Today I will focus on an issue which brings the LCESC into the public eye - if you are tuned in, you might have heard of Glass City Academy...
At our regular board meeting on Tuesday, May 12th, we were glad to have citizen participation from a group of Old Orchard residents. Their concern - which you may have heard about already, and if not, you probably will - can be seen here: http://www.foxtoledo.com/dpp/news/wupw_Dispute_over_West_Toledo_school_05132009
While our board listened closely to their concerns, our opinions can't matter: legally, we can do nothing about the location that one of our schools chooses... here is the official statement from Lucas County ESC:
As a community school sponsor, Lucas County Educational Service Center (LCESC) has no legal authority over where (within the legal parameters as defined by the Ohio Revised Code) a community school chooses to purchase or lease a facility. The Lucas County Educational Service Center does have the responsibility to provide technical assistance and assure compliance with state laws and regulations for all its schools.
Ohio law requires a sponsor of Ohio community schools to provide written assurances to the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) of the following: proof of ownership or lease of a school facility, liability insurance, a certificate of occupancy, satisfactory health, safety, and fire inspections, as well as a pre-opening site visit. Ohio law does not require or encourage a sponsor to select a facility for an Ohio community school; rather, that decision rests with the governing authority of the community school. Consequently, it is not appropriate for an educational service center to interfere in the proceedings of, or substitute its judgment for, a city planning commission or any laws concerning land use.
I do welcome comments and ideas here - I have a few of my own, but in my post I am sticking pretty closely to the facts of the situation.
