A Democratic state lawmaker is blasting the Ohio Department of Education for an anonymous e-mail about attendance at an online charter school, but another is holding back.
Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.
Democratic Rep. Teresa Fedor of Toledo says the e-mail she received showed over 400 students are listed as truant for months at Ohio Virtual Academy, but only 14 have been withdrawn.
“So they’ve been getting this money from ODE this whole time,” said Fedor. “And so I want to know where the checks and balances are and who knew what when.”
Fedor wants the state school superintendent to answer questions before a House committee. Republican Rep. Bill Hayes of Granville got the e-mail too, but is a lot more cautious about its authenticity.
“I think it’s reasonable for us to inquire, for sure – and we will,” said Hayes. “And there may be something that needs to be dealt with. But we are not the police.”
Hayes agrees with Fedor that Auditor David Yost needs to look into the allegations, but isn’t calling on Superintendent Dick Ross to testify.