OH Superintendent Richard Ross (R) former advisor to Gov. John Kasich (R. OH) (L)
Agree:
http://www.cleveland.com/...
Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald and the Ohio Education Association denounced the Ohio Department of Education today for not taking complaints about the Horizon Science Academy schools in Dayton seriously.
Both called for investigations of charter schools in Horizon's charter school network -- the multi-state Concept schools network -- to be investigated by people outside of ODE and both were particularly angry about comments by ODE spokesman John Charlton Tuesday.
According to the Gongwer News Service, Charlton said that nine former Horizon teachers, including four who testified before the state school board Tuesday, could be investigated by the state's Office of Professional Conduct for not reporting serious incidents fast enough.
"We would like to remind educators that they do have a responsibility as mandatory reporters and certainly we hope that the educators that testified were not withholding information for this political event that they pulled at the board meeting," Gongwer quoted Charlton as saying.
Charlton has not been available for comment today.
Fitzgerald, the Democratic nominee for Governor, called on his opponent, Gov. John Kasich, to ask state Superintendent Richard Ross to resign. Ross, a former advisor to Kasich, has been accused of not investigating earlier complaints against Horizon seriously.
"It is shocking that Dr. Ross and the Department of Education are now skirting their own responsibility and going down the path of attacking the teachers who pointed out the Department's failures," FitzGerald said in a written statement. - The Plain Dealer, 7/18/14
Here's some background info:
http://www.toledoblade.com/...
FBI agents served search warrants last month at several schools in Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana run by Concept Schools, a Chicago-based company that manages the Horizon Science Academy and Nobel Academy chains, according to a spokesman for the bureau.
Accusations of misconduct this week by former staff of Horizon Science Academy Dayton High School have led the Ohio Department of Education to investigate that school, and possibly more.
While the FBI would not comment on where search warrants were executed, current and former staff at Toledo-area Horizon schools said an email from school leaders instructed them to not shred documents because the school was under investigation.
The FBI is working with the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Education on its investigation.
Horizon has locations on Sylvania Avenue and Reynolds Road.
A third Toledo school announced in May it would close.
Concept Schools said the federal investigation involves the E-Rate program, a federal technology grant program for schools.
“We have been asked to provide information and are cooperating with the government in this matter,” a company statement said.
On Tuesday, former Horizon Dayton teachers testified before the Ohio Board of Education, alleging test cheating, improper sexual behavior by students, and other misconduct, according to media reports.
Board members pledged to investigate. - Toledo Blade, 7/19/14
Here are some more details:
http://www.sfgate.com/...
Stephen Rudnicki, who taught at the school from 2007 to 2013, said he was assigned to teach physical education, though the school had no gym, and said the school billed as a science academy had no functional science lab until 2012. Early on, it also went without computers and sometimes without food for student lunches, he said.
"Wasting money was a common practice," Rudnicki said. "The school purchased six, large flat screen TVs but four of them disappeared. Administrators blamed their disappearance on contractors, but refused to file a police report."
The FBI is investigating charter schools in Ohio and other states that critics allege are associated with the influential U.S.-based Muslim cleric and Turkish scholar Fethullah Gulen. Among allegations are sexual misconduct, test tampering and misuse of public funds. Gulen lives a reclusive life in Pennsylvania.
The FBI issued search warrants at three Concept Schools in Ohio last month, citing "an ongoing white-collar matter."
Ohio teachers' unions and other critics of expanded charter schools in the state have paid keen attention as allegations have mounted against the schools, which received more than $900 million in state funding last year.
Former Dayton teacher Richard Storrick told the state board many of the Turkish employees at the school aren't actually teaching classes, but are serving as IT coordinators, administrators or in other non-educational positions counter to their visas. Former teachers also testified to witnessing sex-related touching games during class that teachers appeared to condone. - SF Gate, 7/15/14
It's pretty understandable why FitzGerald would want Ross gone:
http://www.dispatch.com/...
He urged Gov. John Kasich to demand Ross’ resignation and appoint an independent counsel to investigate the claims.
Becky Higgins, president of the Ohio Education Association, said, “In light of these outrageous actions, we have no confidence in (the Department of Education’s) willingness or ability to conduct a fair and responsible probe of the serious charges made by OEA member Matt Blair and other former teachers at the Horizon Science Academy.”
Charlton declined to comment on the call for Ross to resign. “I don’t think it’s the place of the Ohio Department of Education to engage in partisan politics,” Charlton said.
According to the teachers, school administrators and others darkened answers on students’ standardized tests to improve scores. The teachers reported empty classrooms despite claims of near-perfect attendance.
In addition, one teacher reported that students were suspended for having oral sex while other children watched during a school festival. Yet parents were told their children were suspended for being outside their assigned areas with no mention of the sexual activity.
Salim Ucan, vice president of Concept Schools, said most of the allegations “are baseless.”
“These claims were made by former employees and do not reflect the high standards we hold for ourselves. Although we know that most of these allegations are baseless, we still take them very seriously,” Ucan wrote in an email to supporters. He expressed the intent of “cooperating fully with any external review.” - The Columbus Dispatch, 7/19/14
FitzGerad's calling foul on Ucan blaming the teachers:
http://www.dispatch.com/...
Suggestions that the teachers are somehow to blame has outraged their supporters. And, Ed FitzGerald, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee and Cuyahoga County executive director, called this afternoon for the removal of Ohio schools superintendent Richard A. Ross.
“It is clear change is needed at the Ohio Department of Education,” FitzGerald said in a release. “That it took pressure from courageous teachers and outside organizations for the Department of Education to take action on these allegations is outrageous. And it is shocking that Dr. Ross and the Department of Education are now skirting their own responsibility and going down the path of attacking the teachers who pointed out the department's failures.”
FitzGerald urged Gov. John Kasich to appoint an independent counsel to investigate the claims.
“It is appalling that (the Department of Education) officials have chosen to retaliate against the teachers whose charges they previously ignored rather than take them seriously,” said Becky Higgins, president of the state’s largest teacher’s union.
“In light of these outrageous actions, we have no confidence in (the Department of Education’s) willingness or ability to conduct a fair and responsible probe of the serious charges made by OEA member Matt Blair and other former teachers at the Horizon Science Academy.” - The Columbus Dispatch, 7/19/14
FitzGerald is doing the right thing and he's putting some more light on this scandal. This is a huge reason why the Ohio Governor race is an important one to win. This happened under Kasich's watch and under his crony and he needs to be punished at the polls. Click here to donate and get involved with FitzGerald's campaign:
http://www.edfitzgeraldforohio.com/