Cole Behrens

1 day ago | dispatch.com | Cole Behrens

Columbus City Schools has dissolved its equity office and moved employees into another department, the district said. According to CCS Chief of Staff Mike De Fabbo, employees who were part of the district's equity department have been combined with the district's "Whole Child Supports" department, "to align the work" with the board's whole child support guardrail.

2 days ago | cantonrep.com | Cole Behrens

The Ohio Senate wants to amend the state's religious release bill to prevent public school districts from prohibiting religious groups like LifeWise from providing students with candy, trinkets, or other materials, or limiting the number of times a student can attend a program. The amendments to the state budget bill proposed in the Ohio Senate Finance Committee would require school districts to permit students to bring external educational and program materials into school.

2 days ago | dispatch.com | Cole Behrens

The Ohio Senate wants to amend the state's religious release bill to prevent districts from prohibiting religious release time groups like LifeWise from providing students with materials or limiting the amount of times a student can attend a program. The amendments to the state budget bill proposed in the Ohio Senate Finance Committee would require school districts to permit students to bring external educational and program materials into school.

3 days ago | dispatch.com | Cole Behrens

Columbus City Schools has announced a four-phase plan for closing four of the five schools it previously voted to close. Broadleigh and Moler Elementary schools are scheduled to close after the 2025-2026 school year. Buckeye Middle School and Columbus Alternative High School will be addressed in later phases. West Broad Elementary's closure is contingent upon securing funding for a replacement building on the same site. .

3 days ago | usatoday.com | Cole Behrens

The Ohio Senate wants to use the state's unclaimed property fund to pay for the proposed suburban Cleveland Browns stadium. The state has said it's safeguarding about $4 billion through its Division of Unclaimed Funds, The Dispatch previously reported. Where does that money come from? Here's what to know. Unclaimed funds are lost or forgotten money that businesses and banks report to the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Unclaimed Funds after accounts become inactive.