Upwards of 800 people attended a forum on public school funding held at the Boardman Performing Arts Centre on Monday night, as several speakers said that public education, a cornerstone of the Democracy, could be stifled by the growing number of charter schools in the state of Ohio.
      If that happens, public school teachers could be left with the job of educating the ‘worst of the worst,’ Dr. Kern Alexander, distinguished professor from the University of Illnois, said.
      Dr. Alexander shared his views, along with speakers from around the state of Ohio, including Steve Dyer, education policy fellow for Innovation Ohio; former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, Dr. Richard Murray, superintendent of the Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center (ESC); and longtime public school advocate William Phillis, now serving as executive director of the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of Scho...Read More >>

     Kiersten Rader, of Boardman, a junior at The Ohio State University studying animal sciences and psychology, has completed a five-month internship in Hawaii studying Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins.
      During her stay she worked in Honolulu for Dolphin Quest, a world-renowned dolphin training, husbandry and research facility.
      She worked side-by-side with trainers, assisting in development of new behaviors of the dolphins, collecting scientific data and samples, and recording behavioral observations.
      She also led intimate dolphin encounters with guests at the Hilton Waikoloa Village Beach Resort; and participated in a trainer lecture series taught by Dolphin Quest faculty members.
      “Working with the trainers and being trusted to be so hands-on with the animals was the experience of a lifetime,” Miss Rader said.<...Read More >>

      The Ohio Auditor of State’s Office released their audit of the Boardman local School District last week, reporting no major findings.
      The audit reviewed the school district’s use of it’s $49 million in expenditures for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2011.
      The lengthy audit released by the Auditor of State covered some 65 pages. Following are statements from the audit report.
      Financial Highlights
      Key financial highlights for fiscal year 2011 are as follows:
       •In total, net assets decreased $1.275 million which represents a 5.3 percent decrease from fiscal year 2010.
       •General revenues accounted for $41.807 million in revenue or 87.5 percent of all revenues. Program specific revenues in the form of charges for servi...Read More >>