Democratic News

Top democratic lawmakers in both the House and Senate today called on the State Board of Education to dismiss Superintendent Dick Ross, citing the recent scandal involving the cover up of failing charter school grades in state evaluations, the plan to takeover the Youngstown public schools crafted behind closed doors, and general lack of accountability to the State Board of Education and the public. 

State Rep. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) today called on State Auditor Dave Yost to launch an official investigation into reports that Education Department officials illegally manipulated a key evaluation of charter school oversight agencies by omitting failing grades from many online charters. The deliberate omission by officials boosted the ratings of two oversight agencies, potentially qualifying them for new state perks. 

State Representatives David Leland (D-Columbus) and Michael Stinziano (D-Columbus) today announced plans to introduce legislation to prevent the destruction of natural buffer zones growing around Hoover Reservoir. The legislation will repeal a provision included in the state budget that allows residents to significantly alter those zones.

State Rep. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) today called for the resignation of State Superintendent Richard Ross and an investigation into the Ohio Department of Education after it was reported that top department officials neglected to include failing online schools in a key evaluation of charter school oversight agencies. The deliberate omission by officials boosted the ratings of two oversight agencies, potentially qualifying them for new state perks. 

“I am outraged by what appears to be a deliberate violation of the law in order to cover up the widespread failure of online and dropout recovery charter schools. I believe the state superintendent should step down immediately as the result of alleged violations and data-scrubbing of online charter schools grades that took place under his leadership.” 

State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) has urged Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger to convene a special session in order to hold a vote to override the governor’s veto of a budget provision related state developmental centers. Lepore-Hagan’s bipartisan provision in the recently passed state budget would have stayed the closure of the Youngstown and Montgomery Developmental Centers until further review by a 13-member commission.

State Reps. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Niraj Antani (R-Miami Township) today called for an end to capital punishment in Ohio and introduced bipartisan legislation to abolish the death penalty and replace it with a life sentence without parole.

Today, a standing room only crowd packed McGuffey Elementary School in Youngstown for a public meeting hosted by Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni (D-Boardman), State Representative Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) and Youngstown Mayor John McNally to discuss the Youngstown School Plan.  Parents, teachers and community residents protested the plan contained in House Bill 70 that gives broad and unprecedented powers to an unelected Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to run the district.

State Rep. Dan Ramos (D-Lorain) announced the Ohio School Facilities Commission today approved Classroom Facilities Assistance Program funds for the construction of a new middle/high school in the Firelands Local School District. 

In a letter sent today to The University of Akron President Scott Scarborough, Rep. Greta Johnson (D-Akron) expressed her concern over the recent announcement that UA will begin charging an additional $50 per credit hour for upper level classes. 

State Rep. Michael J. O’Brien (D-Warren) announced the Ohio School Facilities Commission today approved funding for a Champion Local Schools building project through the state’s Classroom Facilities Assistance Program.