Youngstown schools district not off hook with resignation

Youngstown city schools of- ficials should not take comfort from the resignation of the state’s education chief, Stan Heffner, because the future of district ultimately rests with Republican Gov. John Kasich.

Henffer, who quit his job as the superintendent of public instruction in the aftermath of a searing state inspector general’s report, has been singularly focused on the academically challenged Youngstown district. He visited the city numerous times, met with the district’s superintendent, Connie Hathorn, and members of the school board, and appointed the chairwoman of the state Academic Distress Commission, Adrienne O’Neill, and other members.

Heffner also has been clear about what lies ahead of the urban school system. If next year’s state report card does not show improvement, the Ohio Department of Education, with the support of Gov. Kasich, will come in and possibly implement drastic changes. There has been talk that the persistently failing schools could be turned into state-run charter schools.

Just two days before Heffner announced Saturday that his resignation will take effect this coming Friday, distress commission Chairwoman O’Neill issued a public warning about the city system.

She told a gathering of more than 100 at the Alliance for Congressional Transformation Influencing our Neighborhoods (ACTION) that the schools must make significant progress this year.

“I don’t think the patience level in Columbus is a forever thing,” she said. “In the next year, something really dramatic has to happen.”

Indeed, ACTION, which has led the charge on many important issues affecting this region, especially Youngstown, is obviously aware that the clock is ticking. The topic of its meeting Thursday was “Will September be the end of Public Education.” That’s September 2013.

During his visits to the area, Heffner talked about the state’s focus on the Youngstown school district, and Gov. Kasich’s particular interest in what steps are being taken to lift it out of academic watch.

The system was in academic emergency, which triggered the appointment of the distress commission, and only moved into academic watch by virtue of improved student attendance numbers.

Challenges abound.

Superintendent Hathorn and the board of education have restructured the schools to reflect the strength and weaknesses of the students and have adopted an academic blueprint designed to improve the district’s grade in the state proficiency tests. The distress commission, along with the Ohio Department of Education, led the effort in the development of the academic recovery plan.

State Superintendent Heffner’s departure does not change anything insofar as the state is concerned. Youngstown remains in the forefront of the state’s focus on public education. Even before he took office as governor in 2011, Kasich had voiced concern about urban school districts that continue to fall short of educating a population that most needs to earn a high school diploma, at the very least.

Heffner’s resignation is a blow to the Kasich administration because he had become the face of K-12 public education in Ohio.

Although he did not give a reason for his quitting his job, the inspector general’s report said he had lobbied improperly for a private education company he planned to work for, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He also had allowed the company to pay for his travel and had begun his move to San Antonio. He ultimately did not take the job because he was appointed full-time Ohio schools chief in July 2011, the Plain Dealer noted.

Heffner also was accused of using staff and public property for personal purposes.

Had he not resigned, the governor would have been justified in firing him.