Rep. Cutrona sponsoring bill to end academic distress commissions

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Al Cutrona of Canfield, R-59th, has introduced a revival of a 2019 bill to dissolve the state's academic distress commissions, turning control of some Ohio school districts — including Youngstown City Schools — back over to their communities.

Cutrona and Rep. Joe Miller of Amherst, D-56th, are joint sponsors of Ohio House Bill 54, which was introduced Wednesday and referred to the House's Primary and Secondary Education Committee.

Under law established by House Bill 70, known locally as the "Youngstown Plan," school districts that underperform on state report cards become subject to state oversight by academic distress commissions, including the appointment of a CEO.

The measure "severely penalizes" students in districts whose communities have home and food insecurity, according to a release from Cutrona's office.

"Unfortunately, ADCs have not demonstrated success within their model to improve the academic performance among students," reads the release.

"I am proud to be working with Representative Joe Miller in bipartisan fashion to spearhead this initiative,” Cutrona said. “The bill will restore local control for our schools and benefit our children as it repeals and replaces the flawed Academic Distress Commissions."HB 54 would replace the commissions with "wraparound" student support services intended to "transform" school districts' underperforming buildings into community learning centers. School reforms would instead begin at the building level, according to the release.

“We cannot continue down a path that so severely penalizes school districts, and ultimately, our students as a result,” said Cutrona. “We must seek reform that’s going to empower our districts and educators — this is the way to enhance student learning and academic performance throughout the state.”

State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th, is also a sponsor.

HB 54 is a re-introduction of an identical predecessor bill, House Bill 154, which was introduced in March 2019 by Reps. Miller and Don Jones of Nottingham Township, R-95th, the latter of whom is also a sponsor of the new bill.

HB 154 passed by the House by a vast majority the following May. An amended version never made it out of the Senate's Education Committee, records show.