End state takeovers

COLUMBUS

State Reps. Joe Miller of Amherst, D-56th, and Don Jones of Freeport, R-95th, introduced bipartisan legislation Tuesday to end state takeovers of local schools. Three districts, including Youngstown, are under state control, while 10 districts across the state could potentially join them over the next two years.

Under the bill, academic distress commissions would be dissolved, restoring local control over public schools and moving toward a building-based, bottom-up reform model. State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th, who supports the bill, said, “This bipartisan legislation will end the failing academic distress commission system and restore our district’s control to the democratically elected school board.”