Week in Review 7-22-24

Week in Review > Week in Review 7-22-24

Posted by Buckeye Association of School Administrators on July 22nd, 2024

BALLOT ISSUES

Attorney General Dave Yost Monday handed another defeat to backers of a proposed constitutional amendment that would repeal constitutional immunities and defenses in cases alleging a civil rights violation by government actors — the ninth such rejection of the proposed summary of the amendment he has given the group. The group resubmitted the summary on Friday, July 5, but was rejected by Yost Monday for lack of a title, which Yost said in a letter sent to the petitioners “alone provides sufficient cause to reject the submitted petition, and the petition is rejected on that basis.” After the eighth rejection of the petition, the group took Yost to court, but were unable to get any relief from the Ohio Supreme Court to try to make this year’s ballot, when the Court refused to speed up the lawsuit.

County boards of elections Thursday were due to return to the secretary of state’s (SOS) office signatures submitted by Citizens Not Politicians for a proposed redistricting amendment, though whether the group had enough to qualify for the ballot won’t be announced until next week. The group submitted more than 730,000 signatures on July 1 in an effort to qualify for the November ballot. The proposed amendment would create a 15-member citizens’ redistricting commission that would draw state legislative and congressional lines. While Thursday, July 18 was the deadline for county boards to complete their check of the validity of the signatures and return them to the secretary of state’s office, an SOS spokesman said it would likely be next week before an announcement is made on whether the group collected enough to make the ballot. The group needs 413,487 valid signatures, or 10 percent of the total votes cast in the 2022 gubernatorial election, in order to be on the ballot. Of that total, they also must have at least 5 percent of the total vote cast for governor in 44 counties.

EDUCATION

The State Board of Education (SBOE) Wednesday announced the 11 educators named as the 2025 State Board District Teachers of the Year. From this group, four will be selected as finalists for the 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year honor later this year. From the finalists, one will be named Ohio Teacher of the Year. Those regional honorees include the following:

State Board District 1 – Melinda Newell

State Board District 2 – Kimberly Haney

State Board District 3 – Justin Stone

State Board District 4 – Alison Sears

State Board District 5 – Michelle Dohrmann

State Board District 6 – Treva Bolton

State Board District 7 – Amanda Schaeffer

State Board District 8 – Aaron Davis

State Board District 9 – Jennifer Bindus

State Board District 10 – Danee Pinckney

State Board District 11 – Jennifer Winkler

Officials at the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Thursday gave an update on the progress made by school districts on new science of reading literacy requirements established in the biennial budget, HB33 (Edwards), and they reviewed several education bills that passed the General Assembly in June before lawmakers broke for the summer. During the agency’s bi-monthly public meeting, Chief of Literacy Melissa Weber-Mayrer reviewed districts’ alignment with approved literacy instruction material, educators’ uptake of science of reading training, and the reach of ReadOhio literacy coaches. Survey results from the 2022-23 school year showed the majority of schools were either aligned (32.5 percent) or partially aligned (29.5 percent) with the DEW approved list of core curriculum and instructional materials while about 38 percent of schools and districts were not aligned.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) Executive Director Laura Battocletti Thursday submitted her resignation to the board effective Dec. 13. The board said later a search committee will begin work to find her replacement. Serving as the executive director since 2016, Battocletti previously served as clerk of the Ohio House of Representatives, as well as a legislative aide, policy aide, journal clerk and deputy clerk. Before going to CSRAB, she was the director of government affairs and the problem gambling coordinator for the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Speaking to Hannah News, Battocletti said she is ready to pursue the next chapter in her life, including spending more time with her family. She did not rule out another position in the future, but said after 38 years around the Statehouse, she decided it was time to move on.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) Chancellor Mike Duffey and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Director Stephen Dackin Tuesday continued to urge students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after federal delays in the revised form’s release at the end of 2023. Ohio is ahead of the national average in FAFSA completion rates this year but remains 6 percent behind last year’s rate. Upon completing the FAFSA, eligible students can receive up to $7,395 per year in federal Pell grants, up to $5,000 in Ohio College Opportunity Grants (OCOG) from the state, and access to other grants from colleges or foundations. Ohio created a toolkit on www.ItsForYou.org that helps schools track completion rates as part of its efforts to promote FAFSA completion over the last several years. The deadline for the 2024-25 FAFSA form is June 30, 2025, according to ItsForYou.org.

The University of Toledo (UT) announced a new brand meant to create cohesion across its public research institution and academic medical center with the slogan, “The Power To Do.” Interim President Matt Schroeder unveiled the new logo: UT’s midnight blue and gold colors remain the university’s core identity, but new magenta and teal accents will appear in creative materials that also include a new curved graphic element with shades of blue that mimics the curve of the UT shield logo. The launch of the new brand also features a new identity for UT’s clinical operations under UToledo Health, which is the brand framework for all health care operations that take place at the University of Toledo Medical Center or a UT physicians clinic.

Amid eroding trust in institutions of higher education, Ohio State University (OSU) President Ted Carter said the key to regaining trust and the future of higher ed will lead though large, public, land-grant, Research 1 institutions like Ohio State. In a conversation with NBC4 anchor Matt Barnes at Wednesday’s Columbus Metropolitan Club (CMC) forum, Carter, who took over as president at the beginning of the year, discussed his vision for Ohio’s flagship university and weighed in on higher education issues like affordability and enrollment, the U.S. Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling, his thoughts on higher education reform bill SB83 (Cirino), and more. While Carter said he doesn’t believe in legacies, his goal for OSU is to become “the best at everything.”

JUDICIAL

The Franklin County Court of Common Pleas preliminary injunction hearing/merits trial on the constitutionality of minor gender-affirming care ban HB68 (Click) began in Judge Michael Holbrook’s courtroom on Monday. The law, which had been vetoed by Gov. Mike DeWine but overridden by the Legislature, is currently blocked by a temporary restraining order (TRO) until the conclusion of the hearing/trial. Despite provisions in gender-affirming care ban HB68 (Click) allowing physicians to continue gender services for some minor patients already receiving those services, the language would interrupt the appropriate treatment course for many others, according to Cincinnati Children’s Division of Endocrinology Clinical Director Sarah Corathers.

Ohio Judicial Conference Director and former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeifer recently told the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct and Office of Disciplinary Counsel that its job is not to opine on the constitutionality or legality of a judge’s rulings: that goes to courts of appeal. He was speaking as a character witness for former state senator and sitting Judge Tim Grendell of the Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court, who awaits panel recommendations on Disciplinary Counsel Joseph Caligiuri’s three-count complaint. Grendell, a major presence during a decade on Capitol Square, has been mired in a protracted legal fight with Caligiuri and an even longer battle with Geauga County Auditor Charles Walder, which is ongoing and informs one of several disciplinary complaints against the former senator. The board held extensive hearings over six days in February, March and April, during which Caligiuri argued and Grendell defended various alleged violations of the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct.

MENTAL HEALTH

Disability Rights Ohio (DRO) is welcoming state action to suspend admissions at a Youngstown youth treatment facility but worries plans from state mental health regulators to correct problems there don’t get to the underlying causes. The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) says it is in contact with the facility regularly to respond to complaints but faces statutory limits on its powers. DRO, a nonprofit designated by the state to advocate for people with disabilities and mental illness, recently issued a report highlighting serious concerns about Youth Intensive Services, including use of dangerous restraint techniques and frequent instances where youth walked off the site and later returned showing evidence of drug use or sexual assault. DRO said upon issuing the report that it felt OhioMHAS was not doing enough to address the problems. The department responded with assurances it was working with the facility and DRO, and about two weeks ago it announced suspension of admissions at the facility, as well as requirements for corrective action by YIS. OhioMHAS said it was prepared to take further action if the situation does not improve.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has been a safety net for thousands of Ohioans since its launch in Ohio and nationally two years ago on July 16, 2022, Gov. Mike DeWine’s office said Tuesday. During the program’s two years in operation, Ohio’s call centers have responded to nearly 340,000 calls, texts and chats. Over two years, that averages to over 14,000 contacts per month, the governor’s office noted. Ohio has the highest number of 988 call centers of any state in the nation at 19, allowing the vast majority of calls from Ohioans to be answered in-state by individuals with knowledge of local resources that can make a difference in a crisis. The average speed-to-answer rate of a 988 call in Ohio is 25 seconds, compared to the national average of 36 seconds, with an average of two percent of calls from Ohio rolling over to the national 988 network.

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION (RNC)

Former President Donald Trump Monday tapped Ohio’s junior U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R) to be his vice presidential running mate, potentially becoming the fourth person born in the Buckeye State to hold that office. Trump announced the pick on his Truth Social as the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee began. “After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of vice president of the United States is Sen. J.D. Vance of the great state of Ohio. J.D. honorably served our country in the Marine Corps, graduated from Ohio State University in two years, summa cum laude, and is a Yale Law School graduate, where he was editor of the Yale Law Journal, and president of the Yale Law Veterans Association. J.D.’s book, Hillbilly Elegy, became a major best seller and movie, as it championed the hardworking men and women of our country. J.D. has had a very successful business career in technology and finance, and now, during the campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American workers and farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond,” Trump wrote. “As vice president, J.D. will continue to fight for our Constitution, stand with our troops, and will do everything he can to help me ‘Make America Great Again.’ Congratulations to Sen. J.D. Vance, his wife, Usha, who also graduated from Yale Law School, and their three beautiful children.”

Vance took his moment in the spotlight Wednesday evening to remember his hometown of Middletown, OH, promising that he will be a vice president “who never forgets where he came from.” He was the main event for Wednesday’s RNC, speaking for more than half an hour and playing off the crowd’s energy during his speech. A former critic of Trump during the former president’s 2016 run, Vance praised him often during his speech, first referencing the failed assassination attempt over the weekend against Trump. He said Trump, despite being called a “tyrant,” called for national unity and calm right after the attempt on his life.” Vance referenced his life story, made famous by his memoir and later film adaptation Hillbilly Elegy, which recounted his mother’s fight with addiction and being raised by his grandmother. His mother attended the speech.

Most of Ohio’s statewide constitutional officeholders and a number of Ohio lawmakers were among the 79 delegates and 68 alternates who represented the Buckeye State at the RNC this week. Gov. Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and wife Tina Husted, Attorney General Dave Yost, Auditor Keith Faber, and Treasurer Robert Sprague and wife Amanda Sprague were among the at-large delegates on a list provided by the secretary of state’s office. Other at-large members of the delegation included U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli (R-Salem), recently elected to the 6th Congressional District and 13th Republican congressional nominee and former state lawmaker Kevin Coughlin. Republican U.S. Senate nominee Bernie Moreno served as a delegate for the 7th Congressional District. State lawmakers on the list included Sen. Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg), Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville), Sen. Sandra O’Brien (R-Rome), Rep. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) and Sen. George Lang (R-West Chester).