The new president of the Columbus City School Board compared improving Ohio’s largest school district to running a marathon, but Dr. Antoinette Miranda said she
The new president of the Columbus City School Board compared improving Ohio’s largest school district to running a marathon, but Dr. Antoinette Miranda said she’s committed to running the race, working to address academic achievement and moving beyond a board scandal.
“We’re not looking backward," Miranda told ABC 6 in an exclusive interview. "It’s all about moving forward. Yes, it’s complex. It’s a tall task, but I’ve been in these kinds of things before. I really think we can do it.” Miranda joined the board in January of this year, after spending decades working in education, including as a licensed school psychologist in New York and Ohio. She recently retired from Ohio State, where she taught classes, served four years as Chair of OSU’s Teaching and Learning Department and interim chair, and was the program director in the university’s School Psychology Program, where she focused on urban education issues.“At Ohio State, I started doing projects with Columbus City ; so, I’ve been involved in a variety of levels,” Miranda said. “My children went there. My husband just retired from there after 35 years. So, I have a lot of familiarity.” Miranda said she spent her first weeks in her new role developing relationships with other board members, working on partnerships with city officials, and fostering a close collaboration with Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman. “To me, that’s one of the most important things,” she said. “We should be supporting each other because that’s the only way we’re going to be able to move the district forward. I’ve had really excellent meetings with Dr. Chapman. We are on the same page.”CCS faces a $109 million project budget deficit into next school year as it grapples with changes in state funding, property tax reforms, and rising costs, she said. Additionally, district Treasurer Ryan Cook told the board last month CCS will be out of cash in fiscal year 2030, based on the updated financial projections. “Everybody is always talking about a levy,” Miranda said. “Without a doubt we may have to put on a levy, but it may be too soon to talk about that.”In February, the school board slashed 62 administrator jobs, totally more than $7 million and taking effect next school year, along with freezing salaries for some non-school based administrator positions. The board has also voted to reduce general staff positions, up to $25.9 million, decided to close four schools, and reduced busing for K-8th graders not attending neighborhood schools or 100% lottery schools, as part of more than $50 million in reductions this school year. CCS spokesman Michael Brown said the district is working to identify which classified positions and certified positions will be cut. “We have to work through their contract processes before we can provide the lists to the Board of Education,” Brown said. “We are first looking at any retirements or attrition, which will in a normal year be a couple hundred positions. This all will go into formal proposals to go to Board before the school year ends.”“We’re trying to preserve what happens in the classroom, what happens in the school building,” she said. “To the extent that we can this year, I think we may be successful at that.” A working group has begun evaluating options for potential high school busing changes and plans to give its recommendation in January 2027. Prior to that, quarterly updates to the board are expected.Miranda also said she wants periodic progress reports within a school year to evaluate efforts to improve academic achievement. “One of the things that’s very important to me is data," she said. "You look at data, and you have deadlines. You can’t go a whole year and wait.” The Ohio Deptartment of Education and Workforce Development gave CCS an overall grade of two out of five stars in the latest state report cards. CCS ranked among the 13 lowest-scoring districts in Ohio, and it received a single-star rating for literacy in kindergarten through third grade. However, the district made improvements with math and graduation, along with receiving a three-star rating for college, career, workforce, and military readiness. “If you look at different regions in Columbus, some regions are doing better than others,” Miranda said. “So, we should be looking at what they’re doing that’s knocking it out of the park, and how can we make sure we’re doing it over here? It should be data-driven.” She used the district’s elementary schools as an example, pointing out that half of them scored an overall grade of three stars. “One of those schools has one of the lowest socioeconomic statuses, and they made a three,” she said. “I say that because it’s possible.” Miranda said CCS has been responsive to the state evaluation, identifying gaps and developing interventions to focus more on areas that need more attention. “That is a huge improvement over the way education often did things in the past,” she said. “Our hope is that at the end of June, we will see those numbers go up.”Miranda was elected to the board alongside two other new members: Dr. Jermaine Kennedy and Patrick Katzenmeyer. The other four members -- Brandon Simmons, Sarah Ingles, Dr. Tina Pierce, and Jennifer Adair -- became embroiled in controversy in 2024 when an internal board document leaked to the public, revealing ideas to stifle critics of a plan to close schools. The board eventually censured Simmons for writing the document and publicly released its internal investigation.She said she’s seen no lingering effects from that incident and the board has been interacting positively with committee assignments with efforts to foster more community engagement. “I want a board that is able to be trusted,” she said. “It is OK to disagree but ultimately my job is to make sure the board is functioning, and that we demonstrate that to the public.”ABC 6 asked Miranda: Which metrics would she use to determine whether her first year as president is successful? “No scandals with the board,” she said. “Then, I think the other thing is that the community starts to give us positive feedback.” Miranda said she's working on a way to give families more access to board members, including potentially streaming any town hall events and holding smaller community meetings around the city. During her inaugural year, she also hoped to solve some issues, including transportation, and strengthen the working relationships with city council, mayor, and other community partners.“I would really like to see that this is a new day for Columbus City ," Miranda said. "We want to be part of the growth of the city of Columbus. It’s the beginning of partnerships. That is my word.”One person is dead and another seriously injured after a crash late Thursday evening in Greenfield Township.Shortly after 9 p.m., troopers with the Ohio StateThe swift decision drew criticism from the union representing professors over what it called a closed selection process.A woman is facing aggravated arson charges after investigators determined a December fire at a Hilltop duplex was intentionally set, an incident that injured aThe highways are how Jamey Rose makes a living, but when the wind picks up, he says that’s when the job really gets tough.An unidentified man robbed a business early Monday morning.A black male wearing a black puffy jacket with a small red emblem entered and then robbed the busin
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Columbus names Assistant Chief Dave Baugh interim fire chief after Happ resignationColumbus has named a new interim leader for its fire division as the city begins a nationwide search for a permanent chief.
Read more »
Columbus Names Interim Fire Chief Amidst Nationwide SearchColumbus appoints Assistant Chief Dave Baugh as interim fire chief following the resignation of the previous chief, while the city conducts a nationwide search for a permanent replacement. Baugh, with decades of experience, will oversee operations and maintain emergency services.
Read more »
Columbus mayor highlights impact of UNCF ahead of annual Mayor’s LuncheonColumbus leaders are preparing for an annual event aimed at expanding educational opportunities and helping more students get to college.
Read more »
Columbus Weather: Windy conditions on tap Friday, a few morning showersVery windy today with clouds and a few morning showers, then more afternoon sun with mild temps. Mostly cloudy this weekend with light winds and chilly temps Sa
Read more »
Columbus youth sports program celebrates nearly 60 years of impactThe Linden Eagles Athletic Association, a Columbus youth sports program with a history dating back to 1967, celebrated its legacy Thursday night.
Read more »
Columbus Humane names Spychalski new CEOColumbus Humane has named longtime nonprofit fundraising leader Carol Spychalski as its new CEO following a multi-month national search conducted by BeecherHill
Read more »