Ohio: Ashland

February 10, 2009 - 08:04 am
NEWS FEED: Columbus Dispatch

Opinions swirl around longer school year

The governor has called for extending the school year by 20 days to 200, adding them at a rate of four days every other year during the next decade.

But many of the more than 250 people who wrote to the governor and lawmakers after details of his plan were released said it's a bad idea.

Several complained that the longer school year wouldn't justify the higher costs for teachers' salaries, busing and even air conditioning -- if there is air conditioning.

"I mean, you try sitting in an EXTREMELY hot school all day for an extra 20 days," fourth-grader Ashley Murphy of Lebanon wrote in an e-mail to Strickland.

Tue, 09/09/2008 - 11:46

Republican courts Democrats as Democrat courts Republicans in OH-16

Last week the Republican was touting support from labor leaders and the Democrat was talking up support from business leaders. This week they each went a step further. The Democrat is now talking up support from Republicans while the Republican touts support from Democrats.

State Sens. Kirk Schuring (R-Jackson Township) and John Boccieri (D-Alliance) seem to be taking the theme of a need for change to heart as they compete to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Navarre) in Ohio's 16th Congressional District.