Ohio GOP Proposes Cuts to School Funding, Deeming Current Spending Unsustainable
Ohio Republican leaders are considering reducing public education funding, citing unsustainable spending practices and questioning accountability.
Ohio, GOP, School Funding, Education, Matt Huffman
Huffman, a big supporter of the EdChoice voucher system, is questioning how public schools are spending their money. Two superintendents from Northeast Ohio are urging him to rethink this stance, especially regarding the accountability of the voucher system.
Most kids in Ohio attend public schools, and Parma City Schools Superintendent Charles Smialek argues that K-12 education needs full funding to thrive. A significant chunk of their budget comes from property taxes, thanks to a plan aimed at fair school funding.
Back in 1997, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the state’s school funding method was unconstitutional, which led to the Cupp-Patterson Fair School Funding Plan. This plan was supposed to change how public dollars are allocated to schools, reducing reliance on property taxes.
However, Huffman is now saying that the funding increases from this plan are unsustainable. He believes that the current budget will have less money because federal COVID relief funds are running out, putting public education at risk.
If funding gets cut, Smialek worries that local taxpayers will bear the brunt of it. Schools in the area have struggled to pass funding levies, and Parma has failed four times. Cuts could mean job losses, higher fees for extracurriculars, or larger class sizes.
Medina City Schools recently passed a levy after several attempts, but it was just to maintain existing services, not to expand. Superintendent Aaron Sable noted that many families are feeling the financial strain, especially with rising property values.
Both superintendents suspect that Huffman’s ultimate goal might be to push for more privatization in education. They see a trend where public funds are increasingly funneled into private school vouchers, which they argue isn’t sustainable.
Huffman is a strong advocate for the EdChoice program, which has seen a massive increase in funding. However, many of the new vouchers are going to students who were already in private schools, raising questions about the effectiveness of the program.
Public schools are held to strict standards, while private schools don’t have the same level of accountability. This has led to frustration among educators who feel that public schools are unfairly criticized.
As lawmakers discuss the future of school funding, the question remains: what kind of education do we want for all students, especially those from less privileged backgrounds? The budget discussions in the coming months will be crucial in determining the fate of school funding in Ohio.