COLUMBUS — The Ohio Supreme Court has upheld a law that changed how the state intervenes in repeatedly poor-performing school districts, angering some Statehouse Democrats and the state’s largest teachers’ union.
The justices ruled Wednesday that lawmakers did not violate the state constitution when they added a 67-page amendment allowing the takeover of academically distressed local school districts to a 10-page bill and passed the measure on the same day.
The bill contained provisions appointing a chief executive officer with “complete operational, managerial, and instructional” control of a distressed school district.
The head of the Ohio Education Association said he was disappo0inted by the decision
“Student performance is not improved by punishing districts that face the greatest challenges. Students are only served well by giving those districts the resources they need and giving local educators a seat at the table with their collective bargaining rights secured,” union president Scott DiMauro said.
The union committed to continuing its effort to have the law struck down, as did a state lawmaker whose district includes Youngstown, where the city schools were the first to be impacted by the distress commission law.
“While I am dismayed by today’s ruling, I am not discouraged and I will not be deterred. I will continue to work with the hundreds of community and faith leaders, teachers, parents, and students who are committed to restoring local control of the Youngstown City Schools. We will not stop fighting until we achieve that goal,” said Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown).
The court also rejected arguments that lawmakers skirted a procedural rule about repeated legislative consideration when the changes were pushed through in one day in 2015.
A lawyer who argued the challenge by the Youngstown school board and school employees’ unions says they worry the ruling opens the door for lawmakers to use similar tactics to pass other legislation with limited opportunity for public input.