OSBA Leading the Way

In this episode, OSBA Chief Legal Counsel Sara Clark discusses recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions involving public officials, including school board members, and their use of social media. The rulings, issued March 15th, address whether public officials' social media accounts constitute public forums and how they can navigate the use of social media to avoid First Amendment issues. Get insights into the cases and practical tips for managing social media accounts in both personal and official capacities. This episode sheds light on the evolving landscape of social media use by public officials and provides valuable guidance for school board members.

This episode is brought to you by Vartek, education's IT partner. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://vartek.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Gov. Mike DeWine announced 17 recommendations issued by the Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group to enhance the safety of student transportation.

Episode guest OSBA Senior Transportation Consultant Doug Palmer, who was involved with the working group, discusses the recommendations, which range from additional training to giving school districts flexibility to invest in the safety measures that best meet their needs.

Find the recommendations at: http://links.ohioschoolboards.org/36598.

This episode is brought to you by Vartek, education's IT partner. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠https://vartek.com⁠⁠⁠.

October is Ohio School Safety Month.

Emily Torok, executive director of the Ohio School Safety Center, discusses the safety center's mission, addressing mental health needs and the importance of collaboration, partnerships and community engagement in ensuring a secure learning environment.

This episode is brought to you by Vartek, education's IT partner. Learn more at https://vartek.com.

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, Lockland Local (Hamilton) and Great Oaks Career Campuses, join the podcast to discuss the many bills impacting public education, from universal vouchers to restructuring the State Board of Education and Ohio Department of Education, and the importance of getting your community involved in the legislative process.

Thank you to our sponsor, Forward Edge LLC. Learn more at https://www.forward-edge.net.

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.

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 you and your staff want to be there. Learn more about the OSBA Capital Conference at http://conference.ohioschoolboards.org/2022.

This episode is brought to you by Sedgwick, an OSBA endorsed program. Get more details at https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/workers-compensation.

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 episode is brought to you by Sedgwick, an OSBA endorsed program. Get more details at https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/workers-compensation.

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 program. Get more details at https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/workers-compensation.

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 program at https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/virtual-transportation-supervisor.

This episode is brought to you by Sedgwick Managed Care Ohio, an OSBA endorsed program. Get more details at https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/workers-compensation.

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 to arm school employees.

This episode is brought to you by Sedgwick Managed Care Ohio, an OSBA endorsed program. Learn more at https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/workers-compensation.

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 nation treats prayer in school.

This episode is brought to you by Sedgwick Managed Care Ohio, an OSBA endorsed program. Learn more at https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/workers-compensation.

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's Transportation Services can help your district at https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/transportation-services.

This episode is brought to you by Sedgwick Managed Care Ohio, an OSBA endorsed program. Learn more at https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/workers-compensation.

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 compare public education to a three-legged stool.

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 Education's Office of Nutrition, join the podcast to discuss those efforts and how the Ohio School Breakfast Challenge is making a difference. Learn more about the National School Lunch Program at https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/Food-and-Nutrition/National-School-Lunch-Program and the Ohio School Breakfast Challenge at https://www.ohioschoolbreakfastchallenge.com.

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.

The Ohio Leadership Advisory Council (OLAC) is a partnership between the Buckeye Association of School Administrators and the Ohio Department of Education. Its goal is to provide educators -- no matter their role -- with the resources they need to develop shared and effective leadership. OLAC Project Co-director Dr. Jim Gay joins the podcast to talk about the advisory council's mission, including how school board members can benefit from OLAC's free resources. Learn more at https://ohioleadership.org. 

You've been elected to the school board. The campaign is behind you. Now, it's time to raise your right hand in January and become part of a group of leaders who govern a school district. As a new school board member, you have much to learn about the roles and responsibilities of a board member. OSBA's Cheryl Ryan, director of board and management services, and Steve Horton, senior board and management services consultant, join the podcast to discuss how first-time board members can prepare. Thank you for taking the bold step of serving your community!

Additional resources: Learn more about OSBA's new board member academies coming up in January at https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/events.

Prepare yourself for three days of Leadership for Learning! The OSBA Capital Conference and Trade Show returns to the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Nov. 7-9, with inspiring keynote speakers, unparalleled learning and the opportunity to see students shine. We're ready to welcome you! OSBA Director of Communications Services Jeff Chambers and Director of Board and Management Services Cheryl Ryan join the podcast to talk about what attendees can expect at this year's premier event. Learn more and register at http://conference.ohioschoolboards.org/2021.

Today’s politically charged climate over pandemic policies, diversity and more has led to crowded school board meetings. Does the public have a right to speak at school board meetings? Can a school board limit public comments? OSBA staff attorney Ralph Lusher joins the Leading the Way podcast to discuss those questions and more. Also, be sure to check out the OSBA legal division's fact sheet on public participation at school board meetings at https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/sites/default/files/uploads/OSBAPublicParticipationBoardMeetingsFactSheet.pdf.

The state has answered the call for a comprehensive, fair and equitable school-funding formula that meets the needs of students. Gov. Mike DeWine has signed a two-year, $75 billion state budget that includes a new funding model for public schools. OSBA's Director of Legislative Services Jennifer Hogue and Deputy Director Will Schwartz join the podcast to discuss the Fair School Funding Plan.

This episode is brought to you by Sedgwick, an OSBA endorsed partner. Learn how Sedgwick can help control the premiums your district pays for workers’ compensation coverage at https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/workers-compensation.

Summer is here! For many in the public education world, it's a time to relax for a bit. That's not the case for the school transportation supervisor who must complete many critical tasks to succeed next school year. OSBA Transportation Supervisor Doug Palmer joins the podcast to help supervisors plan for the summer, and he's even included a handy checklist at http://links.ohioschoolboards.org/81214. Learn more about OSBA's transportation services at www.ohioschoolboards.org/transportation-services.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments in a case that could have profound implications for students and freedom of speech. At issue is whether public schools can discipline students over something they say off-campus. OSBA Chief Legal Counsel Sara Clark and Jennifer Hardin, OSBA’s deputy director of legal services, are here to talk about the case -- Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L.

This episode is brought to you by Sedgwick, an OSBA endorsed partner. Learn how Sedgwick can help control the premiums your district pays for workers’ compensation coverage at https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/workers-compensation. 

If Ohio is to provide a high-quality education to its roughly 1.7 million students, it needs representative school boards that can meet the challenges of the diverse districts they represent. That’s the goal of OSBA’s Get on Board campaign, which was launched this month to encourage Ohioans to run for their local school boards. Angela Penquite, OSBA's deputy director of communication services, and Steve Horton, a former school board member and OSBA's senior board and management services consultant, discuss the roles and responsibilities of school board members and the training and other resources OSBA is providing to potential candidates and those who have decided to run. Learn more at https://www.getonboardohio.org.

This episode is brought to you by Sedgwick, an OSBA endorsed partner. Learn how Sedgwick can help control the premiums your district pays for workers’ compensation coverage at https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/workers-compensation.