in student enrollment this year, after many years of decline blamed mainly on students open enrolling to neighboring districts. And more students means more state revenue, and more state revenue means more programming/classes/activities available for students. I’m not sure how long it’s been in place – or what had to be sacrificed to make it happen – but I could only imagine that the all-sports-expenses-paid-by-the-district thing is very attractive to local parents. Now, about those academics…. (Northern Ohio Morning Journal)
- Speaking of school spending, it seems that the good folks at the Lima News have annually reviewed per-pupil expenditures in three categories for all the local school districts. The results of the 21st annual review are in (2012-13 school year), and the numbers are very interesting, as are the comments from the superintendents. Those comments about class size in Allen East schools might have some interest for folks in Reynoldsburg at this difficult time. (Lima News)
