| Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - "Reminder : Achieve Report/Superintendent Survey Meeting" |
A Reminder to Mark your Calendars! Dear Sponsor: ODE periodically assesses its organizational effectiveness via field surveys of school administrators. Since 1999, six such surveys have been completed. The 2006 survey included Community School administrators in the survey respondents. Ohio University administered this survey and will present the results and discuss their findings with Community School leadership on May 2, 2007. In addition, ODE is interested in your feedback regarding recommendations to strengthen Ohio's education system proposed by Achieve, Inc., a national organization created by governors and business leaders. For more information regarding Achieve’s report, “Creating a World-Class Education System in Ohio”, click the following link: http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=194 The meeting will be held on May 2nd from 9:00am – 1:45pm at the Bethel United Methodist Church located at 1220 Bethel Road, Columbus, Ohio 43320. Please communicate and encourage this to your community schools. RSVP by April 25th for accurate lunch count to LeeAuna Taylor at leeauna.taylor@ode.state.oh.us. Thank you. LeeAuna Taylor, Administrative Assistant |
| Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - "Proposed Operating Standards - Regional Meetings" |
| The Individual with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) requires states to adopt rules in support of the federal statutes and regulations. In order to assure compliance with the federal law, the Office for Exceptional Children (OEC) is proposing changes to Operating Standards for Ohio's Schools Serving Children with Disabilities. The draft proposed rules incorporate the federal regulations and include items specific to Ohio. An overview of changes to the rules will be presented and public comments will be accepted. OEC will be making five (5) regional presentations. One of the (5) regional presentations will be held here at The Southwestern Ohio Special Education Regional Resource Center (SWO SERRC) on Friday, May 11, 2007 with 2 sessions available (12:30 - 2:45 pm Repeated 4:00 - 6:45 pm). Please go to the SWO SERRC website www.swoserrc.org to register for the session that you would like to attend. Sent for Bill Bogdan |
| Wednesday, April 18, 2007 4:26 PM - "PARENTS PROTEST HB-119" |
To: Ohio Community Schools Subject: ‘Parents & Students Arrive in Columbus to Protest Governor Strickland’s Budget’ Tuesday, April 17 / cars, busses and vans filled with hundreds of community school parents, students and school leaders traveled to Columbus to express their ‘unified’ outrage about Governor Strickland’s budget. His proposals, if implemented, would close the doors of many community schools and…..deprive parents of the right to send their children to the school of their choice. Thousands of students throughout Ohio would be forced to return to failing district schools. Letters to the Governor: Parents, whose children attend Constellation Community Schools in Cleveland ‘respectfully’ brought 18 boxes of letters to Governor Strickland’s office requesting that he not close their school. (See photo below) Unfortunately, neither the governor nor members of his staff were available to meet the parents and listen to their concerns. The Finance Committee room was overflowing with parents and students wearing T-shirts from ISUS, Mound Street Academies, Constellation Community Schools, Ohio Virtual Academy, Life Skills Centers and others. Legislators heard five hours of testimony from parents explaining with conviction and passion how the community school ‘of their choice’ has transformed the educational life of their child. ‘Parent’ / Community School rallies that you should attend: Dayton / April 18th at Dayton View Academy, 6:00 PM. Speaker of the House Jon Husted will attend. Toledo / April 19th at Winterfield Venture Academy Columbus / May 9th (Will advise location / time) Cleveland / May 24th (Will advise location / time) Cincinnati / June 6th (Will advise location / time) “Ohio made a promise to parents, ‘to offer a variety of choices for their child’s education’. Don’t let Governor Strickland’s budget destroy that promise” Ron F. Adler, President |
| Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - "Revised five year budget forecasts" |
| Community School Administrators and Fiscal Officers: Community schools should submit revised five year budget forecasts to the Office of Community Schools between April 1st and May 31st of each year. ORC 3301-92-04 Reporting data (F) Effective with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002, a board of education shall update its five-year projection between April first and May thirty-first of each fiscal year and submit it to the department of education. Nothing precludes a board of education from filing other updates to its five-year projection at any time in addition to the filings required by paragraphs (A) and (F) of rule 3301-92-04 of the Administrative Code. All updates to community school five year forecasts must be reviewed and approved by the school’s Governing Authority prior to submission. The approval of the forecast revisions should also be documented by a Governing Authority resolution and reflected in the minutes of the applicable Board meeting. Please attach the revised five year forecasts and email to my attention at William.nelson@ode.state.oh.us. Please contact me if you have any questions or require additional information. Yours truly, Bill Nelson Associate Director Office of Community Schools Ohio Department of Education 25 South Front St, Mail Stop 405 Columbus, OH 43215-4183 PH: 614-644-3533 william.nelson@ode.state.oh.us |
| Monday, April 16, 2007 - "Parent Rally" |
To: Toledo Community Schools Subject: Toledo Parent Rally / Thursday, April 19th / 6:00 PM at Winterfield Academy This Thursday there will be a parent rally at Winterfield Academy, 305 Wenz Road, Toledo, OH 43615 (Click onto map link below) Governor Strickland’s proposed state budget contains nearly two dozen changes to community school law that would cripple every community school in the state. School members, parents and family need to attend Thursday’s rally and learn ‘how to fight back’. Let the governor know that you expect him to keep the promise that Ohio made to its citizens….. “to provide educational choices for your children”. IMPORTANT LINKS: WSJ Editorial on School CHoice in Ohio, 3-29-07 “We want our voices to be heard all the way to Columbus.” Ron F. Adler, President |
| Monday, April 16, 2007 - "Dayton Parent Rally" |
To: Community School Members, Parent’s, Students & Supporters Subject: Parent Rally in Dayton on Wednesday, April 18th / 6:00 PM Reminder: Plan to attend Wednesday’s ‘rally’ at the Dayton View Academy located at 1416 Riverview Rd. (Directions are attached) Speaker Jon Husted will be joining us to explain the governor’s budget proposals and answer questions about how it will impact your school. For years, Speaker Husted has been the ‘legislative leader’ working to provide educational choices to parents for their children. This rally will be an important time for you to express your concerns and to let the Speaker know that you will support him in this budget battle with the governor….to save your community school. We expect a solid turn-out so try to arrive a few minutes early. Call if you have questions. IMPORTANT LINKS Ron F. Adler, President |
| Friday, Aril 13, 2007 - "Requests for Records for Social Security Disability claims" |
I am the public affairs specialist for metropolitan Cincinnati Social Security offices and am responsible for education and outreach. We are in the midst of conducting a statewide outreach effort to school districts and special education resource centers. I wanted to make sure you have my contact information, and also pass along some information to you. I would be most grateful if you would please forward the message below to any and all special education contacts in your districts. As you know, schools regularly receive student record requests from Social Security through the Ohio Disability Determination Service (DDS), located in Columbus. I know that retrieving these individual student records is a large workload, and certainly can be quite time consuming when you are trying to send us IEPs, family service plans, teacher questionnaires, stand-alone psych reports, etc. The Columbus DDS has various options which are available for sending records. I want to make sure your contacts are aware of the various transmission methods: 1. Fax via toll-free number (PREFERRED) o This bar code page sends the faxed documents directly into the child's electronic disability file--it's pretty cool. If the records are too big for one fax transmission, you can send multiples faxes, but they all have to have the bar code page as the cover. o If the bar code cover page is not the first page of the fax, the records won't go into the child's file and you will receive another record request from Columbus! So I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to make sure the bar code is the first page in the fax transmission. o A question which is often asked: Can a school fax records and still be compliant with HIPPA and state regulations? The answer: Absolutely! Social Security must comply with all federal and state mandates in terms of privacy and consent. Parents agree to your transmitting this information with the signed medical releases they provide to Social Security. 2. Electronic transfer (PREFERRED) o Is the site secure? Yes--again we must be HIPPA compliant and follow all
federal consent/privacy parameters. 3. Old fashioned snail-mail. o As an FYI: once school records are received for each child applying for disability, the records are scanned into an electronic file by our contractors. We do NOT have old-fashioned paper files anymore, and shred any documents sent to us. I also want to mention that I am available to do outreach with your staff, family support groups, and/or other interested third parties. I've done sessions on Social Security childhood disability, youth in transition, even preretirement seminars and how Social Security is Affected by a STRS pension. I would be happy to bring something similar into your districts, free of charge. I am available during the day, evenings and weekends, whatever is most convenient to you. Please know that I'm available as a Social Security information resource. Finally, I want to acknowledge all the hard work and efforts which school districts provide to Social Security in getting these records to us. It truly serves your students and the public at large--we appreciate all you do, and thank you. Sincerely, Sue Denny
Sent for Bill Bogdan |
| Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - "Office of Field Relations/School Improvement Newsletter" |
Colleagues, Please find attached the most recent version of the ODE Office of School Improvement/ Office of Field Relations newsletter. For Newsletter <<click here>> Monica M. Mitter, Regional School Improvement Facilitator |
| Monday, April 9, 2007 - "Summary of Governor's Proposed Budget" |
To: Ohio Community Schools Subject: Summary of Governor’s ‘Proposed’ Budget - <<Click Here to View>> Over the last two weeks we’ve received many calls and emails with questions about the governor’s proposed budget / HB-119. There have been very few details in the media about details and what has been written only addresses a moratorium. Those that support his proposals are framing the issue stating, ‘that the governor is very concerned about what he has heard about failing charter schools and he is calling for a moratorium until he can get his arms around charters and correct any problems. Not a word about the proposed cuts in funding...major changes to charter school law, etc. Attached is an OCQE summary highlighting the base issues that impact our schools. Ron F. Adler, President |
| Monday, April 9, 2007 - "Letter Writing Campaign" |
IMPORTANT LINKS
One of the ways to help defeat Governor Strickland’s ‘anti-community school’ budget proposal is for each community school to generate a ‘letter writing campaign’. Enlist your parents and students. It’s crucial that the governor and every legislators on the attached lists receive stacks of letters EVERY day through the months of April and May. Attached are (1) Guidelines for writing legislators……(2) a list of legislators that support community schools…..(3) and legislators that are expected to oppose community schools. They must hear stories from parents why they chose a community school for their child. Make them feel your concern….your passion….your anger. Thank the legislators on the list of those that support community schools. And for those on the list that are expected to support the governor’s proposal and vote against your school….express that you cannot believe they would support anything that would hurt the school that you ‘chose’ for your child. Be sure that your letters generate your full concern….and that your concerns will be expressed in the way you VOTE……and that parents have a very, very long memory. Feel free to contact us should you have questions, Ron F. Adler, President |
| Tuesday, April 3, 2007 - "School Lunch POS - Special offer for new clients" |
Nutrition Technology Leadership "Webinar" - (web-based seminar- don't leave your office!) Virtual Event for Administrators - Business Managers - Food Service Directors Are you still processing School Lunch TICKETS and Applications by hand? Do you have reporting and reconciliation headaches that won't go away? Would you like to speed up student ID, audit reporting and lunch applications processing? THROW AWAY those TICKETS and ROSTERS---eliminate the pain caused by unresponsive software vendors. "In the year 2000, Rocky River City Schools in Ohio began the hunt for something new, exciting to students and parents and virtually foolproof, great for accountability and back office reports, approval of benefits and of course cashier acceptable. The answer to all our needs was found in the FSS system which was installed in August of 2000. Finger scanning introduced to students was a major O.K. After a meeting to explain the process, parents did not object to the "scanning". Parents enjoy the pre-pay feature & statements which show exactly how the student has spent their lunch funds. Support service from FSS has been prompt, considerate and very detailed. The FSS program has increased our lunch program participation, moved our lines quickly, given us detailed records back to 2000 when needed and is very highly recommended by Rocky River City Schools ********************************** Please accept this special invitation to attend (from your office!) an exciting (and even entertaining!) 25-minute online presentation with Food Service Solutions, Inc. to see and hear the latest information on automating your lunch line. Point of Sale at EXTREMELY AFFORDABLE pricing No More Free and Reduced Lunch Applications by Hand! Act by May 31, 2007 and get online parent view FREE for 2007-2008 school year. Preview at http://www.myschoolaccount.com Increase Your LUNCH LINE Revenue and Approval Percentages and
For a no-cost virtual desk-top demonstration, click on this link www.foodserve.com/webinar.htm (or call 800-425-1425) to sign up for your preferred time and day. We will reply with instructions on how to log-in and join us online for an exciting no-cost informative virtual event! Choose your 'webinar' time and day now! LIMITED TIME OFFER!!! Special pricing consideration given to small public, private and charter schools. Fantastic Support Services at Food Service Solutions, Inc. |
| Sunday, April 1, 2007 - "THE FUTURE OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IS IN OUR HANDS" |
To: Ohio Community Schools Subject: The future of community schools is in ‘our hands’. This morning the TV series, State of Ohio featured two state legislators from the House of Representatives discussing Governor Strickland’s budget proposals. Rep. Kevin DeWine / Fairborn, Speaker Pro Tempore and member of the House Finance & Appropriations committee has been a supporter of vouchers and community schools. http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/MemberDetails.jsp?DISTRICT=70 Rep. Michael Skindell / Lakewood, is the Ranking Minority Member of the House Finance & Appropiation committee and appears to strongly support the Governor’s restrictions on community schools. http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/MemberDetails.jsp?DISTRICT=13 When the discussion came to community schools Rep. DeWine simply stated, “we will listen to our constituents”. Translation: ‘All of us need to get involved’ 1) We must have parents, students and school operators drive to Columbus and testify at every hearing in the House and Senate through April and May. 2) All of us, parents, board members, students, principals, teachers, interested friends and neighbors must write thousands of letters to legislators…..Republican, Democrat….and also to Governor Strickland. OCQE will be emailing you the dates / locations of legislative committee meetings, as well as names / addresses to mail letters. The need is urgent….time is short. Do not assume that the other school or that some other parent will do the work. The future of community schools is in ‘our hands’. Ohio Coalition for Quality Education |