State board members to push for charter school reforms

COLUMBUS

A coalition of seven state school board members, including Youngstown’s Bob Hagan, plans to address the lack of accountability — both financially and academically — of Ohio’s charter schools.

Board member Stephanie Dodd of Hebron said the coalition, which includes newly elected as well as seated board members, is committed to a unified agenda.

“It’s essential that every child in the state has the opportunity to receive the best education,” she said in a telephone conference with reporters.

That agenda includes improving charter school accountability, examining the use of high-stakes testing and school funding.

Hagan, a longtime state legislator who was elected in November to the state board of education, represents District 8, which includes the counties along Ohio’s eastern border, from Mahoning to Meigs.

“Public education seems to have taken a backseat to charter school education,” he said. “That has to be turned around. We’ve let the charter school system be emphasized by too many members.”

Hagan said the board members intend to work with state legislators to try to accomplish that.

Nineteen members make up the state board, 11 elected by voters in respective districts and eight appointed by the governor.

Read more about the plan in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com,