Y’town fails its children

Critics of the “Youngstown Plan,” the last chance for the revival of the academically challenged Youngstown City Schools, have embarked on a fool’s errand. They are determined to keep the district’s basic operational structure in place – including letting the dysfunctional school board retain its powers – and believe that cosmetic changes are all that’s needed. They’re wrong.

Indeed, their refusal to face the reality that defines the urban system is troubling and dangerous. That’s because these self-styled leaders are pulling the wool over the eyes of a goodly number of Youngstown residents.

It is, therefore, necessary to remind parents, guardians, students and community and business leaders why the bitter medicine that is the “Youngstown Plan” is the only viable cure.

Let’s start with what has occurred in the school system since May of this year: Key leaders have resigned – the superintendent, deputy superintendent and assistant superintendent for Human Resources.

In addition, since June, the district has lost about 20 percent of its staff due to resignations and retirements.

Finally, the system has had significant noncompliance concerns in its federal program expenditures and federally supported educational programs.

That’s just for starters.

Only half

There are 10,000 or so student-age youngsters living in the Youngstown City School District, but only about 5,000 attend city schools. The rest attend schools or other educational programs outside the district.

Youngstown students have had a graduation rate of “F” for four years in a row.

And here’s a heart-breaking statistic: Only 1.1 percent of the Class of 2013 was ready for college work.

Less than 1 percent of the students are earning college credit via dual enrollment or Advanced Placement Tests.

Still not convinced the Youngstown school system is doomed unless drastic action is taken?

Then consider this: On its report card, Youngstown received an overall grade of F; the lowest 20 percent of students, a grade of F; gifted students received a D; students with disability, a D.

The district has had a total budget of $127 million. It’s per-student operating spending is $13,114, compared with the state average of $9,189.

But, the scam is over. State government officials, led by Gov. John Kasich and Superintendent of Public Instruction Richard Ross, aren’t going to backtrack. The plan was approved by the Republican- controlled General Assembly and signed into law by the Republican governor.

There are important provisions in the plan, including the restructuring of the academic distress commission that has been in Youngstown since 2010 when the state placed the district in academic emergency.

Opponents keep yammering about how the plan was developed in secret without community input. The fact is that several prominent business and community leaders were at the table.

Beyond that, one of the key elements is the holistic approach to education.

Consider: Special funds from the state will be available to improve the achievement of students, including supporting “community learning centers.” Public-private partnerships will provide health services, mentoring and early childhood education services to a school and its community.

The state of Ohio is now responsible for the troubled school system – something this writer has advocated for a long time. Gov. Kasich won’t let Youngstown down.