Schools - Current Topics

Insight Education Equity Report

Equity Report Audit

The District hired Insight Education to do a DEI audit on the District. The District paid over $100,000 for this review.

During the Board meeting, Denise Lutz, Chief Excellence and Engagement Officer, highlighted two portions of the audit. Dr. Lutz's responsibilities include DEI for the District. You can watch her Board presentation at minutes 1:50:32 - 2:11:35 Click on the April School Board Meeting.

The District is leaning heavily on the Equity Report to create the new Strategic Plan. United Arlington's Board will be reviewing the Audit and sharing that information in future newsletters and on this website.

Ed Choice Scholarship Lawsuit

Ed Choice Scholarship Lawsuit:

A group of Ohio School Boards and two groups called Vouchers Hurt Ohio and Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding have filed a lawsuit saying Ed Choice Scholarships are unconstitutional in Ohio.

The UA School Board voted 3-2 to financially support the lawsuit. McKenna, Stump & Satiani voted Yes. Sauter and Trent voted No. Click on the Board meeting to listen to their viewpoints. It starts at minute 1:11:32. Please read the United Arlington newsletter of 6/18/24 for more details.

The May School Board meeting was featured on NBC 4. A group of UA residents who support taking vouchers away from inner city students in failing public schools asked NBC 4 to attend.

https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/upper-arlington/upper-arlington-pushed-to-join-school-voucher-lawsuit/

United Arlington had 4 speakers who asked the Board to vote against joining the lawsuit by using facts. They can be viewed on United Arlington’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UnitedArlington

Here is an article by Fordham Institute about the vote and its ramifications for underprivileged Ohio students: Shame on Upper Arlington

Important Facts:

Ed Choice Scholarships do NOT touch the property tax revenue paid by local residents. UA receives 100% of property taxes earmarked for schools.
Schools are funded mainly by local property taxes
Districts receive some money from the State of Ohio. Wealthy districts get less per pupil than a district like Columbus Public schools
The State pays money for each student ATTENDING a public school
When you combine state and local money, the per pupil revenue INCREASES if residents use the Ed Choice scholarships. Gross revenue may decrease, but the per pupil revenue increases as a result.
Since 2012-2022 – the number of Ed Choice recipients tripled but the collective cash reserve of school districts across Ohio has doubled in that same time period
- UA – in 2012 - $35,289,141 cash reserves (45% of annual
  expenditures) 2023 - $54,085,995 (51% of annual reserves)
- Check the state website for cash reserve details on all Ohio districts
- Public Schools are not being “gutted” by Ed Choice Scholarships
https://reports.education.ohio.gov/report/finance-cash-balance-analytics
Ed Choice is good policy for EVERY child whether they use it or not
- 28 studies have been done
  - In 27 of those studies, the Academic performance for kids who REMAIN in public schools improve
  - It will not hurt UA students.
- Most recent study was conducted by an OSU professor
  https://fordhaminstitute.org/ohio/research/ohio-edchoice-programs-impact-
  school-district-enrollments-finances-and-academics

Contact the School Board if you have questions: boe@uaschools.org

Husted Letter to the School Board - Ed Choice Scholarship - Click here to access letter

Cell Phone Use in Schools

There is discussion in many Ohio school districts to limit the cell phone use of students during the school day. Eighteen districts have made decisions to limit cell phones. Jon Haidt has written books and articles about having Phone-Free Schools.

Below you will find links to some of his articles.

Case for Phone Free Schools Social Media-Cause for Mental Illness Epidemic

Haidt's most recent book is The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

In addition, the Ohio Senate passed a bill to limit cell phone use in school.

https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/ohio/ohio-senate-passes-bill-limit-student-cell-phone-use-in-school/530-70863f8c-ff4a-4444-a75b-0cb7313c795f

The State Legislature has passed a bill to limit cell phone use in school.

https://www.10tv.com/article/news/politics/dewine-to-sign-bill-limiting-student-cellphone-use-school/530-f5588bc9-f3ef-4783-a256-0e01c366211b

Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 250 to require school districts to have a cell phone policy to limit cell phone usage during the school day.

https://governor.ohio.gov/media/news-and-media/governor-dewine-signs-bill-requiring-ohio-schools-to-create-cell-phone-policies