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GOP state senator urges support of police, opposes defunding
A Republican legislator wants the legislature to stand up for police budgets, while also condemning excessive force done by “the slimmest margins” of police officers around the state. In a resolution offered recently, state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, writes the “just and unbiased enforcement of the rule of law and the protection of the […]
Ohio’s K-12 public schools got cuts. Private, charter schools got cash.
Ohio educators were at home celebrating “Teacher Appreciation Week” in May when they learned cuts would be made at every public school district in the state. These cuts came just as hundreds of private and charter schools in Ohio were approved to receive millions of dollars from the federal government to keep their workers on […]
Ohio’s private colleges received PPP funding as public schools have struggled
A number of private colleges and universities in Ohio benefited from forgivable federal small business loans and retained thousands of local jobs. Public institutions were not as lucky. Unable to receive the millions of public loan dollars which flowed to private campuses this spring, many have announced deep cuts in recent months. The coronavirus pandemic […]
Spate of police reform bills drop in Ohio legislature
As protests continue around the state asking for changes to policing, several police reform bills will be waiting for the state legislature to return from its summer break. Some legislators have argued that the House should come back in session to address health and economy issues, along with police issues and a racism bill that […]
Ohio Senate committee passes dropout recovery funding
A bill originally written to create school violence prevention groups will now also bring temporary financial relief to dropout recovery and prevention e-schools if passed. The Senate Education Committee spent its last meeting before a summer break passing House Bill 123 with an added amendment supported by the governor. The bill was created to require […]
DeWine lays out K-12 reopening plans
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine laid out reopening guidelines for state K-12 schools on Thursday, including a mask requirement for teachers, but no such mandate for students. DeWine said it is “the state’s strong recommendation” that children from the third grade on wear face masks, but maintained that local control for school districts will be in […]
School officials, legislators seek way forward without Academic Distress Commissions
Groups from the three Ohio school districts under academic distress commissions met in a virtual town hall calling for the elimination of those commissions Tuesday. Parents, school board members, and state legislators decried the work of House Bill 70, which laid out the role of academic distress commissions (ACD) in taking over school districts considered […]
Broadband legislation to be introduced by Ohio senator
One of Ohio’s U.S. Senators is a cosponsor on legislation to allow broadband access to those laid off or furloughed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden plan to introduce the “Emergency Broadband Connections Act” to create a $50 credit meant for monthly internet service, and require service providers […]
State data: State contribution to corrections budgets grow as K-12, higher ed take hits
State data shows in the last decade Ohio corrections budgets have grown while K-12 education investment continues a steady decline. In data from the Ohio Legislative Service Commission combining money from the General Revenue Fund, the Local Government Fund, the Public Library Fund and the Lottery Profits Education Fund, primary and secondary education’s annual rate […]
Education officials: Schools need consistency in reopen
Officials and superintendents said local control is a good thing for Ohio school districts, but consistency and guidance from the state is necessary in a global pandemic. Opponents and interested parties testified in a recent meeting of the Senate Education Committee regarding Senate Bill 320, which seeks to give full authority for school reopenings to […]
Ohio Supreme Court: City of Toledo can’t hold hearings on red-light camera violations
The city of Toledo lacks jurisdiction to hold hearings on violations cited via red-light camera, according to a ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday. All seven Supreme Court Justices agreed with the argument of a Woodville woman who said holding “administrative” proceedings in Toledo on her potentially $120 speeding fine would be overriding […]
Supporters share personal stories on racism as a public health crisis
Sarina Herman’s mom was dying. It wasn’t just from the cancer she had, but from the chemo being used to treat it, and the language barrier her health care providers couldn’t surpass. “There have been times where they had to push her to the back of the line because maybe she didn’t understand English as […]