Local superintendents advocate for passage of new school funding formula

County superintendents are pushing for a new school funding plan to pass through the Statehouse. House Bill 1 would rewrite the school funding formula, which relies heavily on property values. Instead, superintendents said the new formula would create a more equal distribution for all schools in Ohio. Avon Schools Superintendent Mike Laub said the Fair School Funding Plan is a step to fix what has long been broken in Ohio. More than 20 years ago, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the state's method for funding schools was unconstitutional. Although other funding plans have come before the state Legislature, the formula still remains unconstitutional. This new formula would set a base cost for educating a student in Ohio, while also taking into account students who require additional support. It also evaluates a school district's ability to raise funds based on its community's property values and income levels. Amherst Schools Treasurer Amy Gioffredo said this is the best chance schools have had in years to address funding inadequacies. She said there seems to be a momentum in the movement now. Laub said there seems to be some hesitancy in the Ohio Senate to pass the new formula. In December, the bill passed the Ohio House, but stalled in the state Senate. That's why local superintendents, treasurers and school board members joined a Zoom meeting Monday night to speak with state Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville. Manning has supported changes to the funding formula. Local House Reps. Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, Dick Stein, R-Norwalk and Joe Miller, D-Amherst, are all co-sponsors on the bill. House Bill 1 had its first hearing in the statehouse in February. Laub said the superintendents want to make sure they get their voices out there in support of the bill. He said he's looking for a grassroots campaign out to taxpayers so they can contact local senators and representatives to pass the plan. That's why Laub said it's critical that people are aware of the bill in the first place. One of the biggest positives of the plan is that it takes the burden off of property taxpayers, Laub said. An additional $2 billion in state funding for schools would be phased in over the next six years. "The intent is to fund school appropriately and take that burden off taxpayers," Laub said. "In Ohio, it's not if we'll have a levy, it's when and how much. There are so many different things that impact our funding model. It's complicated. It's hard to understand. This would uncomplicate it a little bit and level the playing field a little bit." Elyria Schools Superintendent Ann Schloss said she's grateful for Manning's support of the bill, but she wants other senators to come on board. She said this is the first time she's felt there is a school funding plan that could meet the needs of all different types of school districts, including charters. The proposal would send costs of private school vouchers, also known as EdChoice, back to the state, instead of putting it on the school district. As it stands now, school districts absorb EdChoice costs. The new funding plan, Schloss said, looks at the costs of education for the whole child, instead of looking entirely at property taxes. Columbia Schools Superintendent Graig Bansek echoed Schloss. He said the new funding proposal looks at instruction costs, co-curriculars, social emotional needs, professional development and other aspects to education. "I think it's a great opportunity for all of us to see a positive outcome," he said. Exact numbers aren't pinpointed in the plan, but Lorain County school districts stand to gain from the new funding formula. Gioffredo said she's excited to see what the funding formula could do for Amherst. Like Laub, Gioffredo said she'd like to see a more simplified funding plan than what the state has now. Contact Laina Yost at (440) 329-7121 or lyost@chroniclet.com.