About a month ago, the entire activist world went ballistic with a rumor that the State Board of Education would be approving a measure that would give local school districts more control over staffing in elementary schools. The measure wasn’t actually on the agenda, but that didn’t stop the rumors or protests.
It didn’t help that board representatives didn’t seem to know the agenda, either:
@DianeRavitch I will request that vote be delayed and stakeholder input properly reviewed. #SBOEdist9
— Stephanie Dodd (@StephanieDodd) November 10, 2014
The controversial measure is on the voting agenda this month. Or at least, a measure that declares intent to make the changes is on the agenda.
What’s all the fuss about? At present, the law requires that, for every 1,000 students, a district must employ at least five of eight of the following:
- Counselor
- Library Media Specialist
- School Nurse
- Visiting Teacher
- Art Teacher
- Music Teacher
- Physical Education Teacher
- Social Worker
The new legislation does away with that requirement, give local districts “flexibility” to spend as they deem appropriate. Cynics fear that districts might just end up cutting corners on arts and student services. Maybe spend the money on… school board trips to Las Vegas.
But that’s crazy. Of course districts should have flexibility to invest as they choose. Who needs rules? Consider all the great decisions made by district leaders in Ohio:
- The superintendent who extorted money from a day care worker
- The Steubenville superintendent, accused of destroying evidence
- The superintendent charged with a DUI
- The Child Porn Superintendent
Ohio school board members are fun too.
- This one was charged with theft-in-office
- No one’s done public indecency yet
- Another child porn charge, this time for a Board of Education member
It feels like there was one more….
Seems like a great crew to give lots more power and flexibility. You can contact your State Board Representative and ask them all about it here: education.ohio.gov/State-Board/State-Board-Members.
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