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Governor to sign Youngstown Plan today
By Denise Dick
Columbus
If Gov. John Kasich’s office was flooded this week with calls from people hoping he wouldn’t sign legislation to reorganize Youngstown City Schools, it didn’t work.
Kasich is expected to sign the legislation today, according to Rob Nichols, Kasich’s spokesman.
But U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, is urging Kasich to reconsider, saying “ending public education in Youngstown” is not the answer.
The Youngstown Plan, which has led to rallies and community meetings of opponents, would dissolve the academic distress commission established in 2010 and appoint a new five-member commission in its place.
That commission would appoint a CEO who will have broad authority in running the district, including the power to fire administrators and reopen collective bargaining agreements.
Those who disagree with the plan cite the way the bill was developed behind closed doors and without input from teachers, city school board members or community leaders. Others worry it’s a first step toward privatizing public education in Ohio.
Some, particularly teachers both within and outside of the city school district, contend it’s a way to dismantle teachers’ unions.
State Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, has organized an effort to develop a plan that’s more palatable to opponents.
“When I was notified the night before about the bill, I voiced my concerns to the governor’s representatives, but I didn’t protest to the governor,” he said.
Schiavoni said he asked when the bill was introduced for another day – and was turned down.
The legislation, an amendment to a bill to establish community learning centers, was introduced in committee and passed by the Legislature the same day.
Ryan said in a statement Wednesday night that “Youngstown has lost millions of dollars through Gov. Kasich’s plan to gut local government funds, the very money that helps keep our neighborhoods safe and free from the things that make educating our kids more difficult.
“Instead of focusing on how the state of Ohio can support a community to help improve our public schools, Gov. Kasich and the Republican Ohio Legislature rushed this overreaching plan through the legislative process. And furthermore, this debate ignored the most important people in the process – the students, parents and teachers in our community who are most affected and who deserve to have their voices and concerns heard before this plan moves forward. By ignoring these various groups, the governor has lost the trust of the community,” the congressman continued.
“Ending public education in Youngstown is not the answer,” he said, noting that he has heard from countless families and teachers who are concerned about the future of education in the Mahoning Valley.
“This plan will never succeed unless our teachers feel cared about and supported, not blamed for every problem faced by our community; and unless our students feel safe and can learn in a stable environment, where all the adults are working together, not tearing each other apart. That is why I call upon the State Legislature and Gov. Kasich to reconsider.”
Within 120 days of his or her appointment, the CEO, with input from educators and community stakeholders, must create a district improvement plan.
In the second year, the CEO may plan for the expansion of successful schools and programs and identify schools for reconstitution the following year.
Also in year two, the CEO may reopen any contract provision for bargaining under regular bargaining rules.
For the third year, students will begin using expanded choice options. The CEO may limit, change or suspend any contract provision as long as there is no reduction in per hour compensation or changes to insurance benefits – unless those changes are applied uniformly in the district.
In years four and five, the CEO continues the improvement plan and makes changes to schools as necessary.