With the looming possibility of a state takeover on their minds, Toledo Public Schools board members zealously approved a resolution to challenge the state on House Bill 70.
Board member Perry Lefevre passionately spoke against the bill, and his sentiments were met with action as the board unanimously approved the resolution.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again that House Bill 70 is possibly one of the most undemocratic, mean-spirited, cynical pieces of legislation ever passed in the state of Ohio,’’ Mr. Lefevre said.
House Bill 70 — signed into law by former Gov. John Kasich in July, 2015 — permits the state to take over any school district that receives an overall grade of “F” on its state report card for three consecutive years. Under the law, such schools are taken over by a state-appointed academic distress commission. Local school boards are appointed a CEO that is paid by the state department of education to govern the district by taking “complete operational, managerial, and instructional control,” according to state law.
Mr. Lefevre was not alone in his sentiments as members voiced their disdain for the bill.
Board member Polly Gerken said that with the district’s rate of improvement she is confident that the district will be removed from the “hit list”.
Receiving its first overall “F” last year, TPS officials face the challenge of improving their report card. In order to stave off state oversight, TPS will have to receive at least a “D” on its report card this September or next year.
The grading for state report cards is calculated based on a variety of metrics including graduation rates, K-3 literacy, and primarily students’ performance on state tests. TPS board members went on record calling the practice of state testing toxic as it causes students as young as the third grade to experience anxiety.
“I have to say I haven’t seen many good education ideas come out of the state,” said board president Stephanie Eichenberg as she challenged the takeover as well as state testing.
She told The Blade that the resolution’s approval is vital as it sends a well-needed message to the state.
With takeovers already in Youngstown, Lorain, and East Cleveland, Ms. Eichenberg said that TPS is inspired to invoke change by applying pressure.
“It’s been three years in Youngstown and things have gotten worse and not better. In Lorain it’s utter chaos… that clear dysfunction that we see in Lorain is certainly inspiring for us to call this out now.’’
She added that with the state’s new legislature she believes that the district has an opportunity to see change.
“With the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate I feel like there’s some real engagement with the fact that this is a huge problem in Lorain, Youngstown and where it started in East Cleveland. It’s not doing anything to help them,” she added.
In other news, the board briefly discussed the new proposal for K-12 funding formula, and while many details have yet to be released by the state board, members agreed to keep a close eye on further developments to ensure that students will not be short changed.
First Published April 9, 2019, 2:53 a.m.
