OSBA Today

Are you interested in running for your local school board? Do you know someone who would make a great candidate? OSBA's Get on Board campaign, at www.getonboardohio.gov, aims to raise the profile of boardmanship and encourage high-caliber candidates to run for office. Cheryl Ryan , OSBA's director of board and management services, and Teri Morgan , senior deputy director of board and man...

Two recent legislative enactments impose new obligations on school districts that affect student safety. House Bill (HB) 99 changed the requirements for schools that choose to arm staff. HB 123 required school districts to conduct threat assessments, assemble and train threat assessment teams and add elements to their local emergency management plans. OSBA Policy Consultant Gamy Narvaez  joins the...

You're a school board member. You have personal social media accounts, your campaign also maintains a social media presence and so does your school district. Under what circumstances are your personal social media pages considered “personal” and not subject to public records law? Thom Fladung , managing partner with Hennes Communications , joins the podcast to discuss a school board member&ap...

More than 150 school board members, superintendents and treasurers attended this year's State Legislative Conference in Columbus, where they heard from Gov. Mike DeWine , Senate President Matt Huffman , House Speaker Jason Stephens and a panel of legislators. School board members OSBA President Christine Varwig , Toledo Public ; Lynda O'Connor , Lakota Local (Butler); and Terry Gibson ,...

Several bills pending in the Ohio Legislature would expand school vouchers, including Senate Bill 11, which would provide universal vouchers. OSBA's Director of Legislative Services Jennifer Hogue joins the podcast to discuss the impact of these bills and what you can do to ensure your voice and your district's voice are heard. This episode is brought to you by Sedgwick, an OSBA endorsed...

A recent Supreme Court of Ohio ruling provides important clarity to public bodies, including school boards, about the Open Meetings Act and executive sessions. What do you say before you go into executive session? How do you comply with the law while in executive session? What are the consequences of violating the law? OSBA's Senior Deputy Director of Legal Services Jennifer Hardin, our guest...

Christine Varwig , who's in her 10th year on the Toledo Public Schools Board of Education, became OSBA's 2023 president on Jan. 1. The veteran board member has been a strong advocate for public education at both the state and national level. She joins the podcast to talk about her experiences, her district and her goals as leader of the association. This episode is brought to you by Sedg...

A new Ohio General Assembly begins in January with new faces in a legislature that will tackle a new biennial budget. OSBA's Director of Legislative Services Jennifer Hogue and Lobbyist Nicole Piscitani join the podcast to discuss what might be next for K-12 education at the Statehouse and what did and didn't pass during December's lame-duck session. For more resources, training and...

Confidence. Pressure. Social media. Body image. Today’s girls are facing tremendous challenges, according to Ruling our Experiences (ROX) , a national nonprofit that is focused on equipping all girls with the skills they need to navigate these challenges. Founder and CEO Dr. Lisa Hinkelman joins the podcast to talk about the group's mission to train school counselors, social workers and licen...

The Ohio School Breakfast Challenge recognized 22 schools and districts for outstanding work and results around school breakfast. One of those districts is St. Marys City Schools. Superintendent Bill Ruane, High School Principal Jonathan Burke, Child Nutrition Director Nicole Rasmussen and District Nurse Deanna Halko join the podcast to share their story and how the Second Chance Breakfast Program...

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to special education in meeting the needs of all students. Provided at no cost to parents, special education is specifically designed to address the unique needs of a student with disabilities. OSBA Staff Attorney John Price joins the podcast to talk about these highly individualized programs, including the laws that govern special education and the complianc...

The OSBA Capital Conference and Trade Show is Ohio’s premier continuing education program — and we're ready to host thousands of board members, superintendents and other school district staff for three days, Nov. 13-15 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Jeff Chambers and Cheryl Ryan , two of the conference organizers, join the podcast to preview this year's event and explain why...

The Ohio School Boards Association, along with 21 other founding school boards, signed a resolution earlier this year to officially form the Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA). This national alliance is dedicated to ensuring that students and their families enjoy access to excellent and equitable public education governed by collaborative, high-performing school board leaders...

Ohio's revamped school report cards replace the A through F system with a star-rating system. The change in the law is meant to be fairer for schools and make the report cards easier for parents to understand. OSBA Director of Legislative Services Jennifer Hogue and Deputy Director of Legislative Services Will Schwartz join the podcast to discuss results and what the new ratings mean. This ep...

Jennifer Oiler with Sedgwick Managed Care Ohio joins the podcast to talk about several employee safety grants available from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Learn more about how your district can benefit from these grants at https://info.bwc.ohio.gov/for-employers/safety-and-training/safety-grants. This episode is brought to you by Sedgwick Managed Care Ohio, an OSBA endorsed progra...

From meeting deadlines to planning routes and hiring drivers, the school year essentially begins in July for transportation managers. OSBA Transportation Consultant Doug Palmer joins the podcast with an update on the driver shortage and the important steps transportation managers and treasurers need to take ahead of a new school year. Learn more about OSBA's Virtual Transportation Supervisor...

Legislation that reduces the number of training hours for armed school staff from more than 700 hours to 24 hours takes effect this fall following Gov. Mike DeWine's signature on June 13. OSBA Chief Legal Counsel Sara Clark and OSBA Deputy Director of Legislative Services Will Schwartz join the podcast to discuss how House Bill 99 came about and what a school board needs to do if it chooses t...

More than 20 school districts were recognized by the Ohio School Breakfast Challenge as Breakfast and Beyond "SuperStars" for their innovative ideas and solutions to ensure students have access to the nutrition they need to succeed. One of those districts is Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center , where Dana Anderson supervises career and technical education and special services....

Former Washington state high school football coach Joseph Kennedy was fired after he made a habit of going to the 50-yard line following his team’s games and kneeling in prayer. The U.S. Supreme Court has heard oral arguments in the case and a decision is expected this summer. OSBA Staff Attorney John Price joins the podcast to discuss how the justices' decision could change the way the natio...

Where does OSBA stand on the many issues facing public education? Look no further than the OSBA Legislative Platform , a document that conveys to legislators, policymakers, the public and the media where OSBA stands. The platform guides OSBA’s advocacy efforts. OSBA Deputy Director of Legislative Services Will Schwartz discusses how members can get involved in the process. OSBA member school board...

Spring presents many challenges for school district transportation teams who must navigate a demanding athletics schedule and other events. OSBA Transportation Consultant Doug Palmer joins the podcast to talk about how your district can get creative in getting student-athletes to where they need to go. Find more resources at http://links.ohioschoolboards.org/ohio, and learn more about how OSBA&apo...

Social media is a great tool for school board members and their districts to engage with the communities they serve. How are you managing your message? Thom Fladung with Hennes Communications, an OSBA service provider, joins the podcast with tips on how to build your online reputation and answer critics. Learn more about Hennes Communications at www.ohioschoolboards.org/hennes-communications . Thi...

Robert M. Heard Sr. became OSBA's 67th president in May 2021. He is a graduate of the district he serves, Cleveland Municipal , which educates more than 34,000 students. Heard, a former police officer and investigator, took office in the middle of a pandemic that has changed public education forever. In this episode, he reflects on the challenges and lessons learned and why he likes to compar...

Schools play an important role in providing nutritious meals to children. And while the COVID-19 pandemic, supply-chain disruptions and labor shortages have challenged those efforts, schools and their foods service professionals have been nothing short of heroic in ensuring students are fueled for success. Brigette Hires , director, and Brian Davis , assistant director, with the Ohio Department of...

2021 began with the prospect for a new school-funding formula for Ohio, and it ended the year with discussions around vaccine mandates, critical race theory, and a parents bill of rights. OSBA Deputy Director of Legislative Services Will Schwartz joins the podcast as we look back on the year in public education and what's ahead in 2022. For more resources, training and advocacy updates from t...