Latest news with #ColumbusCitySchools
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
State budget drafts limit public schools' choices to get rid of buildings
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As Columbus City Schools work on the implementation plan to close down several school buildings, the Ohio legislature may change how public schools have to get rid of unused buildings. Ohio is drafting its biennial budget, a more than 5,000-page document that includes some new changes to how public schools can get rid of unused school buildings. The budget, House Bill 96, is still in Senate hearings after being passed by the House, but if left unchanged, public schools will now have to try to sell unused buildings — sometimes at a lower value — before they are allowed to demolish them. See previous coverage of how the budget could effect public schools in the video player above. How lawmakers want to change the teacher pension fund Ohio already requires public schools to offer to sell unused buildings to STEM, college preparatory and charter schools within the district's boundaries before selling them elsewhere or demolishing them. Under H.B. 96, schools would also have to offer sales to private schools. The state defines unused school buildings as any administrative or operational building owned by a public school that has not been used in more than a year, or any academic building operating at less than 60% capacity. In Gov. Mike DeWine's version of the bill, buildings that fall under 60% of the building's highest enrollment over 10 years would also count as unused, although the House removed that provision. Public districts must offer these buildings to other non-public schools first, and have to sell the building for the appraised fair market value of the property. If no one buys it, under current law, the school may then demolish it or put it up for public auction, then private sales. The state budget would invite more potential buyers at lower prices by inviting private schools to purchase them. DeWine's budget would also change how much schools could sell buildings for, adjusting sales prices from fair market value to the 'value of the property for operation as an educational facility.' The House also did not carry this provision over. Ohio lawmakers push for stricter rules on 'obscene' drag queens, indecent exposure Under H.B. 96, school districts would be required to put buildings up for public auction before they can demolish them. School districts would also be required to sell the land to the highest bidder at a public auction, making it more difficult for schools to demolish buildings. Both current law and the budget bill give preference to high-performing charter schools during building sales. However, H.B. 96 redefines a high-performing charter school to determine its performance based on the public schools around it, rather than solely on its achievements. Under current law, a community school must get three stars, or improve their score for three consecutive years in its achievement rating. Under H.B. 96, the achievement rating must be better than the public school district it resides in for two years in a row. The change directly equates charter schools' success with outperforming local public schools. Unused buildings that are located on or adjacent to land still actively used by the school are not required to be sold. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Columbus City Schools quietly dissolves its Equity Department
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Despite still appearing on its website, Columbus City Schools has shuttered its Equity Department. According to Columbus City Schools chief of staff and interim communications director Mike De Fabbo, the district no longer has an Equity Department. Although the webpage and staffing is still listed under CCS' departments online, De Fabbo said the website is being updated and the services the Equity Department offered have been folded into a new team. 'Our attendance, climate and culture, restorative practices and social emotional learning work is now part of our Whole Child Supports team aligned to our board guardrail to prioritize a whole child focus,' De Fabbo said. Why South-Western City Schools parents are considering leaving the district The Whole Child Supports Department works to improve students' social, physical, cognitive and emotional development by facilitating collaborations between public health and education. It is one of four Board of Education guardrails, or strategic operational actions the superintendent must guide the district by. The Department of Equity was created in 2020 and grew from a one-person department to a team of people working to create culturally responsive and inclusive classrooms. The department was led by Yolanda Stewart, a former CCS Educator of the Year with more than 20 years of experience in education. Stewart received her Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 2015 in educational policy and leadership, and joined the district in 2001. According to district appropriations data, the district spent $144,550 a month on the Office of Equity, which still received funding in May. The Whole Child Supports team does not have its own fund, but student support services, special education and accountability services have combined funds and receive around $7.5 million. On April 17, Superintendent Angela Chapman and school board spokesperson Jennifer Adair jointly said the district would comply with a federal mandate to affirm the district's compliance with Title VI by not engaging in 'illegal DEI practices.' At the time, Chapman and the Board of Education affirmed their compliance but said they were not making changes, as 'illegal DEI' was not defined. Where in Columbus you're most likely to get pulled over for speeding 'At Columbus City Schools, we remain deeply committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all students, families, teachers and staff,' Chapman and Adair wrote. CCS still intends to participate in the Columbus Pride March on June 14, according to its website. The district has reaffirmed its commitment to transgender and gender variant students and the LGBTQ+ community publicly. Most recently, the district affirmed this after it reverted all students' names to their birth names, which parents said 'outed' several students, including some with legal name changes. See previous coverage of this decision in the video player above. NBC4 asked what would happen to the Equity Department's employees but did not receive a response. Although the Equity page says the department grew to a group of people, only Stewart was still listed as of publication. Stewart's LinkedIn indicates she still works at CCS, but only lists her current and past positions as 'educator' or 'strategist' with no details about a possible change in role. School board documents and meeting agendas also did not indicate a change for Stewart, and did not exhibit a shuttering of the Equity Department, according to detailed searches of board documents from 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
ScottsMiracle-Gro Partners With Farm-to-Schools Program in Columbus: Bringing the School Community Together
In part three of this three part series, we explore how the Columbus City Schools (CCS) student Green Team built an ambassador team that shared their community garden with other students and other clubs. While the subject is about gardening, the gardening program is also about their social and emotional wellness. The magic that grows as kids discover gardening Our purpose to GroMoreGood takes many forms. One of those special moments happened with Columbus City Schools in Ohio, where the magic of a single idea blossomed beyond its original intent and became something bigger, something greater. The growth journey of the Columbus City Schools program epitomizes GroMoreGood. A new generation of kids is developing a lifelong connection to the earth. The idea Early in her career, school teacher Katie Young had a writing assignment for her students that was based on a simple question: Do you know where food comes from? Not one of the students answered that it comes from the earth. Katie knew this had to change. In 2018, the Columbus City Schools Farm to School program was born in partnership with ScottsMiracle-Gro, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and The Ohio State University Extension. Teachers were given tools and Miracle-Gro supplies to teach kids how to create, tend to and harvest gardens full of fresh vegetables. Starting to grow The initial group of teachers embraced the program, and students did, too. Soon, more schools and teachers were brought into the program, and it started delivering results that exceeded all original expectations. Benefits beyond expectations Students experienced mental health benefits from touching the dirt and taking care of the plants on a regular basis. High school students talked about the therapeutic aspect of gardening and the way working with plants brought them a sense of peace. Another group of students created ways to invite the community to participate in the gardens, which went beyond the classroom. While elementary school students discovered that fresh foods are delicious, sometimes on their own and sometimes when added to a smoothie or pizza! Read more about ScottsMiracle-Gro and the partnership with the Columbus City Schools. Watch the video here. About ScottsMiracle-Gro With approximately $3.6 billion in sales, the Company is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company's brands are among the most recognized in the industry. The Company's Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories. The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, The Hawthorne Gardening Company, is a leading provider of nutrients, lighting, and other materials used in the indoor and hydroponic growing segment. For additional information, visit us at Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from ScottsMiracle-Gro
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Columbus principal's confrontation with officer did not violate policy, district says
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus City Schools completed its investigation into a confrontation between administrators at Ridgeview Middle School and a Columbus police officer, with a recommendation of no further administrative action. In a letter to families, Chief Transformation and Leadership Officer Dr. Corey D. Grubbs said the March 17 incident was reviewed by the Columbus City Schools Labor Management and Employee Relations team, which determined that no district policy was violated. 'The review determined that the actions of Principal Natalie James, Secretary Jackie Nash, and Safety and Security Specialist Larry Howell during the interaction with the Columbus Division of Police did not violate District policy and expectations, and no further administration action was recommended,' Grubbs wrote. Poisonous plant rapidly spreading across Ohio: what to do if you see it Grubbs said the video circulating on social media of the interaction does not capture the full context of the interaction. 'It is important to emphasize that Columbus City Schools and the Columbus Division of Police are committed to respectful, safe, and professional interactions at all times,' Grubbs wrote. 'Our school staff and CPD officers receive training in de-escalation and are expected to treat all individuals with dignity and fairness.' The officer involved in the interaction, Keith Conner, confronted the school board at Tuesday's meeting, indicating that this was not the first time officers have had issues at the school. 'In that video, you may see my frustration,' Conner said during public comment period of a Columbus City School Board meeting Tuesday, adding that it's been a culmination of years dealing with the school. 'My frustration still continues to this day.' Police officers were called to Ridgeview Middle School to investigate a threat, which was deemed not credible by school officials. Columbus police body camera video shows the officers, once inside the school, being told they can't go any further, sparking a disagreement between the principal and a police officer. Ohio Republican explains why he voted against Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' In the video, the school's secretary can be heard saying, 'Those guests you are expecting have arrived,' into a radio. 'You have to wait until they come to get you, sir,' the receptionist said. 'I'm here on official police business,' the officer said. 'I get that, but I just radioed for security, and you have to wait until they come to get you, OK? I'm just saying those are the rules I've been instructed,' she said. She tells officers they need to wait for the school security team. 'Okay, we have authority over safety and security, do you understand that?' Connor said. 'Columbus police have authority over…' 'You do not have authority over my principal,' the secretary said. 'So she tells me that for you guys to wait, you're not the first one to go through this. And I'm not trying to be combative, but he told me to let you know, let him know when you got here. He's coming to get you.' The woman and police continue to talk back and forth for about four minutes. Then James enters. 'If we have an emergency at the school, I should not have, I should not have to explain to this woman why I'm here,' Connor said. 'I don't come here for my, for party time. I come here on official police business. This is a game we've been playing for years. This is a game we no longer want to play with you. You should be welcoming us. You called us. But if you don't want me here, and if you want me to beg you, get through that door. Don't call me now.' The City of Columbus Department of the Inspector General is separately reviewing the officer's actions. That review had not been completed as of Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Program teaches Columbus students conflict resolution without violence
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A program in some Columbus City Schools buildings is educating students on nonviolent conflict resolution. Throughout May, many students are graduating from the Guns DOWN Program after meeting weekly for the entire school year. Fifteen seventh graders from Champion Middle School celebrated their graduation on Monday with certificates and a dance party for the whole grade. $250 million facility opens down the road from Intel in New Albany, creating 225 jobs It was an important milestone after their hard work and dedication to the program. 'Within our curriculum, we're talking about alternatives to violence. We're learning about how to be a good steward of your community,' Carlton Weddington, a leader with Champion's Guns DOWN program, said. Weddington used to be an Ohio state representative until he was arrested for bribery and spent more than two years in prison. 'Now I'm trying to help young people to make good decisions so they don't fall in some of the mistakes that I had,' Weddington said. Leaders said the main goal of Guns DOWN is to show students that violence is not the only option and to open them up to healthy conflict resolution. Seventh grader Alhassane Sy said the lessons from the program will stick with him as he heads into eighth grade. 'I learned how to be a leader,' Sy said. 'Other people should join this program and learn how to just stop the violence.' South-Western City School board joins groups denouncing gender identity, DEI and non-English languages Students take the Guns DOWN Program pledge which says they will build confidence, foster connections and create a bright future. Weddington said all 15 Champion Middle School graduates succeeded in doing just that. 'We want young people to take a different direction than choosing violence,' he said. 'On choosing peace, choosing leadership, choosing to improve themselves or choosing to improve their community.' On Saturday, May 24, there will be a Guns DOWN Summit that community members ages 14 to 24 can attend to learn more about the program and violence prevention. It's happening from 10a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Community Impact Center. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
