Ohio budget passes with language to end state takeovers of struggling schools

Academic Distress Commissions in Ohio are set to be a thing of the past, provided Gov. Mike DeWine signs the biennium budget bill. Passed by the House and Senate on Monday evening and headed to the governor's desk, House Bill 110 includes language to dissolve distress commissions in Lorain, Youngstown and East Cleveland provided the districts meet benchmarks in individualized improvement plans. The budget includes language from a previous bill from state Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville. The proposal initially applied only to Lorain Schools, but was expanded to include the other two districts currently under state control during budget hearings. The budget bill gives districts three years to meet goals approved by the state to see its ADC dissolved, with the option for two one-year extensions. During that time, it reduces the powers of the CEO to those of a regular superintendent, putting the locally elected school board back in control of much of the district's decisions. During that time, the state would continue to pay the CEO's salary if they are kept on as a superintendent — if a district opts to change its superintendent while under the law's purview, it would have to pay for the new hire. If the district fails to meet its approved goals, its Academic Distress Commission/CEO model would be reinstated as outlined by House Bill 70. Passed in 2015, House Bill 70 created the current state takeover model of academically struggling districts based on their state report card scores. It establishes a state-appointed academic distress commission and a CEO with complete operational, managerial and instructional control in "failing" districts. Lorain, Youngstown and East Cleveland are the only schools currently under state control. Due to COVID-19 and previous legislation, safe harbor provisions are in place to keep other districts from falling under its purview. Each district is included as separate line items in the bill — meaning they could possibly be passed or removed individually via a line-item veto from the governor. On Monday, Manning was hopeful the matter would be approved by the governor but he said you never know until he signs it. "It's been a long time coming. I'm glad we were able to get something (passed)," he said. The budget bill also requires a performance review of each district by the Ohio Auditor of State's office. The performance audit would examine the efficiency and effectiveness of each district, measuring not only if funds are spent legally, but also wisely, according to the auditor's website. Lorain School Board President Mark Ballard was similarly hopeful to see his district returned to local control, but said he wasn't going to celebrate until the governor signed the bill. The language included in the 2021-22 state budget is far from the first proposed fix to state takeovers of struggling districts. More than a dozen proposals have been introduced and discussed in both chambers since the 131st General Assembly. Manning's latest language garnering the widest spread support since state Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, proposed replacing ADCs with wraparound services during the 131st General Assembly. Miller's bill passed overwhelmingly in the House and was initially included in the 2019-2020 budget, but was removed during Conference Committee. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.