Multiple reports indicate that a district judge in Ohio has temporarily blocked a Republican-led reform of the state’s K-12 education system.
The order reportedly comes days after seven members of the Ohio State Board of Education filed a lawsuit against GOP Gov. Mike DeWine over renovations (via Fox News):
The lawsuit argues that the reform, which would significantly shift oversight and decision-making authority on issues such as academic standards and curriculum away from the board and to the governor, violates the constitution.
Franklin County Judge Karen Held’s order will remain in effect until Oct. 2, when the law implementing the changes goes into effect. A hearing will be scheduled for that day, during which a decision will be made whether the law will be blocked indefinitely while the case is pending in court.
In the comments to Related pressOhio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted called the lawsuit “frivolous” and that the seven school board members are simply shifting the chaos they caused on the state board to a novel trial that aims to correct their mistakes and make the education system more accountable.
“We are pleased that the judge upheld the status quo of public education in Ohio until the case is concluded,” Maddy Gitomer, an attorney representing seven Ohio school board members, said in a statement to the agency through Democracy Forward. “We will remain steadfast in our legal defense of the people and communities of Ohio and determined in our efforts to declare unconstitutional this brazen seizure of power by Governor DeWine and the Ohio Legislature.”
Ohio Capital Journal announced that the legislation would “change the name of the Ohio Department of Education to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. It would create a cabinet-level director position, place the department under the governor’s office and limit the State Board of Education’s authority over teacher disciplinary and licensing issues and territorial disputes.”
The lawsuit states: “The Act deprives democratically elected Board members of their fundamental and constitutional duties and responsibilities for the oversight and management of Ohio’s public education system.”
