Audit Schools Taken Over By State, Ohio Politicians Say

COLUMBUS, OH — New legislation would require a one-time performance audit of Ohio school districts which have been taken over by the state. The bill was introduced by three Ohio politicians with Academic Distress Commissions (ADC) in their territory.

“Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent, especially when it comes to their children’s education,” said state Rep. Joe Miller, whose district includes the Lorain Schools. “We’ve heard a lot about the need for accountability for these school districts. It’s time the state-imposed district leadership be held to the same standard.”

Miller and state Reps. Michele Lepore-Hagan, from Youngstown, and Kent Smith, whose district includes East Cleveland, have tried repeatedly to kill the state's Academic Distress Commissions. Smith noted that prior to state takeover of East Cleveland Schools, there were signs of gradual improvement — with all of the district's elementary schools receiving grades of A, B or C on their value-added/progress metrics. The district also saw marked improvement in 15 of 21 metrics monitored by the state.

“Since the state took over their school district, East Cleveland residents no longer have any oversight abilities. Therefore, the state needs to conduct a performance audit to ensure dollars are not being wasted in their unaccountable system,” said Smith.

The legislation creating audits of the Academic Distress Commissions will be sent to the House Rules and Reference Committee. The bill will receive a committee assignment and then a bill number after it is sent down.

“We are introducing this legislation because the un-elected, unaccountable Academic Distress Commissions and appointed CEOs in Youngstown, Lorain and East Cleveland exercise unilateral control over tens of millions of taxpayer dollars. The performance audits mandated by the bill will enable parents, teachers, residents, elected officials and the public at large to evaluate whether those dollars are being used effectively. Most importantly, we will be able to determine if our teachers and kids are receiving the resources and support they need to achieve and succeed. The time to impose transparency and scrutiny on this failed system has arrived,” said Lepore-Hagan in a statement.