[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6049053,"mediaKeyId","3512582-9966a47dde22294a36e2b68043d9eed0","parentId",3512582,"title","West Clermont students say state AI scoring favors formula over personality; students seek testing changes","audioSeconds",108,"startMs",2765000,"endMs",2873000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3512582-9966a47dde22294a36e2b68043d9eed0&start=2765&end=2873","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3512582-9966a47dde22294a36e2b68043d9eed0/thumbnail_2765000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6049053/Ohio/West-Clermont-students-say-state-AI-scoring-favors-formula-over-personality-students-seek-testing-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049053-d6a6a2a63a21dd3026d4064b035af780/orig.mp4?Expires=1775089026&Signature=AJrTbySNPY4WK8ERXUOJ1LyC0o5EYAQ3DWNwdN73EkuKmouzg8Nv4G8vNQjwLTO7grsaaXnQcrkmka3dKYYPcZd93PwbAz9KDvBehvBYgU2BBSSIvWcljy8e62Bhfq~7AQMLEzE8Vxcyxa8YWvT5hW2ffomySMVIhqPvpGvEcQ4hHKrHBDvdUyMdjGZM6tXcNUIb~tka6ernRfIQhIqXveeIMskKSw2~VDeKDBs8TSb9xbF5R~L-P2FvjSeGK7Mnq6w20gBoPFLgIka2-w4~pE0eiZYN~4a~XHMZ-9tUQu1L8k0YDHg43vQfx9F5Q4zo2H9EQ~sbzfucTaAUeOJjZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","West Clermont School District","date","2025-05-06T00:00:00Z","article","Students from West Clermont Middle School presented a student‑led investigation May 5 into how the Ohio State Test (OST) automated scoring favors formulaic writing over personal voice and creativity.

A video shown at the board meeting summarized the team's work: students fed essays into the OST scoring model, modified wording and features, and concluded the scoring system tended to penalize personality and first‑person usage. \"Core issue is basically that the AI is very deprived of personality... The AI deducts points for using the pronouns like I, me, my, or you,\" a student presenter said in the video.

Student presenters described steps they took to replicate aspects of the OST scoring approach, including building a prototype website and learning some code. They said they presented findings at the Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts conference and the National Council of Teachers of English Assembly for Research and recently discussed results with Ohio Representative Adam Bird. \"They knocked it out of the park. I was so happy to hear, about how hard they've been working,\" Representative Adam Bird said, according to the meeting record, and he told the students he planned to raise the issue with colleagues.

Students and their teacher said the practical consequence is significant: training students to write to please an automated scorer could produce college and job applications that lack personality. Students urged that the state consider changing scoring models or develop new AI that better values creativity and voice. \"Ideally, in a perfect world, we would basically like a new AI to be developed or at least started on... to save the art of writing,\" a student said in the presentation.

The classroom teacher said she has already adapted instruction to focus on genre, audience and purpose to help students develop authentic writing skills rather than formulaic responses. The board received the presentation; there was no formal board action connected to the project.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 5, 2025 - West Clermont Schools - Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A West Clermont Middle School student team presented a project showing that the Ohio scoring AI penalizes personal voice and rewards formulaic responses; they have presented at state and national conferences and met an Ohio lawmaker who agreed to raise the issue with colleagues.","taxTitle","West Clermont Local, School Districts, Ohio","taxId",38370,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6049058,"West Clermont officials outline bond finances, ESSER spending and plan to submit testimony to Ohio lawmakers",543,3632000,4175000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3512582-9966a47dde22294a36e2b68043d9eed0&start=3632&end=4175","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3512582-9966a47dde22294a36e2b68043d9eed0/thumbnail_3632000.jpg","/articles/6049058/Ohio/West-Clermont-officials-outline-bond-finances-ESSER-spending-and-plan-to-submit-testimony-to-Ohio-lawmakers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049058-dc3ee25942e42cb4dd4be5e702c8c71c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775089026&Signature=hIlSizEv1Sb7MYBbM-wL-tOX3QLOWpZJ5WnXKcUydXkhgZdDs04QssCtK9RBM1iZNFQFH3SWoMhNwFhmTaN8qJeg07mokKa5LnbsIslPHryqU3EY8OsmuzWrXw1UNG-aLf~BPIoAheC25Yj26wyT1VX45GgFhBHxag9bpl9P9kEFEdO8spDItzY7TnAvoBFP3THkfpcko9-qBkeMqSDKqPsTKsJG1MvwLZ-nFrvFR6d6Or789Sq558xwJ~96R9JFMiQgBwVervcKoPFFkJtKEfCCYt37D5gIs3Poxwjgz4FGDE3nGNSxUmwZ-8WcUL74pR6qXiLb23Kw~bKDmwQ~QA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District finance and administrative leaders reviewed the district's funding plan for proposed construction and maintenance and described how one‑time federal ESSER funds were previously invested in curriculum, safety, technology and staff supports.

Presenters told the West Clermont Local School District board on May 5 that the district expects three main funding sources to support maintenance of new facilities if the bond passes: existing permanent improvement funds (limited by prior debt payments), the half‑mill maintenance requirement tied to participation in the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) program, and the proposed combined earned income and property tax approved by voters on the May 6 ballot. \"There are actually 3 sources when those new facilities, whether it's the renovations, whether it's the new buildings... could assist in that,\" a staff member said.

Officials described prior federal assistance: the district received about $14,000,000 in ESSER funds beginning in 2021. Staff said the ESSER money and a roughly $3,000,000 valuation increase after the 2020 reappraisal funded an \"Onward and Upward\" strategy that invested in safety, instructional technology, updated curriculum and staff recruitment/retention. \"We wanted to come out better,\" the presenter said of the district's use of one‑time funds.

The presentation included projections and clarifications requested by board members and the public: district projections show possible growth of about 1,300 students over coming years (equivalent to roughly two elementary schools), and an architect estimate cited by staff put the cost to upgrade HVAC, roofs, electrical and plumbing across aging district buildings at about $65,000,000 if completed imminently. Presenters noted the $65 million estimate focused on maintenance elements for certain older buildings, and does not include potential costs for portable classrooms tied to enrollment growth.

Board members asked how revenue growth and state funding formulas affect long‑term local funding needs. Presenters explained that a district's property valuation per pupil and adjusted gross income per pupil affect state funding; if the state's guarantee in the Fair School Funding Formula were reduced or removed, the district could see less state aid and face increased pressure on local revenue. The board discussed advocacy strategies and staff said they will submit written testimony to the Ohio Senate and meet with state lawmakers to urge: maintaining the guarantee in the Fair School Funding Formula, removing temporary bridge funding that weakens phase‑in of the formula, and updating base cost inputs to reflect current costs.

A district official said testimony must be submitted by the following day and that meetings with state legislators were scheduled in the coming week. Board members and staff described outreach to the Chamber of Commerce, union representatives and local legislators as part of the advocacy plan.

No board vote was required on the presentation itself; trustees heard the briefing and directed staff to proceed with refining and submitting testimony to the state.","District leaders presented a detailed briefing May 5 on how the May 6 bond and combined earned income/property tax would fund new construction and maintenance, described prior ESSER investments, and said they will submit testimony to the Ohio Senate about fair school funding and House Bill 96 provisions.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6049062,"West Clermont board approves language updates to graduation, wellness and family‑engagement policies",41,3587000,3628000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3512582-9966a47dde22294a36e2b68043d9eed0&start=3587&end=3628","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3512582-9966a47dde22294a36e2b68043d9eed0/thumbnail_3587000.jpg","/articles/6049062/Ohio/West-Clermont-board-approves-language-updates-to-graduation-wellness-and-familyengagement-policies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049062-03041d9ae5cc716700b86e43b07e512e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775089026&Signature=iNIP52trHH-9M8fHNqUHcXKgcfqoxPPJCpYIXsEhVmUcRaZveBmMplLvQl8LvExhAJJZVkRDTtEmkj1sPkVCwzTOLybgwaFeqMZdfDuVkAvavg7o6pd9YeI-tVvDjz5EmFu753wWIPTt9gWftn~dQ6wXes9Ofp2BSeSwKwOEoBTVjx-sZvKA9hYXjaEi8wrm~4g-~7lobvHBQRPROokz65yARRnOsGjBG-V3W~7zVYxKLIqNuWwwLGySzPipSn3mOLf4J-~huM14q3sswEEpnpp37vklmCgLENt4QPHuMyyMRCj2di6Qf9lzTGtedAF6uANevnu~SipJhs5sQmjkTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Clermont Local School district board of education voted May 5 to approve updated policy language clarifying graduation requirements, financial‑literacy coursework, wellness for sixth grade and parent/family engagement in response to recent state guidance.

Board members and staff said the changes revise wording only and do not change graduation or graduation‑related requirements. \"Most of them is about language, it's not about new policies and things,\" a staff member presenting the changes told the board, asking the board to approve the second reading.

The revisions discussed and approved at second reading included: updates to Policy 5460 on graduation requirements (clarifying how fine‑arts coursework may be satisfied between grades 7 and 12), a change to require a one‑half credit in financial literacy where the state now requires that course, adjustments to wellness policy language for sixth grade (removing a line that implied a recess requirement), and a narrow edit to Policy 2111 on parent/family engagement to maintain Title IX compliance.

Board members asked for clarity about the scope of the edits, and the presenter reiterated the district would not be changing requirements: \"We're not changing graduation requirements, we're not increasing, we're not decreasing. We're just doing a little more explaining as far as what the requirements are from the state,\" the staff member said.

Following the presentation, board member Mr. Chumley moved to approve the second reading and Miss Sanborn seconded the motion. Roll call votes recorded Chumley — yes; Sanborn — yes; Spencer — yes; Patton — yes. The motion passed with four yes votes.

The board and administration said they will continue to circulate policy rationale to board members through board updates and will bring any substantive changes to policy committee when required. The presenter said routine language changes will not require reconvening the policy committee.

Board members were directed to contact staff before meetings with questions on language changes so staff can provide context; any future substantive changes would return for committee review or a formal first reading.

For the public record, board members specified these changes are language clarifications to align district policy to recent state law and guidance and to maintain Title IX compliance; no new academic or program requirements were adopted at the May 5 meeting.

The board received the updated handbook later in the meeting and approved that separately.","The West Clermont Local School District board on May 5 approved revised policy language—not new requirements—for graduation, financial literacy, wellness and parent/family engagement after a second‑reading vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

West Clermont students say state AI scoring favors formula over personality; students seek testing changes

West Clermont officials outline bond finances, ESSER spending and plan to submit testimony to Ohio lawmakers

West Clermont board approves language updates to graduation, wellness and family‑engagement policies