By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Buried on page 1,056 of Gov. John Kasich’s state budget is a proposed requirement that has teachers wondering if they will have to flip patties at burger joints or stock shelves at grocery stores.
The provision basically turns teachers into business interns every five years as a new requirement for educator license renewals.
The language reads like this: Beginning September 1, 2018, the state board of education’s rules for the renewal of educator licenses shall require each applicant for renewal of a license to complete an on-site work experience with a local business or chamber of commerce as a condition of renewal. Work experience obtained pursuant to this section shall count toward any required continuing education. Each local professional development committee established under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code shall work with its teachers to identify local work experience opportunities that meet the requirements of this section.
Some local teachers have taken to Facebook to express their displeasure. They have questioned whether Kasich doesn’t realize they have full-time jobs. They have proposed that the governor should have to spend time working in a public school, or that legislators perform internships in classrooms.
Bowling Green City Schools Superintendent Francis Scruci said he is trying to not over-react to some of the more unusual provisions in the budget bill.
“I always try to keep my composure,” he said Thursday afternoon. “Whatever is proposed will probably not be the final product.”
State Senator Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green, said he suspects the provision may not make it into the final budget bill.
“There are always things in the budget that experience the delete button,” Gardner, a former Otsego High School history teacher, said Wednesday evening.
Scruci admitted that he is baffled by the “internship” requirement.
“It’s confusing to me what the purpose would be. I’m sure in the governor’s mind this makes sense,” he said.
Though the details of the requirement are sketchy, Scruci surmised teachers would be expected to perform these internships during the summers.
“I guess he’s asking them to give up their summers,” he said. “I think our teachers have enough state mandates and national mandates. I don’t know where they would find enough hours in the day.”
The budget bill also has language requiring school boards to have three non-voting members who represent business in their districts. Again, this requirement has superintendents scratching their heads.
“We’re all confused,” Scruci said.
“On our particular board, we have business people on the board,” Scruci said. Board members Ginny Stewart and Paul Walker come from the business community. Members Ellen Scholl, Jill Carr and Bill Clifford come from education backgrounds.
“I don’t know what his end game is,” Scruci said of the governor requiring ex-officio board members from the business community. “I don’t see how that would benefit us either. I have no idea where he’s going with that.”
Gardner also predicted that the board member provision in the budget bill won’t make it through the approval process.
Scruci expressed his appreciation of Gardner’s understanding of education issues.
“I do believe Randy does care about public education. We’re fortunate to have him on our side.”
Gardner has proposed legislation which would help school districts like Bowling Green, which has not been able to access state facility funding because of the ranking system. Gardner’s bill would make it easier for these districts to get funding for technology and security projects.
Scruci said Bowling Green School District is “absolutely” interested. “We’re all ears.”
