youngstown plan Highlights

Legislation passed Wednesday by both Ohio Houses would abolish the Youngstown City Schools Academic Distress Commission and create a new commission. The bill heads to Gov. John Kasich, who is expected to sign it. Three members of the new five-member commission would be appointed by the state superintendent of public instruction, one by the mayor and the fifth would be a teacher appointed by the city school board president. Some details:

The new commission appoints a state-paid chief executive officer to run the district. The CEO has full managerial and operational control of the district.

Year One

CEO creates an improvement plan within 120 days of his or her appointment with input from community stakeholders and educators.

Special funds will be made available from the state to improve student achievement including the support of community learning centers or public-private partnerships that provide health services, mentoring and early-childhood education services to a school and its community.

Year Two

CEO may identify and plan the expansion of successful schools and programs as well as those needing reconstitution, effective the following school year.

Year Three

Students begin using expanded quality-choice options.

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 they apply to the district uniformly.

Years Four and Five

If a district begins to improve, earning at least an overall “C” on the state report card, a two-year transition plan out of academic distress begins to return control to normal district management.

Source: Legislation and state officials