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Schools - Current Topics

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01

Equity Report Audit

The District hired Insight Education to do a DEI audit on the District.  The District paid over $100,000 for this review.  

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During the Board meeting, Denise Lutz, Chief Excellence and Engagement Officer, highlighted two portions of the audit.  Dr. Lutz's responsibilities  include DEI for the District. You can watch her Board presentation at minutes 1:50:32 - 2:11:35  Click on the April School Board Meeting.


The District is leaning heavily on the Equity Report to create the new Strategic Plan. United Arlington's Board will be reviewing the Audit and sharing that information in future newsletters and on this website.

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02

Ed Choice Scholarship Lawsuit

Ed Choice Scholarship Lawsuit:

A group of Ohio School Boards and two groups called Vouchers Hurt Ohio and Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding have filed a lawsuit saying Ed Choice Scholarships are unconstitutional in Ohio.

The UA School Board voted 3-2 to financially support the lawsuit.  McKenna, Stump & Satiani voted Yes. Sauter and Trent voted No.  Click on the Board meeting to listen to their viewpoints.  It starts at minute 1:11:32. Please read the United Arlington newsletter of 6/18/24 for more details.  

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The May School Board meeting was featured on NBC 4.  A group of UA residents who support taking vouchers away from inner city students in failing public schools asked NBC 4 to attend.
https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/upper-arlington/upper-arlington-pushed-to-join-school-voucher-lawsuit/
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United Arlington had 4 speakers who asked the Board to vote against joining the lawsuit by using facts.  They can be viewed on United Arlington’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UnitedArlington
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Here is an article by Fordham Institute about the vote and its ramifications for underprivileged Ohio students: Shame on Upper Arlington


Important Facts:

  • Ed Choice Scholarships do NOT touch the property tax revenue paid by local residents. UA receives 100% of property taxes earmarked for schools.

  • Schools are funded mainly by local property taxes

  • Districts receive some money from the State of Ohio. Wealthy districts get less per pupil than a district like Columbus Public schools

  • The State pays money for each student ATTENDING a public school

  • When you combine state and local money, the per pupil revenue INCREASES if residents use the Ed Choice scholarships. Gross revenue may decrease, but the per pupil revenue increases as a result.

  • Since 2012-2022 – the number of Ed Choice recipients tripled but the collective cash reserve of school districts across Ohio has doubled in that same time period

    • UA – in 2012 - $35,289,141 cash reserves (45% of annual
      expenditures) 2023 - $54,085,995 (51% of annual reserves)

    • Check the state website for cash reserve details on all Ohio districts

    • Public Schools are not being “gutted” by Ed Choice Scholarships​

  • https://reports.education.ohio.gov/report/finance-cash-balance-analytics​
  • ​Ed Choice is good policy for EVERY child whether they use it or not

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Contact the School Board if you have questions: boe@uaschools.org

 

Husted Letter to the School Board - Ed Choice Scholarship - Click here to access letter

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03

Cell Phone Use in Schools

There is discussion in many Ohio school districts to limit the cell phone use of students during the school day. Eighteen districts have made decisions to limit cell phones. Jon Haidt has written books and articles about having Phone-Free  Schools.  

 

Below you will find links to some of his articles.  

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Case for Phone Free Schools   Social Media-Cause for Mental Illness Epidemic

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Haidt's most recent book is The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
 

In addition, the Ohio Senate passed a bill to limit cell phone use in school.

https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/ohio/ohio-senate-passes-bill-limit-student-cell-phone-use-in-school/530-70863f8c-ff4a-4444-a75b-0cb7313c795f

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The State Legislature has passed a bill to limit cell phone use in school.  

https://www.10tv.com/article/news/politics/dewine-to-sign-bill-limiting-student-cellphone-use-school/530-f5588bc9-f3ef-4783-a256-0e01c366211b

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Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 250 to require school districts to have a cell phone policy to limit cell phone usage during the school day.

https://governor.ohio.gov/media/news-and-media/governor-dewine-signs-bill-requiring-ohio-schools-to-create-cell-phone-policies

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04

The School District is kicking off phase two of their Facilities Master Planning process focusing on the future of our middle schools and the Burbank Early Childhood School.    The first phase was building the new high school and new elementary schools.  Click here for more details. Facilities Master Plan
There will be two Community Meetings coming up:  

  • Tuesday, October 29 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Jones Middle School, 2100 Arlington Avenue

  • Wednesday, October 30 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Graf Center, 2020 Builders Place

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05

The State released its REPORT CARD for the 2023-24 school year.  The state moved to "stars" to rate the Districts in Ohio.  UA received 5 stars in all categories.  State Report Card Information

Check out the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce for more details:   ODEW Report Cards

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