Loveland Magazine

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News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Tag: education

Newly elected state school board member calls GOP plan to gut powers ‘Tornado from hell’

Seven of the 11 elected seats are now Democratic, stopping supermajority

BY: MARILOU JOHANEK – Ohio Capital Journal

“What you’re going to see in the lame duck session is going to be a tornado from hell.”

– Former state Sen. and now State School Board Member, Teresa Fedor, D-Toledo.

Former Ohio state Sen. Teresa Fedor, D-Toledo, who won a seat on the State Board of Education in the Nov. 8, 2022 election. Official Statehouse photo.

Former state Sen. Teresa Fedor got out of the Statehouse before the last vestiges of democratic governance were flattened by a power-hungry party on steroids.

She knew a cyclone of destructive GOP legislation, super-charged by an unstoppable Republican juggernaut in the General Assembly, would be devastating. It is already bearing down fast on voting rights, citizen ballot initiatives, transgender protections, and Ohio women.

But as Fedor bid a bittersweet farewell to a 22-year legislative career after being elected to the State Board of Education, Republican colleagues sent her a parting gift of disrespect.

Barely a week after Fedor and two other Democratic candidates won seats on the state school board, ousting incumbent GOP extremists on the ballot, Republicans in the Ohio Senate quickly moved to gut board members’ educational oversight responsibilities to almost nothing.

It was an audacious power grab by Republican lawmakers to wrest authority from the state education board on the heels of an election in which voters spoke about what they wanted for their children in education.

“We’re essentially removing most of the education duties out of the control of the state school board and putting them in the governor’s office,” declared Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, as he unilaterally moved to nullify a democratic election.

With the super-super Republican majorities Huffman deviously engineered through lawless gerrymandering, he can drop any pretense of honoring the will of the people. Voters don’t matter. Hoarding power does. Sharing power with state board of education members who defeated Republican-backed anti-trans, anti-vax, anti-CRT, anti-anti-racism resolution clowns was nixed even before new members were sworn in.

Huffman’s plan is to ram through a bill in the next few weeks that removes all the board’s decision-making on educational matters, from curriculum and textbooks to academic development and planning, and gives that consequential stewardship to a political appointee who answers to the governor who answers to Huffman. See how it works?

Senate Bill 178 shrinks the influence of the Ohio Board of Education to a handful of administrative issues outside the classroom. Sponsor state Sen. Bill Reinke, R-Tiffin, stressed the need “for systemic change at the state level (after the Nov. 8 election) to our education system to ensure accountability to taxpayers and for our kids.”

Fedor rolled her eyes.

“They’ve been beating that drum for over 30 years. ‘Public schools are failing. We need accountability.’ And where are we on public education? They (Ohio Republicans) have been in control the whole time, except for four years under Strickland. If there’s a failure, it’s a failure on their part,” she said.

“This is the 25th year of an unconstitutional school funding formula in the state. Republicans failed to the provide equitable and adequate education for the common schools in Ohio for 25 years. They set up a failed charter school system (remember ECOT?) in which tax dollars go into a black hole never to be seen again. They expanded vouchers, the privatization of our public dollars, a bigger black hole. Legally taxpayers don’t have a right to see how that tax money is being spent.”

Fedor is outraged that Huffman and Co. are subverting the voice of Ohio voters with Senate Bill 178.

“This just shifts power from the people to an unaccountable cabinet member in the executive branch,” she fumed. “Republicans are creating another level of bureaucracy away from the public” to steamroll their goal of privatizing public institutions without transparency or accountability.

The incoming state school board member is resigned to what comes next. The Republican storm whipping through the legislature will weaken the Ohio State Board of Education by giving its power to the governor.

“They’ll have their hearing, maybe two,”Fedor explained. “They may get interested parties into a room and say how can we tweak this so you’ll accept it even if you don’t like it and we can say we worked with you.”

“They’ll put the language into a substitute bill that no one will see until the last minute before it gets voted on or fold it into a lame duck Christmas tree bill and say they did the public bidding and boast about it. But everyone will know it was a sham. That’s what abuse of power will do.”

After over two decades in the legislative trenches, Fedor recognizes ruthless.

“Ohio Republicans have been waiting in the wings to roll out their extreme agenda because now they have unlimited power in the legislature. Senate Bill 178 cues up the budget debate. If it becomes law, Republicans are then going to pour money into their bureaucratic schemes to privatize public institutions — including the most important one to secure democracy, public education. The select few will benefit but 90% of our children will be left behind.”

Fedor, who spent 17 years in the classroom, conceded, “I have no power other than my voice and experience and heart.”

But she is a formidable force in her own right and will fight to be heard over the tornado from hell roaring through the lame duck.

“I am never going to give up,” promised the state school board member under siege. “You have to have hope. There’s no other choice.”

Nov 24, 2022
Coach Parker Night is home opener for Loveland Women’s Basketball
by David Miller

Loveland, Ohio – On Monday, December 5 you can join our Tiger Nation in celebrating the life and legacy of Women’s Basketball Head Coach Darnell Parker. His daughters have established a scholarship in their father’s name to award to a deserving Loveland High School athlete.

The Varsity Game is at 7:30 PM and the JV game is at 6 PM. Sometime around 7, between the JV and Varsity games is when Darnell’s family will be called down to mid-court.

Will you wear orange and black spirit wear? Will you wear your Coach Parker tee? Will you come and compete in the half-court throwdown? Will you buy enough split-the-pot tickets to win the split?

The split-the-pot raffle, the half-court shot tickets, and cookies will be sold throughout the JV and Varsity games. The half court competition and split the pot winner will be announced at half-time of the Varsity game.
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   Darnell had more fun than anyone could imagine playing collegiate basketball and earning his bachelor’s degree. 

   A student earning this scholarship will be continually inspired by Coach Darnell Parker to push through adversity to accomplish their dreams.

   If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, information will be available in Spring 2023 to apply. 

   If you would like to contribute to the Darnell Parker Memorial Athletic Scholarship, click here. Donations may also be venmo’d to @Dana-Parker-41 or checks made payable to S3C, Inc. may be mailed to 6187 Cardington Place, West Chester, OH 45069. 
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DONATE NOW

See ya at the LHS gym vs ECC rival Lebanon High School. This is the “home opener” for the Tigers.
Nov 21, 2022
Here is how Loveland Intermediate and Middle Schools gave thanks

Loveland, Ohio – On a very frosty last Thursday morning, the students and teachers from the Loveland Intermediate and Middle School campus hit the street and carried food from their school to the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church at the corner of Lebanon Road and West Loveland Avenue. They delivered the food they had collected to the Loveland LIFE Food Pantry which will distribute it to those less fortunate in the Greater Loveland Area.

As Nancy Grant explains in the LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV segment it was the start of the second decade of the “Pass it on Food Drive”, the 21st year! The goal this year was to help the food pantry put together 250 Thanksgiving Day and 250 Holiday meal boxes.

In the video, you can see most of the Tigers as they hustle their way up the street and into the church where they help sort their donations. Grant and Penny Dippold will tell you how the programs started and the enduring value to the Loveland community.

Nov 21, 2022
Talented artist, cook, and advocate leads by example!

by Cassie Mattia and the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities

Everyone experiences challenges in their lives whether it’s having a not-so-great work week, overcoming an illness, or getting into an argument with someone you care about. In the grand scheme of things, those challenges are often ones you can quickly overcome and grow from! Some obstacles in life can be so challenging that when one overcomes them it is not only inspirational to see but also serves as a beautiful example for those experiencing the same obstacles. Meet Kathryn (Kat) Feldmann, a 21-year-old who has not only never backed down from a challenge but has also been a source of motivation for others in the developmental disability community to pursue their dreams.

Kat, who lives with her mom, Kristen, her dad, Kurt, and her brother, Konrad in Liberty Township has overcome a lot of medical challenges in her life. As a baby, Kat was diagnosed with an Atrial Septal Defect that was eventually corrected through surgery. Kat was also diagnosed with autism, Pierre Robin Sequence, anxiety, Craniofacial Anomalies, and a speech delay. Though Kat deals with challenges daily due to her disabilities, she has successfully managed to not only exceed her goals, but also receive many awards/honors along the way for her outstanding achievements.

Kat, as a very young girl, loved being involved in the community and supporting organizations that she truly believed in.

“Throughout her school age years, she participated in Butler County 4H doing mostly food and nutrition projects and even competed at the state fair twice,” Kat’s mother Kristen said. “Kat was also involved in Girl Scouts since first grade and earned the Girl Scout Gold award. For this, she earned a multiyear grant from Katie’s Krops and grew a garden from which she donated her entire harvest to a local food pantry. She also identified and printed recipes to donate alongside the produce so that the recipients would have a better idea of how to cook it.”

Kat and her many accomplishments, awards, and honors!

Kat’s determination and dedication to the environment, her community, and cooking delicious, healthy, fresh food earned her multiple 4H awards and a trip to Washington DC where she served as the “Citizens Focus” Club’s Treasurer. Little did Kat realize she was becoming one of the biggest local advocates for those with developmental disabilities!

As time went on, Kat began to really enjoy researching things that interested her, often watching YouTube videos to learn as much as she could about topics that she was passionate about. This led to Kat diving into many hobbies such as collecting American Girl Dolls, reading books, cooking, music, dancing, spending time with her Siamese cats, and art.

Kat, her brother Konrad, and her mother Kristen (Photo top left), Kat and 1 of her 3 Siamese cats (Photo top right), Kat and her SSA, Teresa Rouff (Photo bottom left), Kat in Pittsburgh (Photo bottom right).

Kat successfully graduated from Lakota East and shortly after became a part of Butler Tech’s Project Life, a comprehensive, multi-year transition program where students develop, practice, and strengthen skills that increase adult independence and successful integrated employment in the community, and Butler Tech’s Project Search, a school-to-work program for students with disabilities who are serious about working hard and getting a job.

“Kat completed both Project Life and Project Search in May of 2022. For Project Search she completed rotations in the emergency department and the lab at West Chester Hospital,” Kristen explained. “She is now working with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) to secure employment in the future.”

Once Kat finished Project Search she realized she had an interest in Hospitality which led her to enrolling in the Tartan TOPS program at Sinclair College, an educational/career pathway program for part-time students who have an intellectual disability.

Kat in front of Sinclair College, where she currently takes classes in the Tartan TOPS program.

BCBDD Service and Support Administrator (SSA), Teresa Rouff, began working with Kat in April and couldn’t be more impressed with Kat’s progress!

“On top of all the amazing things Kat is doing, she recently began a vocational habilitation program at InsideOut Studio where she creates various art pieces,” Teresa said. “She loves art and is VERY talented. She has a few pieces for sale on the InsideOut Studio website that show how gifted she is at art!”

Kat enjoys all aspects of art and is currently working with fiber and crocheting knits at InsideOut Studio. Kat said she hopes to sell some of her creations through the online store.

“Kat is also involved in SpeakUp and was recently matched with a buddy through Best Buddies and looks forward to fun times ahead with her new friend,” Kristen said. SpeakUp is a BCBDD self-advocacy group and Best Buddies is a non-profit organization that offers one-on-one friendship and leadership development programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Kat’s “Happiness” acrylic on canvas that she created at InsideOut Studio (Photo top left), Kat’s white pumpkin garden stone that she created at InsideOut Studio (Photo top right), Kat with advocate Jodi Mann, Director Kimberly Hauck from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD), advocate Cassie Sullivan, and Steve Beha, the Chief Policy Officer for the DODD, Kat was on an advocate panel when DODD’s Director Hauck visited the BCBDD (Bottom right photo).

Kat says her main hope and dream is to become as independent as possible and to live with roommates and friends for socialization. She says she would like to get a job that allows her to make a difference in the world and continue doing what she’s passionate about!

Watch the on-camera interview with Kat Feldmann, BCBDD SSA Teresa Rouff, and Kat’s mother Kristen Feldmann below!

Nov 16, 2022
Loveland’s Drew Plitt to XFL’s Arlington Renegades

Watch as Drew Plitt is announced by the Arlington Renegades as their pick at quarterback for the 2023 season. ESPN’s Stormy Buonantony, XFL Head Coach Bob Stoops officially announced the team’s quarterback. Plitt will play in Arlington, Texas. The Renegades play their home games at Choctaw Stadium.

The Arlington Renegades announced their selections of Kyle Sloter and Drew Plitt as the team’s two quarterbacks for the upcoming season

Learn more about the XFL

Nov 15, 2022
An Open Letter to the Loveland Board of Education from Loveland VOICE

VOICE is a grassroots organization representing ALL of Loveland. As our name implies, we are not your enemy, we are citizens concerned for the welfare of all. VOICE did not fail the recent Permanent Tax Levy: the citizens of Loveland failed the Levy 52%-48% for many reasons, some of which were compiled and listed in an article titled Why People Vote No. VOICE’s purpose is to ask questions and inform citizens on the broader facts of an issue or narrative and to hold the district accountable to justifying expenditures of public money. VOICE originated after the 2019 levy when it was apparent that the district was not being truthful about its needs or communicating well with the community. We understand that the district had operated without public scrutiny for many years and that it can be uncomfortable to have the curtain pulled back and receive criticism. Some in our community have even been offended by our efforts. Public education, however, is a service to the community, paid for by taxpayers. Therefore the school is a servant, not the master, and should be able to operate with humility and correction when necessary.

The School Board has not represented the community. Rather, it has acted merely as an advocate for the school. The Board should intelligently consider the entire Loveland community represented in three different counties and several socio-economic neighborhoods. The Board’s decisions impact the whole community and should not be overwhelmingly influenced by “in-house” thinking. The VOICE and numerous individual citizens suggest that, moving forward, the Board seriously consider alternatives to constantly choosing PERMANENT property taxes. The burden on senior citizens, long-term residents and low-income families is destructive and pushes people deeper into poverty or out of the community. Moreover, the rising property tax burden does not maintain property values more than it simply discourages all but higher income earners from purchasing homes in our community. Pushing an older generation or middle class taxpayers out to make room for young families who will bring more money is not a healthy or unifying way to build a community. The current path is unsustainable, as has been repeated by businessmen and other ordinary citizens since 2020. We do not want to constantly reside in a victim status created by H.B.920, and we need to take the time to consider the alternatives and change the status quo.

The VOICE has been mocked for its themes of trust and transparency, and yet getting simple answers for simple questions, like what is the true number of teachers and why a lower number was used for a live levy session, has been virtually impossible. To understand real budget numbers, numerous questions must be asked, resulting in accusations that individuals are using up district time and resources. When the contingency fee was explained at a board meeting, it created confusion about where the money came from and how the bucket was to be refilled. The district clearly avoided directly addressing the issue several times when clarification was sought. Citizens must be able to understand how and why their money is being spent in a clear, not obfuscated or cherry-picked, fashion. Please don’t announce that you will have to cut 50 teachers if the levy fails and then, after the levy fails, announce that no decisions have been made about future funding requests or budget cuts. We have good, honest people in our community. Please don’t sell us a levy with fear. Please give us the whole truth so we can be informed and make up our own minds. It is our money, and they are our kids, not yours. Please don’t resist transparency — proactive transparency builds trust. You do not build trust by talking at people. Has the greater community ever been invited to engage in a discussion where the conversation was not directed by the school?

Please consider curbing expenditures in a time of economic hardship. There are many ways we can think of to trim the budget before cuts are even considered. Before approving the next budget forecast in November please remove from the budget the amounts that were added in anticipation of passing a levy. Strip the budget of money for potential new teachers or possible bus drivers, and put the contingency fee money back into the baseline cash balance. Please justify your expenditures instead of vaguely claiming that you need money to “maintain educational programming”. This purposely leaves it to the public to fill in the blank. If you are putting a levy on the ballot, every dollar you are asking for should be accounted for publicly. Please don’t hold on to our money for us, promising not to spend it until you need to, when we might need that money right now for our families and our own basic living expenses.

We kept hearing the message that things were changing, but it seems that things continue to be done as they were in the past. This community infighting was created by you, the Board. It pits neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend. It is unnecessary! We all want what is best for the community and what is best for the schools. It took years to get us to this point of “bridge failure”, and it will take time to repair the damage. You alone have been entrusted with the power and responsibility to solve this problem. Make the decisions necessary to fix the budget and reduce the excessive spending that is so obvious to many of us. Pushing this off until another permanent levy finally passes will not fix anything. The fighting will still be there, and the community will pay the price. Take responsibility. The fix is NOT cutting services, it is proper budgeting and spending. It is time to change how we do things because we cannot afford to keep repeating past mistakes. Whether levies pass or fail, we must all return to living together in the same community. We would like to believe our Board has the will and courage to do hard things, to actively listen to dissenters, and to bring unity out of the division we have experienced in Loveland.

Sincerely,

Loveland VOICE (Voter Oversight, Interest and Concern for Education)

Nov 15, 2022
Education advocates say Ohio legislature should focus on funding, not regulating curriculum

Getty Images

BY: SUSAN TEBBEN – Ohio Capital Journal

Groups keeping an eye on the Ohio legislature’s handling of education are hoping the General Assembly focuses on funding and appealing to new teachers, rather than bills regulating curriculum and “divisive” issues.

The Ohio Education Association is continuing it’s push to eliminate mandatory retention from the third-grade reading guarantee, focusing their attention getting through to the state Senate.

“I’m optimistic, I think now that we’re past election season, we can focus on finding common ground and really making sure that we’re addressing the needs of students,” said Scott DiMauro, head of the OEA.

The association has already put out a series of recommendations for improving recruitment and retention strategies for teachers, including taking away financial barriers and prioritizing “the need to have a diverse teaching pool to serve all our communities.”

“I’m encouraged that there have been a lot of productive conversations at the regional level and with policymakers who I think share this concern,” DiMauro said.

The Ohio Federation of Teachers has also spotlighted the training of teachers and the retention of quality teachers as part of their state priorities.

“Teachers are still tired and we need to look at how we make the education system work them,” said OFT executive director Melissa Cropper.

What education policy groups don’t want to see is rushed legislation that flies through the lame duck session without the ability for transparency and accountability. This includes bills that have already been introduced, like House Bill 616, the most recent “divisive concepts” bill brought by state Reps. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, and Mike Loychik, R-Bazetta, to regulate the curriculums in schools, including legislating when and how sexual orientation and gender ideology can be included in school lessons.

But Cropper isn’t as worried about “extremist” bills being pushed through before the end of the year because the Republican majority has increased based on general election results, theoretically giving the GOP no reason to fast-track bills or attach them quickly to other bills.

“We are certainly opposed to anything being passed during a lame duck session when there’s not time for anything to be vetted,” Cropper said. “But given the results of the election, I don’t think that there’s any urgency on their part to do anything.”

HB 616 is not currently scheduled to appear in committee this week, as the legislature comes back from its summer recess.

DiMauro said he’s not sure what the prospects for education policy will be going into the lame duck session, but more than that, he wants to see more focus on “committing resources to a funding plan that primarily fits the needs of students and teachers.”

“We know that it’s critical for the future of our state … that Ohio is a welcoming place for educators,” DiMauro said.

Both education leaders were bolstered by the results of the Ohio State Board of Education races that took place on November 8, wherein two incumbents were unseated, and another race put a former Democratic legislator and teacher on the board to replace outgoing member Kirsten Hill.

“I don’t think these are tiny changes, I think these are huge changes,” Cropper said. “We finally have some more people on (the board) who are there because they want to make this education system work for students and … is not about some culture war agenda.”

Nov 14, 2022
[VIDEO] A national ritual: 5 LHS Student-Athletes on “National Signing Day”

Loveland, Ohio – On November 9th the weather outside was more Summeresque than almost winter. Inside the Chuck Schmidt Auditorium at Loveland High School, the reception for student-athletes was even warmer as proud parents, school staff, coaches, and fellow athletes gathered to witness the signing of letters of intent to further academic and athletic careers at institutions of higher learning.

When you view this video, pay special note to the grade-point averages of these student-athletes.

Athletic Director Rich Bryant introduced:

Sophia Kapszukiewicz – Soccer at at Northern Kentucky University

Campbell Massey – Soccer at Taylor University

Courtney Haneline – Soccer at Webster University

Madison Conatser – Cross Country/Track and Field at the University of Cincinnati

Callum McGill – Baseball at Morehead State

Victoria Blum – Cheer at Mt. St. Joseph University (could not attend the ceremony)

Nov 10, 2022
School Superintendant releases video statement about levy defeat

Loveland, Ohio – Mike Broadwater, the Superintendent of the Loveland City School District has released this video statement about the defeat yesterday of the operating levy.

You can communicate with Broadwater via email: broadwmi@lovelandschools.org

[Updated] 2022 Loveland Area Mid-Term Election Results

David Miller – Nov 9, 2022

Nov 9, 2022
[Updated] 2022 Loveland Area Mid-Term Election Results

EDITOR’S NOTE: The totals for the Loveland School Levy have now been updated (11-10-2022) to reflect revised counts by the BOE’s.

Loveland, Ohio – Around midnight we made a preliminary election report because of delays in Hamilton County vote tabulations. Not all of their precincts had yet reported.

We can now bring you this updated tally.

This update does not reflect any change to the tally we reported last night for the Loveland City School District operating levy.

We publish our results as soon as the three counties Loveland is in, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren report their “Unofficial” counts and when 100% of precinct votes have been tabulated by each county BOE.

These new results are, as of 7:38 AM Wednesday, November 9.

The state-wide, and U.S. House and Senate tabulations are from the report of the Ohio Secretary of State.

The results below are the “Unofficial” count. There are still outstanding ballots left to be counted. Absentee ballots must be postmarked by the 7^th and received by the BOE’s no later than November 18. Write-in votes are not counted on election night.

The Official Count occurs between 11 and 21 days after election day.

The election must be “certified” by November 29^th and this will include all election-day ballots, on-time ballots not yet counted, and all valid provisional ballots.

2022-Loveland-Area-Mid-term-Election-Results-4 Download

Nov 9, 2022