Don’t compare district, ECOT
I respond to the Feb. 6 letter “Dems smarting from school mess” from Adam Frix, who made a false comparison between the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow’s theft of $80 million in taxpayer funds and Columbus City Schools’ data scandal.
The data scandal involved district administrators breaking the law and facing consequences. The ECOT scandal involved elected officials enabling ECOT’s theft in return for campaign checks.
When Columbus schoolboard members became aware of malfeasance they took action, investigated and removed district officials involved. Superintendent Gene Harris and other officials have subsequently found themselves under prosecution and had their professional licenses revoked.
When there were obvious signs that ECOT not only practiced a culture of negligence but also poor bookkeeping, elected officials, such as state Auditor Dave Yost and House Education Chairman Andrew Brenner turned a blind eye as they cashed ECOT’s checks.
This is not a partisan issue. Our elected officials are placing a premium on campaign contributions and not what's best for Ohio’s taxpayers and students.
Brandon Simmons Columbus was featured.
Instead of test scores and graduation requirements, the spotlight on the Statehouse stage shined on children of all nationalities, ages and ability levels, sharing their passion for learning and love for their schools. Ohio’s first “Celebrate Public Education” ceremony made history in honor of Public Education Week in Ohio.
Ohio’s public schools are open to all children, from diverse backgrounds; an alarming number of whom are facing poverty and trauma in their daily lives (“Early traumas put kids at lifelong risk,” Dispatch article, Tuesday).
Imagine if, in every school, a community-resource center housed social workers, medical clinics, after-school programs and tutors to help parents earn their GEDs. With strong support from more than 700 community partners and healthy investment in its public schools, Cincinnati is expanding innovative support programs at the preschool, elementary and high-school levels.
Let’s take a lesson from Cincinnati’s nationally recognized community learning centers and the courageous, talented students and teachers who traveled to the Statehouse to “Celebrate Public Education.” Let’s invest in widespread resources for Ohio’s public schools to offer a full curriculum, including music, art, drama and technology.
Why not build community learning centers in each neighborhood school and create resources to support families so that all of Ohio’s children can come into their classrooms each morning ready to learn, thrive and grow?
Maureen Reedy Columbus