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Neola

Website:

neola.com/
Location:

Stow, OH
Type:

For-Profit
Executive Director:

Patrick Corbett
Formation:

1978
Type:

Education Consultancy

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Neola (formerly known as North East Ohio Learning Associates) 1 is an education consultancy that develops personalized bylaws, policies, guidelines, and materials for more than 1,550 school boards in six states. 2 As of June 2022, Neola has created 400 different policy templates to address policy concerns in K-12 schools. 3 4 5

Neola supports the critical race theory-influenced concept of educational equity at public schools 6 and has previously participated in the annual conference of the left-of-center National School Boards Association. 7

In October 2021, the Mason School Board in Mason, Michigan, repealed its “controversial topics” policy, which originated from Neola and had led to the school district suggesting the addition of far-left Black Lives Matter material in the school’s Black History Month content. 8 Neola has also helped the school board in Manatee County, Florida, develop policies that work to “develop racial equity priorities for schools and offices” and see “equity as an outcome.” 9

History and Leadership

Neola was founded in 1978 as North East Ohio Learning Associates. 10 11 In 1979, Neola began its consultancy work in Ohio. 12 Between 1989 and 2005, Neola expanded beyond Ohio and began working with clients in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia, and Florida. 13 14

Patrick Corbett is the executive director of Neola. 15 16

Activities and Funding

Neola is an education consulting firm that develops personalized bylaws, policies, guidelines, and materials to more than 1,550 school boards in six states. 17 As of June 2022, Neola has created 400 different policy templates to address school board policy concerns in K-12 schools. 18 19 Neola has also participated in the annual conference of the left-of-center National School Boards Association. 20

Staffed primarily by former school administrators, 21 Neola helps superintendents, general counsel, and policy administration draft policy language to ensure school board compliance with state and federal education regulations. Twice a year Neola proposes revisions and updates to its clients. 22 23 24

Neola supports the critical race theory-influenced concept of educational equity at public schools. 25 The organization also participates in external reviews of school systems; 26 offers policy templates and “best practices” guidelines for school board regulations; 27 facilities studies, population projects, curriculum units, and staff development; 28 29 and provides IT consulting, school safety, emergency systems, and online compliance service contracts for K-12 schools to its clients. 30

In October 2021, the Mason School Board in Mason, Michigan, repealed its “controversial topics” policy, which originated from Neola and had led to the school district suggesting the addition of far-left Black Lives Matter material in the school’s Black History Month content. 31

Neola has also helped school boards institute school board bylaws and policies in Polk County, Florida, that claim “complex societal and historical factors may contribute to inequity” 32 and in Manatee County, Florida, that work to “develop racial equity priorities for schools and offices” and see “equity as an outcome.” 33

In August 2021, Neola sent a “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Public Schools” legal alert to its clients that summarized the Ohio Board of Education’s resolution condemning racism and advancing equity for minority students. 34

State-level Engagement

Neola has 515 clients in Ohio and has worked in the state since 1979. 35 Neola has 38 clients in Florida and is the state school board association’s preferred provider of policy service. 36 Neola has 449 clients in Michigan and is in partnership with the Michigan Association of School Boards. 37 Neola also has 298 clients in Wisconsin, 38 217 clients in Indiana, 39 and 26 clients in West Virginia. 40

Funding

Neola receives its funding from program service fees associated with its advisory services. 41

References

  1. “About.” Neola. Accessed June 2, 2022. https://neola.com/about/mission-history/.
  2. “Services.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/services/.
  3. “Services.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/services/.
  4. “A Loss In the Neola Family.” Neola. March 6, 2020. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/2020/03/06/a-loss-in-the-neola-family/.
  5. “Update Volume 40 Number 2.” Neola January 2022. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://www.worthington.k12.oh.us/cms/lib/OH01001900/Centricity/Domain/38/Enclosure%201%20January%202022%20NEOLA%20Policy%20Updates.pdf.
  6. [1] “The New School Year Begins with a Host of Familiar Challenges and We Are here to Help.” Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators. September 13, 2021. Accessed June 3, 2022. http://gomasa.org/2021/09/13/the-new-school-year-begins-with-a-host-of-familiar-challenges-and-we-are-here-to-help/.
  7. “Let’s Talk Policy at NSBA.” Neola. March 23, 2017. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/2017/03/23/lets-talk-policy-nsba/.
  8. Comar, Abigail. “Mason School Board reverses, relaxes Controversial Topics policy.” October 19, 2021. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://news.jrn.msu.edu/2021/10/mason-school-board-reverses-relaxes-controversial-topics-policy/.
  9. “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy – DRAFT – 8-16-20.” Manatee School District. August 16, 2020. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.manateeschools.net/cms/lib/FL02202357/Centricity/Domain/1115/2020-10-27%20Public%20Hearing%20%200164%200165.1%20and%20Equity%20Policy.pdf.
  10. “About.” Neola. Accessed June 2, 2022. https://neola.com/about/mission-history/.
  11. “Neola Inc.” D&B Business Directory. Accessed June 2, 2022. https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.neola_inc.a59b5c5c91371e85932d5ecc9208de9c.html.
  12. “Ohio.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/state/ohio/.
  13. “Where We Serve.” Neola. Accessed June 4, 2022. https://neola.com/where-we-serve/.
  14. “Associates.” Neola. Accessed June 2, 2022. https://neola.com/about/associates/.
  15. “Pat Corbett.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 2, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-corbett-9a126273/.
  16. “About – Staff.” Neola. Accessed June 2, 2022. https://neola.com/about/staff/.
  17. [1] “Services.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/services/.
  18. “Services.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/services/.
  19. “A Loss In the Neola Family.” Neola. March 6, 2020. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/2020/03/06/a-loss-in-the-neola-family/.
  20. “Let’s Talk Policy at NSBA.” Neola. March 23, 2017. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/2017/03/23/lets-talk-policy-nsba/.
  21. “Message from Richard Clapp.” Neola. Accessed June 2, 2022. https://neola.com/about/ceo-message/.
  22. “Our Process.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/our-process/.
  23. “Resources.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/resources/faqs/.
  24. Hahn, Korny. “Cheboygan schools switches policies from NEOLA to Thurn Law Firm.” Cheboygan Daily Tribune. April 30, 2020. Accessed June 2, 2022. https://www.cheboygannews.com/story/news/2020/04/30/cheboygan-schools-switches-policies-from/1269082007/.
  25. “The New School Year Begins with a Host of Familiar Challenges and We Are here to Help.” Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators. September 13, 2021. Accessed June 3, 2022. http://gomasa.org/2021/09/13/the-new-school-year-begins-with-a-host-of-familiar-challenges-and-we-are-here-to-help/.
  26. Stephen, Nelson. “Report of the External Review Team for City of Cape Coral Municipal Charter School System.” Pg. 33. May 4, 2016. Accessed June 2, 2022. https://www.oasiselementaryschool.net/_cache/files/b/a/baf0543d-a586-4083-b7d2-5b16b4472c16/AB16D5E9408184D5F3C26406D2435206.er-report—approved—052516.pdf.
  27. “Resources.” Neola. Accessed June 2, 2022. https://neola.com/resources/faqs/.
  28. “About.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/our-process/.
  29. “About.” Neola. Accessed June 2, 2022. https://neola.com/.
  30. “Service Affiliates.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/resources/our-partners/.
  31. Comar, Abigail. “Mason School Board reverses, relaxes Controversial Topics policy.” October 19, 2021. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://news.jrn.msu.edu/2021/10/mason-school-board-reverses-relaxes-controversial-topics-policy/.
  32.  “2260 – Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Access to Equal Educational Opportunity.” The School Board of Polk County. Adopted November 12, 2013. Accessed June 4, 2022. https://files.neola.com/polk-fl/search/policies/po2260.htm.
  33. “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy – DRAFT – 8-16-20.” Manatee School District. August 16, 2020. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.manateeschools.net/cms/lib/FL02202357/Centricity/Domain/1115/2020-10-27%20Public%20Hearing%20%200164%200165.1%20and%20Equity%20Policy.pdf.
  34. “Update Volume 40 Number 2.” Neola January 2022. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://www.worthington.k12.oh.us/cms/lib/OH01001900/Centricity/Domain/38/Enclosure%201%20January%202022%20NEOLA%20Policy%20Updates.pdf.
  35. “Ohio.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/state/ohio/.
  36. “Florida.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/state/florida/.
  37. “Michigan.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/state/michigan/.
  38. “Wisconsin.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/state/wisconsin/.
  39. “Indiana.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/state/indiana/.
  40. “West Virginia.” Neola. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://neola.com/state/west-virginia/.
  41. “FAQS.” Neola. Accessed June 4, 2022. https://neola.com/resources/faqs/.
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Neola

3914 Clock Pointe Trail, Suite 103
Stow, OH