Editorials

Helping Ohio’s Students

It turns out state officials are, indeed, working toward bringing more supports to public school students who are already thinking about life after high school graduation. Last week, Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce announced $7.1 million for the Career Pathway Support Networks Request for Applications. The money is part of a two-year effort to prepare students for in-demand careers through “advising, mentoring, exposure to various professions, and expanded career-technical education,” according to DeWine’s office. Funding will be distributed ...

Care Facilities’ Buyer Must Keep Promises

After what appears to have been a long process, the West Virginia Department of Health Facilities seems to have found success in selling some of its long-term care facilities for seniors. New York-based Marx Development Group plans to buy Hopemont Hospital in Preston County, Jackie Withrow Hospital in Raleigh County, John Manchin Sr. Health Care Center in Marion County, and Lakin Hospital in Mason County. Though the planned purchase price of $60 million may sound a bit low for four long-term care facilities, the cost savings to the state is expected to more than make up for it. The ...

Teaching at All Angles

Ohio parents want their children’s schools to educate them in all the traditional subjects, of course, but the idea is that our public schools are a big part of what prepares students for life beyond the classroom someday. To that end, Bucyrus City Schools in Crawford County has come up with an idea other districts might want to consider. According to a report by the Bucyrus Telegraph Forum, the district has partnered with Team NEO to credential EVERY staff member as either a career connections adviser or career connections ambassador. This isn’t just teachers. This is every ...

It’s Time for West Virginia To Get Into the Game

West Virginia is more than halfway through the first quarter of its “economic backyard brawl” against its neighboring states — and the score right now sits at 49-0. Gov. Patrick Morrisey, who promised to get West Virginia more competitive with its neighboring states upon taking office in January, appears to need a new game plan to salvage this one. This year alone, our neighboring states have seen the following developments to enhance their edge over West Virginia. Consider: - Pittsburgh, just an hour from Wheeling, will receive $90 billion in energy and artificial ...

Revisit State’s Phone Policy

By all accounts, Ohio County Schools had a good first year with its new cellphone policy. Students would put their phone away during class, but in-between classes would have access. That allowed parents to be able to communicate with children on practice changes, for example, while not impacting any classroom learning. Yet now comes the West Virginia Department of Education with a one-size-fits-all approach for students when it comes to cellphones, based on a new law from the West Virginia Legislature. And this new policy, it appears, prohibits any use of cell phones throughout what it ...

‘Coach A’ a True Light of the Valley

As person after person stepped to the podium Wednesday to laud longtime local basketball coach Gene Ammirante — this year’s winner of the Wheeling YMCA’s Dr. Lee Jones Patron of Youth Award — it became more and more evident how deserving he was of the honor. Ammirante has spent nearly all his life in the service of Ohio Valley youth, in both big measures and small. It was the bus trips from Bellaire to Columbus for his young players to watch Ohio State men’s basketball games at St. John Arena. It was him approaching kids at the YMCA just to help them improve their jump shot. ...