Education Notebook

ARTICLE: Links emerge between Houston school district administrators, private company and southwestern Minnesota school district

(Note: Here's today's story about Houston public schools, linked into one version rather than split into two like the print version. I also included a few of the board minutes below if people are interested at following some of the trail. I didn't include all e-mails, company records searches, etc, though. -EM)

HOUSTON, Minn. — The Houston school board has launched an investigation reportedly into the actions of two former employees and the company they created, Ambient Learning.

Representatives for Houston public schools cannot confirm the subject of the investigation, citing data privacy laws.  But the Post-Bulletin has found links between Houston public schools, Ambient Learning and another public school district located in Madelia, Minn., which is about 100 miles west of Rochester.

Two top-level administrators have left Houston public schools, amid allegations that the pair didn't inform the school board when they created an education consulting business based off of the school district's popular online education model.

Houston public schools superintendent resigns amid concerns about outside business

The business of online education has apparently merged too close to one public school superintendent, as Houston school head Kim Ross has resigned, the Post-Bulletin's Laura Horihan reported today:

HOUSTON — Amid concerns about his involvement in a private online learning initiative, Houston Superintendent Kim Ross announced Tuesday that he'll be leaving the school district at the end of his contract June 30.

Houston School Board members discussed concerns earlier this month regarding Ross' role in Ambient Learning, which he created in partnership with another district employee, Steve Kerska. Houston Public Schools communications director Kelley Stanage confirmed that Ross will be leaving the school district.

Ross didn't respond to a request for comment for followup on the resignation from the superintendent's job.

Some Houston residents have voiced concern that Ross and Kerska's work with Ambient Learning was a conflict of interest and feared the company would compete with the district's online programs. Under Ross' leadership, Houston opened one of the first public online schools in Minnesota. He recently was named on of the top 10 Tech Savvy Superintendents by editors of eSchool News.

According to a story in the Chatfield News, Ross was among applicants for the Chatfield superintendent position but currently isn't being considered. School board member Ron Evenson said Monday that board members "certainly have questions" about Ross' and Kerska's involvement in Ambient Learning.

"Everybody's kind of in question mode," Evenson said.