Week in Review 10-7-24

Week in Review > Week in Review 10-7-24

Posted by Buckeye Association of School Administrators on October 07th, 2024

AMERICA 250-OHIO

The America250-Ohio Commission announced Thursday its next major initiative for observing the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding and Ohio’s place in that historical event, revealing plans to host picnics throughout July 2026 and facilitate Ohioans’ planning of their own celebration picnics. Ohio’s Homecoming & Picnic, the official name for the event, will help to ensure every part of Ohio can participate in celebrations and observances of the semiquincentennial, said Megan Wood, executive director and CEO for the Ohio History Connection (OHC) and project lead for the latest initiative.

FY24-25 BUDGET

The Federal Reserve for the first time in four years cut the interest rate by 0.5 percentage points last month, which could not only stimulate the broader economy but also affect state budgets going forward, including Ohio’s. Office of Budget and Management (OBM) Director Kim Murnieks, in an interview with Hannah News, said the rate cut will have an effect on Ohio’s state budget in two major ways. On the plus side, the interest rates it pays on its bonds will be less, but on the negative, the interest that the state earns on its funds in the state treasury will be less. “The state really did manage through the recent high-interest rate environment fairly well, and as a result, achieved very positive returns for taxpayers,” Murnieks said. She pointed to moves such as the DeWine administration’s working with state lawmakers to use cash instead of bonds in the capital budget as state revenues came in higher than projected. That helped save taxpayers $1.3 billion in interest costs, she said.

CHILDREN/FAMILIES

Financial insecurity and living in communities without adequate support can result in poor health outcomes for Ohio families across generations. A wide-ranging report released this summer by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) looked at how positive community conditions can support both financial and health security, programs that are currently working to promote generational financial prosperity in Ohio, and what policy steps in Ohio can be taken to improve health outcomes through financial security. The HPIO report lists positive community conditions including high-quality education, employment opportunities and safe, stable and affordable housing as supportive of both health and financial security for Ohioans. The report points to Ohio Department of Health data that shows that as Ohioans’ household income decreases, their prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increases.

ECONOMY

Ohio’s minimum wage will increase from $10.45 to $10.70 for non-tipped employees and from $5.25 to $5.35 for tipped employees in the new year, the Ohio Department of Commerce said Monday. Under a constitutional amendment passed by Ohio voters in 2006, the minimum wage increases annually in line with growth in the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners (CPI-W), which increased by 2.4 percent from September 2023 through August 2024. Employees at smaller companies, those with gross receipts of $394,000 or less per year starting in January, will still be paid at the federal minimum wage of $7.25, as will 14- and 15-year-old workers. The threshold for gross receipts increases yearly in line with inflation.

EDUCATION

At least several and potentially more than half of seats on the State Board of Education could turn over next year as voters face a crop of candidates for six positions and terms for at-large seats expire at year’s end. Ohio voters will choose new board members in Districts 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11 in November. An incumbent in another seat is running mid-term for the General Assembly, potentially creating another opening. One of four at-large seats will definitely get a new occupant in the coming year because of term limits. Gov. Mike DeWine appoints members to the board’s eight at-large seats, half of which come up for appointment every two years. Board seats are technically nonpartisan, but candidates often identify with major parties and carry their endorsements. The Ohio Democratic Party endorsed in some races. The Ohio Republican Party did not respond to messages about whether it plans to endorse in board races. Ohio’s teacher unions endorse in the races as well.

The DeWine administration said Thursday it’s pledging to cut the rate of chronic absence among Ohio students in half over the next five years. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) announced the effort, and Gov. Mike DeWine elaborated on it Thursday while speaking after an America250-Ohio event. Asked what he can do about the absenteeism rate, the governor said, “It’s a problem, and I think making people aware of the problem is the first step. I think starting off with that and getting an understanding of what happens when a student does not go to school very often is really the first step,” DeWine said.

Attorney General Dave Yost is trying to sidestep “comprehensive and complete administrative procedures” that lawmakers enacted to resolve the types of busing disputes now before the Ohio Supreme Court, Columbus City Schools told justices in a filing Monday that requests dismissal of Yost’s lawsuit. Yost sued the district recently over its decision to deem transportation “impractical” for large numbers of charter and private school students, and last week he filed an emergency motion saying Columbus should be compelled to at least provide transportation to families who have requested mediation with the district over the loss of busing. Justices responded by ordering Columbus to file an answer to his motion by today, Monday.

Current high school juniors and seniors are invited to apply to explore career opportunities within the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) later this fall. Applications are now open to take part in ODNR’s job shadow day on Friday, Nov. 22. ODNR’s job shadow program sheds light on various divisions throughout the department, including law enforcement, information technology, natural resource protection, environmental sciences, business and administration and engineering. Students will select from a variety of job shadow opportunities and then be assigned to one of ODNR’s divisions for the day. More information about ODNR’s divisions can be found at https://tinyurl.com/3wmsmmwf.

The DeWine administration announced recently that 34 schools will receive funding under the second round of the Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program, giving career tech education access to 6,330 additional students around the state. Schools receiving the funds can use them on equipment upgrades to teach students the skills businesses need in their workforce. They support in-demand programs including engineering, manufacturing and construction. “Investing in our schools and making sure they have updated equipment for training is an investment into our students’ futures,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “Providing the opportunity for more schools to purchase equipment so they can train additional students will set them — and our state — up for success.”

ELECTIONS 2024

Former Gov. John Kasich on social media Wednesday said he will not vote for former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election. Kasich wrote on Twitter/X, “Some people think that I hate Trump. I don’t. I simply don’t think America’s president should be a person who fuels grievances to divide us and doesn’t have a hopeful vision for our future.” He continued, “I’m a lifelong conservative Republican, but I will not be voting for Donald Trump.”

Tuesday, Oct. 8 is the first day for mail in and in-person absentee voting, following the close of voter registration on Monday, Oct. 7. “Bipartisan election officials across Ohio made a commitment to ensure we’re fully prepared for this high-profile election. With one week until the start of early voting, I can confidently say that we are prepared for voters to begin heading to their early voting centers and begin receiving their requested absentee ballots,” said Secretary of State Frank LaRose. “Tedious preparation is the key to executing any successful election, and Ohioans can have confidence that no matter which of Ohio’s three convenient methods of voting they choose, their vote will be secure.” For Ohioans who requested absentee ballots, local boards of elections will begin mailing ballots on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

A Bowling Green State University (BGSU) poll conducted in September found U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) remains in a tight race with Republican challenger Bernie Moreno and that Issue 1 had 60 percent support, though awareness of it was rather limited. In the U.S. presidential race, former President Donald Trump led Vice President Kamala Harris with 51 percent compared to 44 percent. In the U.S. Senate race, Brown led with 49 percent compared to Moreno’s 45 percent. Analysis by BGSU officials noted Brown has won his three previous campaigns by at least 6 points and said he was the only public figure with a net positive favorability rating (+1) among respondents while Moreno had the lowest at -14. However, nearly one in five had neither a favorable or unfavorable view of Moreno.

Regarding Issue 1, 60 percent of respondents said they plan to vote in favor, 20 percent plan to vote no and 20 percent were unsure. The poll found support along party lines included 82 percent of Democrats, 41 percent of Republicans and 57 percent of independent voters. Fifty-one percent of respondents said they had heard “a little” about the issue; 28 percent said they had heard nothing; and 22 percent had heard a lot.

Saying that Secretary of State Frank LaRose has “taken it upon himself to instead attempt to rewrite the statute governing return of absentee ballots,” in response to a court ruling, the Ohio Democratic Party Friday filed a lawsuit in the Ohio Supreme Court asking it to order LaRose to rescind his directive restricting the use of dropboxes to individuals returning their own personal ballot. LaRose issued the directive to county boards in September after a federal judge ruled that a provision of omnibus elections bill 134-HB458 (Hall) criminalizing knowingly returning another’s absentee ballot unless authorized to do so violates Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which gives disabled voters the right to have assistance from “a person of the voter’s choice.” Under the directive, individuals delivering the ballot of a relative or a disabled voter are now required to enter the county board of elections office and complete an attestation form that they are complying with applicable laws.

Then, this week, the Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) filed a merit brief with the Ohio Supreme Court arguing its lawsuit against LaRose is a “straightforward matter of statutory interpretation” of whether LaRose has the authority to limit the use of dropboxes and impose an “attestation requirement that is not required by the Revised Code. Because the answer to both questions is ‘no’,” the Court should grant the relief sought in the lawsuit,” the brief argues.

Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Shanahan launched the first commercial of her campaign for the Ohio Supreme Court. Shanahan is seeking to unseat current Justice Michael Donnelly, who is running for re-election. According to her campaign, the 30-second spot highlights Shanahan’s experience as a former prosecutor and her more than a decade of experience as a municipal and common pleas court judge.

U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz discussed a wide range of issues during the 2024 campaign’s only vice presidential debate on Tuesday night, including immigration and the legal status of Haitians in Springfield. Walz said he expected to hear former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric “dehumanizing” immigrants during the campaign, but was surprised to hear Vance similarly working to “demonize” those individuals, such as amplifying the baseless claim that Haitian immigrants were eating cats and dogs in Springfield. “Saying, ‘I will create stories to bring attention to this’ — that vilified a large number of people who are here legally in the community of Springfield,” Walz said. Walz pointed to Gov. Mike DeWine’s repeated statements that those claims about Haitians are not true, noting that DeWine now has to spend time cleaning up the mess created by Trump and Vance. “There’s consequences for this,” Walz said. “The consequences in Springfield were, the governor had to send state law enforcement to escort kindergarteners to school.”

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) re-election campaign announced Wednesday that it has raised more than $30.6 million in the third quarter. Tuesday, Oct. 15, is the deadline for federal candidates to report contributions and expenditures made in July, August and September. Brown’s campaign said the report is another fundraising record for Ohio.

All three Republicans running for the Ohio Supreme Court outraised their Democratic opponents in September, and two of the three hold a money advantage. Thursday was the deadline for statewide candidates to report any fundraising and expenditures for the month of September.

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Victory Fund has launched a new ad against Republican nominee Derek Merrin as part of its $14 million campaign in 16 U.S. House races across the country. LCV said its opposition broadcast ad criticizes Merrin by seeking him to tie him to the FirstEnergy scandal.

JUDICIAL

Vouchers will not go on trial this year. Judge Jaiza Page of Franklin County Common Pleas Court is delaying litigation over Ohio’s EdChoice program until an unspecified date in 2025, voiding plans to begin a trial Monday, Nov. 4, according to plaintiffs in the case. Meanwhile, the Ohio Supreme Court was not swayed by Senate President Matt Huffman’s (R-Lima) argument that his constitutional legislative privilege is still under threat despite withdrawal of a subpoena seeking to have him questioned in the litigation. Justices granted Wednesday the motion to dismiss the case filed by the coalition of school districts challenging the constitutionality of school vouchers. A spokesman for plaintiffs said Page informed their attorneys of the delay Wednesday morning. The EdChoice lawsuit was launched nearly three years ago. The Vouchers Hurt Ohio coalition expressed no worry about the delay Wednesday.

PENSIONS

Lynn Hoover would have retired from the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in less than a year but instead put in her required two-months’ notice after a no-confidence vote against her and senior staff narrowly failed at the most recent board meeting. STRS on Friday provided to Hannah News the message Hoover sent to the board Wednesday announcing her retirement plans, along with one from Matt Worley, the chief investment officer, who will retire in the spring. Hoover wrote she planned to inform STRS staff Friday and asked that board members keep the plans confidential until then. Instead, they leaked it to the press Thursday morning. Hannah News independently confirmed the plans Thursday afternoon.

SPRINGFIELD

Gov. Mike DeWine and Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Director Stephen D. Dackin Monday announced schools in several communities, including Springfield, will share in $1.5 million in grant funding to address challenges from a significant increase in Haitian migrants over the past several years. Funding going to Springfield schools includes $1.346 million to Springfield City Schools; $12,000 to Springfield Preparatory and Fitness Academy; and $12,000 to Springfield Sports Academy. The governor’s office said funds will be used to improve essential learning programs for all students in the community and to provide additional resources to support educational needs, including translation technologies, interpreters, mental health services, and more.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Board of Directors on Friday approved the transition of its Western Management Asset Company (WAMCO) assets to three of BWC’s current long credit managers — PIMCO, PGIM and Conning. The action follows a recommendation from investment consultant Meketa. The BWC Board held a special meeting earlier in September to terminate its contract with WAMCO because that company is now under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In other action, the board approved changes to its hospital inpatient reimbursement rule for 2025, which is expected to result in an increase of 5 percent over estimated 2024 payments.

WORKFORCE

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, Tuesday announced the fifth round of the Industry Sector Partnership (ISP) Grant opportunity. The program funds partnerships that help prepare Ohioans for the workforce while meeting the needs of job creators and local economies. Tuesday, a new application period opened with $5 million available for new and existing industry sector partnerships. ISPs can be located in any region of Ohio, as long as the focus is on an in-demand sector, such as manufacturing or technology. The application period for the fifth round began Oct. 1 and closes Thursday, Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. To apply and learn more about the Industry Sector Partnership Grant, visit Workforce.Ohio.gov/ISP.