CommunicationPlus - May 2023

How a ‘phone zone’ helps students choose to put their phones away

Managing student phone use is challenging. Schools have adopted rules to limit use during class time, and enforcing the rules has become a significant part of classroom behavioral plans. Teachers are developing systems to help students comply with school phone rules and limit disruptions during instructional time. When teachers share a clear, consistently enforced plan with parents, they can partner to help students succeed.

Specificity of minutes

Ohio law requires boards of education to record the proceedings of their meetings. This document, which is more commonly known as the “minutes” of a meeting, constitutes the official record of all board actions and serves an important role in providing key information to members of the public.

Week of May 1, 2023

Next week’s testimony opportunities
The Senate Education Committee will be holding hearings for public testimony on HB 33, the biennial budget, next week on Tuesday, May 9 at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 10 at 4:00 p.m., and Thursday, May 11 at 11 a.m. if needed. They will be accepting proponent, opponent and interested party testimony during these hearings. The witness form can be found here. 

Plan now for important June 1 deadline for nonrenewal of certain district employees, including some administrators

June 1 is an important date for school districts in the Ohio Revised Code in the area of human resources and employee contracts. Specifically, June 1 is the deadline to take action if the board wishes to nonrenew the contracts of administrators other than the superintendent and treasurer. Given this rapidly approaching deadline, now is the time for boards of education in cooperation with the superintendent and other school leaders to begin planning for any possible nonrenewal actions.

District property disposal

A board of education may dispose of real and personal property held by it in its corporate capacity only in the manner prescribed by statute. The provisions of law with respect to the manner of disposing of property are mandatory, and if such statutes are not strictly complied with, a board of education cannot lawfully transfer title to the property.

Week of April 17, 2023

Next week’s testimony opportunities
The House Economic and Workforce Development Committee will be holding a hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 1, which would reform the functions and responsibilities of the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The hearing will occur on Tuesday, April 25 at 1:00 p.m. and will be accepting opponent testimony.

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