For the first time, the Columbus school district plans to hire an outside group to run one of its struggling schools.
Beginning this fall, the district wants an education-management organization to run South High School, which for years has graduated fewer than half its seniors. Experts think that Columbus City Schools would be the first traditional school district in Ohio to hire an operator.
"We believe this outside organization can bring in outside ideas," said Superintendent Gene Harris. In part because South has been overhauled with new staff and programs before, "this model makes sense at South," she said.
Making it happen depends on money. Columbus is applying for a federal turnaround grant on behalf of South and three other schools that could bring in as much as $8 million. If the district doesn't win the grant, Harris said, she hopes to find another way to pay for the reform effort.
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