The House Education Committee voted Monday to kill the state’s minimum pay scale for teachers in a move some members hope will let school districts create new or merit-based pay plans. If passed into law, the bill would allow districts negotiate new pay scales with their local teachers union, without the state requiring minimum pay […]
Bill Would Limit Yearly Testing of Ohio Students
November 17, 2014 by
A bill to limit state testing of students in Ohio to four hours a year will be up for vote from the House Education Committee Monday, after parents and educators testified this week that standardized testing is becoming a burden on students. Testimony on Monday and Thursday was not extensive as the cap on testing […]
Bill Would Remove Pay Schedule Requirements for Ohio Teachers
November 14, 2014 by
A proposal to stop requiring schools to have a traditional pay schedule for teachers is back on the table for state legislators. The House Education Committee added that change today into a House Bill 343 — a bill that rounds up several small issues into one package. See the new amendments to HB343 by clicking […]
Leading House Republican Submits Proposals for Re-Districting Overhaul
November 14, 2014 by
A leading Ohio House Republican has proposed a major overhaul of how the state draws its congressional and legislative districts, though its chances of passage are still unclear. Twin resolutions introduced Thursday by House Speaker Pro Tempore Matt Huffman of Lima would give minority party leaders more of a say in the state’s redistricting process […]
Marion State Representative Elected to Leadership in Ohio House
November 13, 2014 by
State Representative Dorothy Pelanda (R-Marysville) was elected Wednesday by her fellow Republican legislators in the Ohio House to serve as Assistant Majority Whip during the upcoming 131st General Assembly. “I am humbled at the honor of being elected to leadership and will work tirelessly towards caucus unity for the good of the people of this […]
Local State Senator Proposes Easing Ban on Fireworks
November 11, 2014 by
Ohio’s ban on setting off bottle rockets, Roman candles and other consumer-grade fireworks would be abolished under legislation introduced Monday in the state Senate. Senate Bill 386, however, would still allow local governments to ban such fireworks. The measure also would impose a 6-percent fee on fireworks sales, the proceeds of which would go toward […]
Ohio’s Medicaid Costs Significantly Lower than Estimated
November 10, 2014 by
The cost of Ohio’s Medicaid program is expected to be about $470 million less than what was originally estimated in the current two-year budget, and the bulk of that savings goes directly to the state. The anticipated savings is a result of multiple factors, said Greg Moody, director of the governor’s Office of Health Transformation. […]
Ohio House Committee Approves Common Core Repeal, Future Action is Unclear
November 6, 2014 by
A bill that would kill the Common Core standards and state tests related to them won approval from an Ohio House committee on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 and now faces a possible vote by the full House. The House Rules and Reference Committee voted along party lines, with all Republicans voting to approve House Bill […]
With Big Increase in Use, Food Banks Want State to Allocate More Funds
October 31, 2014 by
More than 2 million Ohioans — one in six — turn to a food bank for help each year, and the Ohio Association of Foodbanks is requesting $40 million over two years. Ohio’s food banks serve 40 percent more people than in 2010, according to a study released Thursday by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. […]
Local Lawmaker Part of Push Towards “Ward’s Bill of Rights”
October 20, 2014 by
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, State Senator Shannon Jones (R-Springboro) and State Representative Dorothy Pelanda (R-Marysville) recently unveiled legislation to establish a ward’s bill of rights for those Ohioans who are under the care of a guardianship as well as introduced a new, user-friendly Guardianship Guide prepared by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. “People placed […]
