Plunderbund » Charter Schools

The House-Senate conference report on the Kasich “Jobs” (Killing) Budget

ModernEsquire — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:10:51 +0000

We knew that this State budget was going to be such a big story that we jumped at the opportunity to form our sibling site, Ohio Budget Watch, which is likely to go on a hiatus until the next budget cycle. Kasich’s budget didn’t disappoint. There were so many crazy proposals and changes, it’s hard to keep up with them all.

Obviously, if you’re interested in doing your own comparison, the most comprehensive document is the Legislative Service Commission’s “Comparison Document” that breaks it down by agency what the differences has been between the Governor’s initial proposal, the House [...]

Ohio charter schools sending tons of cash to Turkey

Joseph — Tue, 17 May 2011 13:27:13 +0000

An investivation by Ron Regan of WEWS revealed last night that the operator of 16 Horizon Science Science Academies in Ohio has been sending hundreds of thousands of dollars in rent, immigration and legal fees to Turkey.

Auditors found immigration fees and legal fees for school officials’ families and others living in Turkey. In some cases, auditors found payments were made to individuals who were never employed by any of the schools.

Auditors found 19 Turkish immigrants were paid nearly $13,000 for what they called “illegal immigration fees.”

…

A Horizon Science Academy school in Dayton signed a lease [...]

Ohio GOP: To contact the Ohio Black Republicans Association, e-mail “servant385…” (Wait, what?!?)

ModernEsquire — Mon, 16 May 2011 17:35:19 +0000

Yesterday, Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine sent out an email that is pretty standard fare for a State Party Chairman, promoting the upcoming State dinner, talking about how the Party is trying to put “ObamaCare” on the ballot.

And then there’s this:

You know, it’s probably not a great idea to have a white Chairman of a party known for, well, not exactly being a diverse group of people refer to the head of the Black Republicans as “Servant,” even if it is the person’s chosen e-mail handle.

Instead, what should go on is that Chairman calls this person [...]

The “e” in e-schools apparently doesn’t stand for “education”

ModernEsquire — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:30:32 +0000

InnovationOhio has released a new report that examines the nexus between e-schools’ academic performance (or lack thereof) and yet their political popularity with Republicans that might, just might be, influenced by the rather large campaign donations made by e-school businesses, like… White Hat Management executive David Brennan.

Among the findings of the report:

Of Ohio’s 7 state-wide E-schools (which account for 90% of all E-school enrollment), six are not even rated “effective” by the Ohio Department of Education. 5 of the 7 have graduation rates worse than Cleveland Municipal Schools, which has the lowest graduation rate of all traditional [...]

John Kasich gets the “death panel” treatment, and he doesn’t like it one bit

ModernEsquire — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:58:13 +0000

The Ohio Health Care Association, a predominately nursing home industry interest group, is presently running this television ad about Kasich’s Medicaid budget. An ad that begins with an image of John Kasich, a bunch of hospitalized elderly patients, and ends with a flatline as someone, literally, pulls the plug. And Governor Kasich is pissed about it, and decrying the influence of campaign dollars in Medicaid policy. Wonder if he has the same take on charter schools? Nah.

House Finance Committee passed budget, and casino developers are fuming

ModernEsquire — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:23:10 +0000

Yesterday was a train wreck. Speaker Batchelder held a press gaggle in which he declared, definitively, that the CAT tax on gross receipts amendment that the House Finance Committee added on Thursday would be struck today:

Reporter: What about the CAT tax? There seems to be concerns on both sides.

It will be part of the changes, it’s out of the bill. We have a memo from LSC that language we put in is in the law. There have been meetings between the Governor and the industry. We are seeing a lot more action now. The budget will not say [...]

Take three? House GOP takes another crack at State budget.

ModernEsquire — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:14:20 +0000

Yesterday, the Columbus Dispatch reported that the House Republicans were set to consider some 200 amendments submitted in response to the Substitute House Bill they introduced for the State’s budget Thursday afternoon. Now the fate of these amendments are far from certain, but among the things the House GOP is being urged to change are:

Their new provision that would give county commissioners authority to privatize county jails. It’s getting to the point where Ohio’s criminals may never actually be punished by the State, but out-of-state corporations hired to mete out punishment for profits. Some Cincinnati-area lawmakers want to [...]

Mr. Governor, Shut This School District Down!

Greg — Mon, 02 May 2011 00:34:01 +0000

Today’s story is about the 21st largest school district in the state of Ohio and how district leaders are working to attain financial success while being under attack on multiple fronts. I will not reveal the names of the district or the leadership until nearer the end of the story so as to try and avoid any bias. Please read with an open mind.

The 21st largest district in Ohio provided services to just over 9,000 students in grades K-12 in 2009-2010. Enrollment has increased 139% in the last five years, a rate slightly higher than the Olentangy Local Schools’ [...]

John Kasich/Mary Taylor’s biggest political donors, White Hat Management, under the crosshairs

ModernEsquire — Tue, 18 May 2010 14:59:49 +0000

In 2007, newly minted State Auditor Mary Taylor broke a Republican taboo, she finally reported how White Hat Management gamed the “for-profit” charter schools system by engaging in “abusive business practices” like, paying board members multiple times for one meeting, etc.

After today’s published reports over a number of charter schools filing suit challenging the constitutionality of a statute that gives companies like White Hat Management the legal right to replace a charter school board that votes to end its contract and seize the schools’ textbooks and classroom equipment, ProgressOhio is asking for Attorney General Richard [...]

Carlo Loparo vs. David Brennan in For-Profit Charter School Battle?

Joseph — Tue, 18 May 2010 04:00:37 +0000

Over the years I’ve written more than a few posts here at Plunderbund bitching and moaning about the horrible job Ohio’s Republican-controlled legislature has done implementing our charter school system.

There are, of course, a few successful schools. But these minor successes are easily overshadowed by the many horrible and disastrous failures directly resulting from the intentionally limited oversight and amazingly loose restrictions imposed on schools that never had any chance of being successful in the first place. It seems anyone can get public money to start a school and there is little or no requirement to define or track [...]