DISCUSSION: STARK EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP PRESIDENT "W. DON READER" ASKS FINGERHUT FOR - OGT - WAIVER

Retired Stark County Court of Common Pleas Judge W. Don Reader, who is now president of the Stark Education Partnership, was a highlight of the Q&A session at Chancellor Eric Fingerhut's presentation of Ohio's "Strategic Plan for Higher Education (2008-2017).

Reader complained about the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) contradictory ways of doing business. On the one hand the ODE says, according to Reader, that a waiver of the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) can be requested by school districts. But on the other, ODE says - if asked for - it will be rejected.

As reported previously in these pages, the glaring weakness of the Fingerhut's presentation was that while questions were taken; answers would have to wait because Fingerhut had a prior commitment he needed to get to. What kind of planning is this?

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT will be following up with Fingerhut on Reader's question.

Question: Do you agree or disagree with Reader? Should ACT results supplant the OGT as the measuring rod in Stark County school districts?