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Heads up! Our parent watchdogs have scanned the upcoming agenda for Norwood City. We found 8 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| 🚨 HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 10) |
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District Pays $16,056 for SEL Curriculum
A payment of $16,056 was made to “Committee for Children,” the creator of the “Second Step” Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum. These programs often replace core academics with lessons on group-think, equity, and emotional exercises that belong in the home, not the classroom.
Recommended Action Plan
PACK THE ROOM: This is a major SEL purchase hidden in the check register. Email Treasurer Brandon Johnson at johnson.j@norwoodschools.org: ‘I demand to know which schools are using the “Second Step” curriculum from Committee for Children, and I want the full parental opt-out form for this psychological programming.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: $16,056
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| 🚨 HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 9) |
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Secret Policy Changes on Consent Agenda
The board is voting on “New Policies and Revisions of Policies and Regulations” under item 7.02 without providing any documents for public review. This lack of transparency allows the board to pass potentially radical changes without any parental oversight or input.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email Treasurer Brandon Johnson at johnson.j@norwoodschools.org and call Board President Debbie Cole at (513) 924-2500: ‘I demand Item 7.02 be pulled from the Consent Agenda. Parents have a right to see the text of any new or revised policies before they are approved.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Zero Transparency
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| ⚠️ NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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District Pays Lobbying Group for “Equity”
The district paid $3,376 to the “Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding,” a political lobbying group. This means local tax dollars are being used to fund political activism that may not align with the values of parents in the district.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY: Email Treasurer Brandon Johnson at johnson.j@norwoodschools.org: ‘Why are Norwood City Schools tax dollars being sent to a political lobbying firm like the Ohio Coalition for Equity? The board’s job is to educate children, not fund activism.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: $3,376
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| ⚠️ NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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Multiple Student Data-Mining Vendors Paid
The check register shows payments to several large ed-tech vendors known for extensive student data collection, including Curriculum Associates (i-Ready) for $17,372 and NWEA (MAP testing) for $18,875. These platforms build detailed profiles on students that parents rarely get to see or control.
Recommended Action Plan
OPT-OUT ALERT: Contact the District Office at (513) 924-2500 and ask for Superintendent Mary Ronan: ‘Regarding payments to Curriculum Associates and NWEA, what specific data is being collected on my child, who is it shared with, and for how long is it stored? Provide me with the parental data privacy rights form.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Your Child’s Data
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| ⚠️ NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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“Avenues for Success” Program Expands
The district is hiring multiple staff, including a “Family Engagement Coordinator,” for a program called “Avenues for Success.” These wraparound service programs often serve as a pipeline for school-based mental health services and data collection on students and families, bypassing parental authority.
Recommended Action Plan
ASK QUESTIONS: Contact the District Office at (513) 924-2500 for Superintendent Mary Ronan: ‘What specific services does the “Avenues for Success” program provide? What data is collected on students and families, who has access to it, and what is the parental consent and opt-out process?’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Family Privacy
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| 👀 MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
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Public Comment Limited to 15 Minutes Per Topic
The board’s policy limits public comment to a total of 15 minutes for any single topic, with each speaker getting five minutes. This can be used to shut down parent feedback on controversial issues once the time limit is reached, regardless of how many parents are waiting to speak.
Recommended Action Plan
MONITOR & PREPARE: Be aware of this rule. If a controversial topic is on the agenda, coordinate with other parents to ensure the most impactful speakers are first on the list. If the board cuts off speakers, be prepared to challenge it on the record.
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Your Voice
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| 👀 MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
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SRO Policy Shifts from Discipline to “Intervention”
The new School Resource Officer agreement states the SRO’s role is not to enforce school discipline and that “alternatives to arrest should be used whenever possible.” This language often signals a shift to “Restorative Practices,” which can lead to lower safety standards and a lack of consequences for bad behavior in schools.
Recommended Action Plan
SEEK CLARITY: Call Board President Debbie Cole at (513) 924-2500: ‘Regarding the SRO contract, what specific “alternatives to arrest” will be used? Parents expect SROs to enforce the law and keep schools safe, not act as social workers.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: $103,600.64+
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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Undisclosed “F.L.A.G Event” on Agenda
The agenda lists a “F.L.A.G Event” under discussion items with no explanation or attached documents. This acronym is undefined, leaving parents completely in the dark about what kind of event the district is planning.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND DETAILS: This needs to be explained in public, not behind a vague acronym. Email Treasurer Brandon Johnson at johnson.j@norwoodschools.org: ‘What does the acronym “F.L.A.G” in agenda item 13.02 stand for, and what is the purpose of this event?’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Undisclosed
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