Tuesday, August 17, 1999
Taft praises school efforts
He calls for state to follow Cincinnati lead
BY DANA DiFILIPPO
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Gov. Bob Taft campaigned on a commitment to education. While educators statewide await the changes that commitment may yield, Cincinnati Public Schools leaders at least know he's listening.
The governor visited Superintendent Steven Adamowski on Monday morning in an hourlong, private session to chat about the challenges facing urban education.
It was one of several face-to-face meetings the governor plans with the leaders of Ohio's urban districts. He already has met with Barbara Byrd-Bennett, Cleveland Public Schools' chief executive officer. Ms. Byrd-Bennett could not be reached for comment Monday.
Mr. Taft said the initiative helps him “keep in contact with our customers who are dealing with the greatest challenges.”
After the meeting, Mr. Taft praised district reforms intended to raise student achievement.
“What's going on here in Cincinnati is so innovative in terms of accountability standards, redesign of schools and the option to convert to charter schools,” he said.
Ohio must follow Cincinnati's lead in developing clear standards of what students should know in each grade, Mr. Taft added. A state-commissioned report released in March found Ohio's academic standards are so unclear in state policy books that few know what they are. The report called on lawmakers to adopt stringent and clear standards.
Mr. Taft also assured Mr. Adamowski that lawmakers are working on a plan to increase state support of school facilities. The district can get about $15 million in state aid for building repairs — but only if it can raise matching money.
Mr. Adamowski said he was “encouraged” by the meeting and looks forward to further talks with the governor.
During his campaign, the governor pledged to increase reading proficiency statewide. Once in office, he launched Ohio Reads, an initiative to get more volunteer tutors into schools.
His campaign promises also included boosting science and math scores, but he hasn't addressed that since.
As governor, Mr. Taft proposed expanding charter schools into any school district that fails to improve its academic standards.
He also called for 100 percent of the state's budget surplus to be set aside for school construction and technology. The legislature later limited that amount to $416 million.
His budget also included $25 million to help schools with academic problems and $20 million to reward those that improve their proficiency test scores, attendance and graduation rates.
Michael Hawthorne contributed.
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