A handful of both Youngstown-area and statewide groups filed a lawsuit against the Ohio Department of Education today in an effort to stop a state takeover of the city's schools. Last month, Governor John Kasich signed into law a plan to allow increased state intervention in districts with continually failing schools, including Youngstown. StateImpact Ohio's Amy Hansen explains.
The lawsuit alleges that House Bill 70 is unconstitutional. The Youngstown City School Board and the Ohio Education Association - two of the plaintiffs in the suit - say the legislation outlining a plan for state-issued school takeovers -- didn't receive three readings in each chamber, which violates the state constitution.
The groups also argue that the law wipes away local citizens' right to choose their own representatives to lead the district.
The groups want a Franklin County judge to issue an injunction to stop the creation of a new five-member commission that would appoint a C-E-O to run the district.
Though the Ohio Department of Education has yet to see the lawsuit, state school superintendent Dick Ross says in a written statement, "I look forward to our continued work together to give students in Youngstown the best opportunity for success."