BASA Member Update 10.11.19

HOT TOPICS •The Ohio Department of Education is partnering with Sandy Hook Promise to provide threat assessment training at no cost to districts in the 2019-2020 school year, part of a three-year training initiative. The sessions teach multi-disciplinary, school-based teams how to identify and respond to threats of violence or at-risk behavior before a tragedy takes place. Districts interested in bringing their school-based teams to a training will find more information and a link to registration on the Department’s website . Learn more about Sandy Hook Promise . • Registration is open for the Ohio Technology Summit on Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at The Point at Otterbein University in Westerville. The summit offers opportunities to explore hands-on technology integration across kindergarten to college curriculum. Sessions will benefit elementary, middle and high school teachers, librarians and after- school program leaders. More session details and registration information are available on the Ohio Technology Summit website . • Recent changes in state law eliminated the English language arts I test for students in the classes of 2023 and beyond. Students who entered ninth grade on or after July 1, 2019, are no longer required to take the English language arts I test. Find more details on the impact of eliminating the English language arts I test on the Department’s website . The Department will release information later about other changes to Ohio’s state testing system. School Issues on the November 5 Ballot It appears that 155 school district issues will be on the ballot at the General Election this year. Of the 105 issues generating some form of operating revenue, 34 are new issues. A breakdown of the complete but unofficial BASA analysis is as follows: Current Expense – New: 7 Current Expense – Renewal: 17 Emergency – New: 13 Emergency- Renewal: 28 Substitute: 9 Joint County Finance District – Renewal: 1 Permanent Improvement – New: 7 Permanent Improvement – Renewal: 20 Combination Issues: 12 Bond Issues: 11 Traditional Income Tax – New: 5 Traditional Income Tax – Renewal: 13 Earned Income Tax – New: 9 Earned Income Tax – Renewal: 3