State representatives want audits of academic distress commissions

State Reps. Joe Miller (DAmherst), Michele LeporeHagan (D-Youngstown) and Kent Smith (D-Euclid) announced legislation March 2 that would require one-time performance audits of school districts with a current Academic Distress Commission.

“Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent, especially when it comes to their children’s education,” Miller said in a news release. “We’ve heard a lot about the need for accountability for these school districts.

“It’s time the state-imposed district leadership be held to the same standard.”

“We are introducing this legislation because the unelected, unaccountable academic distress commissions and appointed CEOs in Youngstown,LorainandEast Cleveland exercise unilateral control over tens of millions of taxpayer dollars,” LeporeHagan said. “The performance audits mandated by the bill will enable parents, teachers, residents, elected officials and the public at large to evaluate whether those dollars are being used effectively. Most importantly, we will be able to determine if our teachers and kids are receiving the resources and support they need to achieve and succeed. The time to impose transparency and scrutiny on this failed system has arrived.”

“Since the state took over their school district, East Cleveland residents no longer have any oversight abilities,” Smith said. “Therefore, the state needs to conduct a performance audit to ensure dollars are not being wasted in their unaccountable system.”

The bill will now be sent to the House Rules and Reference Committee, where it will receive a committee assignment and bill number.