The following Tweets were created by Ruth Spanos, a part-time School Speech Language Pathologist who works through the ESC of Northeast Ohio. She generated these Tweets in response to the ECOT scandal and subsequent social media attack on public education by ECOT Pals, that’s funded by ECOT owner Bill Lager. She did this on her own time and did not get paid or reimbursed in any way for her very clever messaging:
EVERY student in Ohio deserves a great school with caring teachers. A school shows it cares by doing things like taking attendance, and following up when children don’t show up for school. Right? It wouldn’t just keep taking money for those students…would it?
Those teachers (and teachers across Ohio) deserve to be paid fairly and have decent working conditions. They deserve to work at an ethically run school. Certainly one with decent tech support. Maybe if Lager had invested in attendance tracking instead of mansions in Florida?
Truly a shame how Lager took advantage of these dedicated teachers. He profited off creating an online education environment that didn’t even track attendance? Talk about a terrible design flaw, let alone a terrible fraud on Ohio taxpayers.
I am sorry for you that you cannot appreciate the incredible public schools we have here in Ohio, and the essential need for accountability! #Lager and his cronies were the perpetrators of a fraud that also harmed the employees and students of #ECOT.
Please list which districts did WORSE than ECOT? Did Mentor Exempted Village? They lost: $1,644,854.
The loss of $1,766,859 keeps districts like Oak Hills from hiring the staff needed to adequately serve students with individualized education needs! And their district is having to pass a levy! http://www.ohlsd.us/district-news/entry/oak-hills-is-issue-1,-8-7-18-321/
Wow! That’s a lot of cash at $25/head. Let’s see, Strongsville students don’t get paid to attend, and their graduations are huge! Too bad they lost $1,117,279 to ECOT.
Cloverleaf Local lost $1,273,237: https://www.ohio.com/akron/lifestyle/kids-get-cooking-in-tot-chefs-program-parents-learn-too-about-safety-and-nutrition
Worthington City: $2,176,859 https://www.worthington.k12.oh.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=3248&ViewID=7b97f7ed-8e5e-4120-848f-a8b4987d588f&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=4971&PageID=2481
Stow-Munroe Falls: $663,090 http://smfschools.org/school/stow-munroe-falls-high-school/clubs-activities/ski-club
Imagine how many more field trips Marietta City Schools could have afforded for $1,148,365? http://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/local-news/2018/05/roller-skating-trip-balances-work-play-for-putnam-elementary-school-students/
Mentor students had to pay $31 for their cap & gown — they weren’t paid to attend! http://www.mentorhigh.com/front1718/Karina/SeniorGraduationBrochure2018.pdf
Mason City $449,985 http://masonohioschools.com/departments/communication___connection/news/m_h_s_class_of_2016_offered_over__13_9_million_in_
Westlake: $762,940 http://blog.cleveland.com/westshoresun/2016/05/post_33.html
Lost $3,846,767, but West Clermont still managed to open a health center: http://www.westcler.k12.oh.us/DistrictGallery.aspx?CategoryID=20846&schoolID=0
Wow! John Legend donated and now they have a theater in Springfield City Schools. Too bad they don’t have the $3,560,647 sent to ECOT. https://www.getcareerconnected.org/john-legend-theater-2/#john-legend-theater
How cool is a prosthetic hand? In spite of $3,477,250 sent to ECOT, Lancaster City seems pretty impressive: http://www.lancaster.k12.oh.us/News/24548#sthash.ZyRCwiLW.lv9ue2XH.dpbs
This doesn’t look like that cool building that had to be sold. How much of the $3,213,874 that was taken from Huber Heights was spent for that? Still, not as cool as underwater robotics at Huber Heights: http://www.huberheightscityschools.org/News/2018seaperchcompetition#sthash.pXSiZp90.tjDgSman.dpbs
Too bad Northwest can’t get back the $3,166,895. Then maybe they wouldn’t need this levy? http://www.northwest.sparcc.org/News/142#sthash.QIhd6uuk.AFmqFmIM.dpbs
Xenia has a bowling team. They don’t have the $3,050,258 sent to ECOT. http://www.xenia.k12.oh.us/News/15628#sthash.auVCJ7dN.nyNLJnfC.dpbs
How cute is the name “Paw Print Newsletter”? Newark has extremely attractive students, but they don’t have the $2,862,686 sent to ECOT: http://www.newarkcityschools.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=5IPPB2&dasi=3I22
Maybe they can find jobs at Hamilton Local? It’s very highly rated as a place to work: http://www.hamilton-local.k12.oh.us/employment.aspx In spite of the $2,744,244 lost to ECOT.
Every high school has a commencement ceremony. Too bad Berea has over the years lost $2,673,870 that could have made theirs fancy like ECOT: https://www.berea.k12.oh.us/site/Default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=1&PageID=1&ViewID=6446ee88-d30c-497e-9316-3f8874b3e108&FlexDataID=8816
Mount Vernon has its own online school. They don’t have the $2,590,207 sent to ECOT, though. http://www.mvcsd.us/mountvernondigitalacademy_home.aspx
Whitehall City Schools have the grit to succeed in spite of the $2,453,354 sent to ECOT. http://www.whitehallcityschools.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=5A3UUB&dasi=3YYY
Fairfield City managed to get its students to attend graduation without being paid. And had 5 National Merit Commended Scholars. They don’t have the $2,444,461 sent to ECOT. https://www.fairfieldcityschools.com/apps/news/article/877737
Kettering City offers 18 International Baccalaureate Courses. And Safety Village: http://www.ketteringschools.org/News/3782#sthash.Sli3k4FI.TpO2GyDr.dpbs They don’t have $2,409,977 sent to ECOT.
Maple Heights City Schools basketball team won a championship. They lost $2,373,533 to ECOT. http://www.mapleschools.com/userfiles/1724/my%20files/2018%20february%20edition%20to%20printert.pdf?id=9307
Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools has impressive students, but they don’t have the $2,366,005 sent to ECOT. http://www.chuh.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=6G3233Y&dasi=3Y2I
Zanesville Schools provide 2,800 meals per day. And a preschool. http://www.zanesville.k12.oh.us/DistrictProfile.aspx They sent $1,303,256 to ECOT.
Delaware City Schools has positions available. And staff won’t have to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Unlike the unfortunate employees at ECOT. $2,235,565 transferred to ECOT from there. https://www.dcs.k12.oh.us/Page/136
Thanks for pointing out how even small districts lost money: $363,978 in this case. And yet their Concert Band made it to State Finals! http://nelsonvilleyorkbands.weebly.com/news
Instead of being paid $25, Piqua students have to pay $26 just to go to High School. I wonder if districts like Piqua City would have to charge parents fees if they hadn’t sent $2,219,652 to ECOT? http://www.piqua.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=6YBGIPY&dasi=33IY
No wonder Garfield Heights is struggling? “The Ohio General Assembly passed a budget that included an overall reduction of approximately $958,000 over the next two years to the GHCS” On top of the $2,176,476 sent to ECOT over the years… http://www.garfieldheightscityschools.com/Downloads/GHCS%20Open%20Line_Fall%202017_print%20ready.pdf
Despite sending $2,166,176 to ECOT, Chillicothe offers its own homeschooling/home instruction services: http://www.chillicothecityschs.oh.schools.bz/Content/specialservices
Confidentiality prevents schools from revealing the students who need help. But in Portsmouth “The Senior Scholarship dinner honored 37 seniors, who collectively earned $4.3 million dollars in scholarship money.” http://www.portsmouth.k12.oh.us/index.php/schools/2013-04-11-18-23-26/637-phs-honors-reception-and-senior-scholarship-dinner $2,110,811 sent to ECOT.
Ashtabula Area Schools reveal exactly how many students they’ve had and how their money is spent. It’s pretty much a minimum of accountability: https://sites.google.com/aacs.net/districtprofile/home $2,108,851 sent to ECOT.
Niles students stocked a food pantry. I hope their budget can be restocked after losing $2,095,632 to ECOT. http://www.wfmj.com/story/38120263/class-project-makes-a-difference-for-niles-food-pantry
Like many districts, Circleville provides breakfast. They provide preschool. Perhaps they could have more than one counselor if they hadn’t sent $2,092,481 to ECOT over the years. http://circleville.esvbeta.com/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=5Y3GG2&dasi=3APY
Sadly, students can become ill or need medications while at school. Luckily, Brunswick still has Nurses working in their district in spite of the $2,086,338 sent to ECOT. https://www.bcsoh.org/Page/48
Howland Local is in Trumbull County. It has a “Paw Pantry” to help out students in need. Maybe they’re in need after sending $1,014,283 to ECOT. http://www.howlandschools.com/News/1205#sthash.FJx2dGhR.EGW4n5PR.dpbs
Just read about all the initiatives at Mt Healthy City Schools. These schools are an asset that remains within their communities. The staff live nearby and their paychecks get reinvested locally. Too bad Hamilton County lost $2,007,012. https://www.mthcs.org/apps/spotlightmessages/1186
Like most schools, Washington Local engages with their community and responds to local needs: http://www.wls4kids.org/files/user/22/file/Community%20Engagement%20Night%20Responses%20.pdf $1,913,354 sent to ECOT.
Like many districts, Troy City Schools are working with the community to decide what to do about their aging school buildings. Closed schools create a hole in local communities. Just as the $1,341,860 sent to ECOT created a hole in their budget. http://www.troy.k12.oh.us/Content2/Future
Columbus Schools have the obligation to maintain school buildings (despite sending $62,897,188 to ECOT)…and provide a quality education. Don’t ALL students need to be educated, not just those with parents who can watch their kids during the day? https://www.ccsoh.us/Page/2443
Hadn’t you posted something about National Honor Society? 56 students were inducted into the National Honor Society from Alliance City Schools: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/181621/ACS116_District_Newsletter_June_18.pdf $358,120 sent to ECOT in 2013, $293,455 2017-18
Thanks for the opportunity to read about public schools in Ohio. Like most, Licking Heights provides free breakfast every school day! http://www.licking-heights.k12.oh.us $1,896,324 to ECOT.
Pickerington Local has a “Buddy Bench” so students won’t be left alone at recess: https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/news/community-unites-to-replace-buddy-bench/ $1,893,354 to ECOT.
Every school in Ohio has its own special programs. Students at Trotwood-Madison reached out to their State Legislature to promote cross-cultural civic engagement! http://www.trotwood.k12.oh.us $1,855,996 to ECOT.
Thank goodness Emerson Elementary in Lakewood City Schools can still afford their Family Resource Coordinator to help students with conflict resolution! http://www.lakewoodcityschools.org/docs/building/11/may%20chalktalk.pdf?id=62216 $1,849,203 to ECOT.
Let’s look at Lakota Local Schools. They have a 94% graduation rate, and 30% of their students come from multicultural backgrounds. 78% of their budget is spent directly on student instruction and services. https://www.lakotaonline.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_216715/File/About%20Us/Fast%20Facts%20and%20Points%20of%20Pride/Fast%20Facts%20Palm%20Card%20final.pdf $1,846,521 to ECOT (how was it spent?)
Beverly Gardens has a program to help the children in military families: https://www.madriverschools.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=128&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=8853&PageID=1 Mad River Local lost $1,815,594 to ECOT.
Like many school districts, Oak Hills gives back to their local community. They raised $39,888 for the American Heart Association. They lost $1,766,859 to ECOT. https://www.ohlsd.us/home/
Is the fact that some ECOT students graduated impressive to you? Or the venue? Painesville City Local Schools is one of the largest employers in Painesville. 85% of families are eligible for government assistance. They hold graduation in their gym. They sent $1,749,999 to ECOT.
Check out West Carrollton Schools: “Special needs students at the High School learned how to set up an apartment, including assembling furniture, then enjoying the benefits of their work!” http://filecabinet1.eschoolview.com/0EE75415-FC32-4628-91E0-C2E152AEC563/Points%20of%20Pride%20Web.pdf They sent $1,724,134 to ECOT.
“The Midview Local School District is one of only 447 districts across the United States and Canada that have been selected for the 8th Annual AP Honor Roll.” http://www.midviewk12.org/DistrictNews.aspx $1,685,996 sent to ECOT.
All schools provide accommodations for state testing. 97.2% of Gahanna Jefferson Public School Students met the 3rd Grade Reading Guarantee: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By4fgyMnGe5mRHU5Zklzam1ieTQ/view $1,673,660 sent to ECOT.
Bedford City 18% (596/3300) identified as Special Needs. According to their report card, 81.9% of students graduated in 4 years. https://oh50000070.schoolwires.net/bcsd $1,666,806 sent to ECOT.
Wilmington City School students received college credit for engineering courses: https://www.wnewsj.com/news/72251/engr-program-marks-milestone $1,659,136 to ECOT.
Like most public schools, Madison Local Schools offer counseling services to students to help them develop life skills (and social skills) needed to enter the work force: https://www.mlsd.net/school_counseling.html $1,602,237 to ECOT.
Fairborn City Schools offers an online education in addition to traditional brick and mortar. This keeps tax dollars in the community! http://www.fairborn.k12.oh.us/FairbornDigitalAcademy1.aspx $1,587,698 sent to ECOT (to pay for Lager’s mansion in Florida?)
Ravenna City Schools is collaborating with their local parks department for the RAMP program this summer: http://www.ravennaschools.us/home $1,575,750 could have stayed in this economically distressed community, rather than being sent to ECOT.
Marysville is using a data-driven approach to guide improvement in their educational program. ECOT apparently didn’t even track attendance, let alone data that could drive improvements in online learning. http://filecabinet1.eschoolview.com/6B4ADE85-94EE-450D-843F-2B21993C9F0B/June2018MarysvilleMonarchsMonthly.pdf $1,556,007 diverted into ECOT’s coffers.
Bellefontaine City Schools: POST-GRADUATE PLANS – Class of 2017 Number of graduates: 201; Four-year college 37% ; Two-year or proprietary school 12% ; Military 6% ; Employment 45% http://hs.bellefontaine.k12.oh.us/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=9113255 $1,044,556 transferred to ECOT.
This year’s graduating class from Winton Wood High School earned a total of $10 million in scholarships from both in-state and out-of-state colleges and universities. They also took a cool picture of their graduation! http://www.wintonwoods.org/1/News/14069#sthash.RjJM4L9F.eGb7HP3K.dpbs $1,008,302 sent to ECOT.
Green Local Schools: “We promise to care for all children as if they were our own, to treat everyone as we wish to be treated and to never deny an education to any child. Ever.” http://www.greenlocalschools.org/AboutUs.aspx $985,633 to #ECOT!
All public schools are required to help students with disabilities, and their families and include students in the regular education environment. Plus at Amherst Junior High, they have a “Healthy Mind: Small Group Support Program.” https://www.amherstk12.org/schools/ajh/guidance $981,905 to #ECOT.
Online schools are here today, gone tomorrow. $62,897,188 was sucked out of the Columbus community, and into #ECOT. By contrast, public schools are an investment in local communities. At least Briggs has a ball field for Little League games.
Ohio public schools like New Richmond EVSD prepare students for college: NRHS students earned 959 hours of college credit. NRHS graduates were offered $3.5 million in scholarships and grants. http://www.nrschools.org/QualityProfile.aspx $826,002 to #ECOT.
It is certainly up to public schools to stop bullying. Like many public schools, Milton Union directly addresses bullying directly and has activities like a “Kindness and Caring Club.” https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/86884/2017QPVerF.pdf $744,484 to #ECOT.
It is standard practice for Ohio public schools to address food allergies. Mentor had a whole school that was peanut free, but they still lost $1,644,854 to #ECOT: http://www.news-herald.com/article/hr/20151006/NEWS/151009679
Ledgemont Local Schools was in a financial calamity and was forced to merge with a neighboring school district. They had much better outcomes than #ECOT. They lost $132,876 before they closed. http://www.news-herald.com/article/HR/20151003/NEWS/151009843
Edgewood Schools has an anti-bullying program (as required in Ohio) AND we know how they spent local and state tax money: https://www.edgewoodschools.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=426643&type=d&pREC_ID=1142153 They don’t have $1,197,612 sent to #ECOT.
Student of the Month? I could share years of pictures. At my local school, they get to have donuts with the Principal. The same Principal who takes the time to greet students every morning … while doing the work of 3 people due to state cuts and diversion of funding.
Like many districts, Troy City Schools are working with the community to decide what to do about their aging school buildings. Closed schools create a hole in local communities. Just as the $1,341,860 sent to ECOT created a hole in their budget. http://www.troy.k12.oh.us/Content2/Future
Hilliard’s books are open to the public. Will we ever know how the $2,691,660 sent by this district to ECOT was spent? https://www.hilliardschools.org/passing-the-budget/
There are over a hundred more school districts (with multiple schools) who were affected by the #ECOT scam. I would love the opportunity to learn and share about them, too!
