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    School Issues: Campaign Word Games and Number Fun

    Last year was a rough year for Columbus City Schools. The data scandal earned Columbus national attention, the superintendent retired early, administrators were put on super-extended leaves, and the school board started having private meetings with lawyers.

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    As election season draws near, the path forward remains full of jarring bumps and jumps. The campaign for the levy ballot issue (packaged as The Columbus Plan or Issues 50 and 51) has been unusual, to say the least. So far, it’s demonstrated remarkable work with numbers and terminology.

    It started oddly with the levy team’s website insisting that its “community schools” are not charter schools. Of course, community schools are charter schools, so that approach didn’t go very far.

    Last week, the mailers started coming out. Noteably, one arrived containing a bold claim in bold type. Addressing concerns of charters squandering public funds, the literature announces, “The Columbus Education Plan will help change that by working to put an end to failing charter schools.”

    Putting an end to failing charter schools isn’t mentioned in Issue 50 or 51. It’s not in there at all. Providing additional funding to charter schools is, however clearly mentioned on the ballot.

    But perhaps the campaign copywriters got confused, that happens.

    Voters need straightforward information about the ballot issues. And Kids Ohio has been a great source of data and analysis regarding local schools. In fact, it worked with the Columbus Education Commission to collect and synthesize information about Columbus City Schools.

    When the Commission released its report, it said that “According to data provided by the Ohio Department of Education, 34 percent of children enter the Columbus City Schools unprepared for kindergarten.”

    Kids Ohio released some fact pages about Issues 50 and 51. Regarding The Columbus City Schools Levy, Kids Ohio declared that “Two-thirds of city children enter kindergarten unprepared for school or needing help learning to read.”

    Et tu Kids Ohio? While it’s possible that things declined sharply in the last six months, it’s odd that the figure doubled.

    Suspicious voters can report deceptive campaign advertising to the Ohio Elections Commission, but it’s not an easy process (such as the process for complaints to the Better Business Bureus or Attorney General). Nor are there any consequences that would deter a campaign (or its supporters) from lying or misrepresenting facts.

    Well, other than a complete and abject loss of public trust, that is.

    To read more updates on Columbus City School Issues, CLICK HERE.

    For more ongoing discussion on Columbus City Schools, CLICK HERE.

    Photo via Kelly Smith.

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    Miriam Bowers Abbott
    Miriam Bowers Abbotthttps://columbusunderground.com
    Miriam Bowers Abbott is a freelancer contributor to Columbus Underground who reviews restaurants, writes food-centric featurettes and occasionally pens other community journalism pieces.
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