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Two very different districts review Ohio's school reform plan

Keith St. Pierre, superintendent of Sugarcreek Local Schools, says parts of Gov. Ted Strickland's overhaul of schools and school funding don't address some concerns of suburban districts like his.

Chris Stewart/Chris Stewart Keith St. Pierre, superintendent of Sugarcreek Local Schools, says parts of Gov. Ted Strickland's overhaul of schools and school funding don't address some concerns of suburban districts like his.

Kurt Stanic, superintendent of Dayton Public Schools, seen here at at Founders' Day Convocation at the Dayton Boys Prep Academy Thursday, May 28. Stanic has spoken positively of Governor Ted Strickland's plan to reform Ohio schools.

Jan Underwood Kurt Stanic, superintendent of Dayton Public Schools, seen here at at Founders' Day Convocation at the Dayton Boys Prep Academy Thursday, May 28. Stanic has spoken positively of Governor Ted Strickland's plan to reform Ohio schools.

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By William Hershey, Staff Writer Updated 6:10 PM Saturday, May 30, 2009

Kurt Stanic and Keith St. Pierre are on opposite sides of Gov. Ted Strickland’s effort to overhaul how Ohio educates its 1.9 million school children and distributes the cost of that education to taxpayers.

Stanic, superintendent of the Dayton Public Schools, calls the plan “the most significant move we’ve had.”

St. Pierre, superintendent of the Sugarcreek Local Schools in Greene County, says it unwisely treats all districts the same.

Stanic has been a superintendent for 21 years and St. Pierre for 20. The fact that they can’t agree on the merits of Strickland’s plan is part of the minefield ahead for a proposed reform that could well determine how history judges the Strickland governorship.

Phased in over 10 years, the plan calls for all-day kindergarten, longer school days and years, smaller teacher-student ratios, tougher requirements for teachers and shifting more costs to the state.

“Is it perfect? No, it’s not perfect,” said Stanic, whose district has 14,486 students. But he said the governor should be applauded for a plan that identifies what students need for success and then comes up with the money to pay the bill. He also said the plan reduces the need for school districts to pepper election ballots with levy requests.

The problem, said St. Pierre, is that not all districts need what Strickland’s plan requires. He oversees a 2,750-student district graded “excellent” by the state, the second-highest academic ranking. Yet, according to St. Pierre, fully paying for Strickland’s plan would cost his district more than $2 million extra.

St. Pierre said that some of what Strickland is proposing is good and necessary. But, he added, “One size does not fit all.”

Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or  whershey@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Urban, suburban comparison

Dayton Public Schools

Position on school reform plan: Supports

Type of district: Major urban — very high poverty

Enrollment: 14,486

State report card: Academic watch (second lowest)

Percentage of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch: 73.7

Sugarcreek Local Schools

Position on school reform plan Opposes

Type of district: Urban/suburban — very low poverty