Education
Southeast Ohio spells out critical needs for funding
Southeast Ohio is a place known for being rural, independent, and unafraid to ask for what it needs. The COVID-19 crisis hasn’t changed that, especially with mass business closures, higher education in the area taking a big hit, and broadband issues continuing as remote learning becomes more and more important for all students. In a […]
Study: Cleveland housing market still fragile, tax incentives concentrated to certain areas
The housing market collapse of 2008 still impacts Cleveland’s residential areas, and the onset of a pandemic has presented its own set of problems, according to a recent analysis. A study of the benefits of tax abatement in the city showed a still-fragile housing market and declining home prices, with the risk of displacement still […]
‘I just feel so powerless.’ Ohio teachers fear returning to class.
At a time of year when teachers are normally gathering school supplies and brainstorming lesson plans, some are instead preparing a different type of paperwork. Their wills. “Catching COVID-19 could be a death sentence for me,” said one southern Ohio teacher living with Crohn’s Disease. “I want to go back to work,” they added. “I […]
In visit with DeVos, Ohio Senate leadership promotes school choice during pandemic
During a town hall at one of Columbus’ private Christian schools, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and two state senate leaders promoted the option of private schools as educators decide on a COVID-19 plan. Senate President Larry Obhof went so far as to say parents should have the choice to change schools in the […]
Columbus State union calls for Borges resignation from board
The faculty union for Columbus State Community College has asked for the resignation of a board member after he was charged in the federal investigation also charging Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder. The executive Committee of the Columbus State Education Association announced in a Thursday statement the call for Matthew Borges’ resignation from the college’s […]
Bill on arming teachers could include “school marshal program”
An Ohio Senate bill meant to reduce the amount of training needed for school personnel to be armed could be amended to create a “school marshal program” in those schools. The state Senate committee on Government Oversight and Reform met Tuesday to discuss Senate Bill 317, a bill that was written to exempt school personnel […]
DeWine seeks to rally Ohioans, offers no new orders in response to coronavirus surge
In the face of an alarming rise in the number of coronavirus cases, Gov. Mike DeWine took to the airwaves Wednesday evening to make an impassioned plea for Ohioans to do what they can to slow the spread of the disease. However, the governor didn’t issue any new health orders intended to bring that about. […]
More Medicaid funding needed to survive the recession, advocates say
After cuts to the state’s health care assistance program, Medicaid advocates are hoping a temporary federal funding increase will continue. In May, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced cuts to many state agencies, but the biggest cuts hit Medicaid and education. The budget for Medicaid was chopped by $210 million. Much of that original cut represented […]
CARES Act funding to aid Ohio schools, care facilities
Nursing homes, schools and hospitals are among the places in Ohio that will soon receive an influx of cash to help bolster their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds of millions of dollars in federal CARES Act funding was allocated Monday by the Ohio Controlling Board, to be distributed in the coming weeks. In 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 […]
Columbus City Schools lapses contract with Columbus Police Department
After weeks of community upheaval and concessions by city education officials, the Columbus Police Department announced Monday that its contract with Columbus City Schools lapsed. The district’s three-year contract with Columbus police placed “resource officers” in 20 high schools and employed two sergeants. That contract expired June 30, and no new contract is in place, […]
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 […]