ECOT OK’d for dropout prevention tag
COLUMBUS — The giant online charter school locked in a legal fight with Ohio officials over millions of dollars has received initial approval to be designated a dropout prevention school.
Cleveland.com reports the Ohio Department of Education approved the change for the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow on Monday, pending an audit to confirm that most of the school’s students are between ages 16 and 21. The school offers kindergarten through high school classes, but says about 53 percent of its students meet the age requirement and would be considered at-risk, qualifying it for dropout prevention status.
Dropout recovery schools get a more lenient state report than traditional schools.
The school is currently fighting an order to refund $60 million to the education department for lax attendance.
2 colleges apply for medical marijuana testing
COLUMBUS — Two colleges have applied to handle testing for Ohio’s nascent medical marijuana program.
A spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Commerce tells The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Central State University in southwest Ohio and Hocking College in southeast Ohio both sent in applications by last Friday’s deadline.
State law mandates only colleges and universities can apply for testing permits for the program’s first year. Some schools have hesitated over concerns about losing federal funding since marijuana remains illegal under federal law.
The commerce department will review applicants and rank them by performance. More than one site could be selected.
The medical marijuana program is expected to launch in September 2018.
The department starts accepting applications from private laboratories from Nov. 27 to Dec. 8.
Inmate files lawsuit after alleged beating
CLEVELAND — An inmate who alleges he was severely beaten by a guard is suing a private prison after a grand jury declined to bring a criminal charge against the officer.
Cleveland.com reports that 31-year-old Timothy Davis filed the lawsuit this month in federal court in Cleveland. He has named the private prison’s owner, CoreCivic, the prison warden and other staff members as defendants.
Davis, who was at the Lake Erie Correctional Institution during the alleged assault in September 2016, is serving a 13-year sentence for burglary and theft.
His lawsuit claims his constitutional rights were violated and the prison company failed to properly train and supervise their guards.
A spokesman for CoreCivic says they do not comment on pending litigation.
Davis is seeking an undisclosed amount in damages.
Health care company owes Ohio nearly $4M
COLUMBUS — Ohio’s auditor says a home health provider owes the state almost $4 million after state auditors found widespread noncompliance among staff who worked with patients.
Ohio Auditor Dave Yost’s statement Tuesday said that Healing Touch HealthCare Ltd. In southwest Ohio claimed $8.5 million in Medicaid reimbursement from Ohio from 2013 through 2015. State auditors determined the company was overpaid $3.7 million, with interest bringing the total to more than $3.9 million.
Auditors said some aides had no first aid experience. The state says the company told auditors that training centers didn’t provide the right cards reflecting that training.
A message seeking comment was left at the company’s offices in Montgomery County’s Washington Township.
The auditor’s office says findings have been referred to Ohio’s attorney general.
Cleveland scraps pay phones
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland’s city council has approved spending $200,000 to scrap pay phones that have fallen into disuse across the city.
Cleveland.com reports that the city has an estimated 1,700 outdoor pay phones, many of which don’t work. A city official says some are covered with so much vandalism it’s difficult to know who owns them.
Two council members raised concerns that people without cellphones might still need the pay phones. Councilman Blaine Griffin said the city should consider installing emergency call boxes so that residents can still call 911.
