State should move quickly to aid Austintown schools

Under any circumstances, the loss of $1.3 million is difficult, if not impossible, to absorb. But when you're talking about a school district that is already operating without a cushion, such a loss could be devastating. That's why the Ohio Department of Education should pay special attention to a request from the Austintown Board of Education for a grant from the state's School District Solvency Fund.
The shortfall is not the result of mismanagement, irresponsible spending, or poor budgeting. Rather, the Austintown School District is the victim of a convoluted business deal involving the now defunct Phar-Mor Inc., Tamco Distributors Co. and Giant Eagle. The bottom line is that Phar-Mor, which was dismantled through bankruptcy proceedings, is owed $1.9 million in personal property tax refunds, and the money must be paid by the school district, Mahoning County, Austintown Township, Mill Creek Park and the Mahoning County Career Center. The hardest hit are the schools, which haven't made any provisions for such a crippling financial blow.
Schools system Treasurer Barbara Kliner is certainly right in arguing that the loss of $1.3 million is a "catastrophic event" for the district. Those two words are important because the purpose of the state School District Solvency Fund is to provide financial assistance to districts that have suffered revenue losses or have incurred unexpected expenses as a result of a catastrophic event.
It would be difficult to find a more compelling case.
Cooperation
This is an opportunity for the region's state legislators to demonstrate that they weren't just spewing political platitudes during the general election campaign when they talked about the spirit of cooperation that exists and their commitment to working together for the good of the Mahoning Valley.
State Sen. Robert F. Hagan, D-Youngstown, and state Rep. Kenneth Carano, D-Austintown, should draft a letter to the Ohio Department of Education, Gov. Bob Taft and the Republican leaders in the Senate and House detailing the situation and seeking their support for the $1.3 million grant. The letter should be signed by all members of the legislative delegation. It would certainly get the attention of the Republican governor, Republican speaker of the House and Republican president of the Senate if it were accompanied by a brief note from state Rep. Charles Blasdel, a Republican from Columbiana County who is on track for a leadership position in the House. During the campaign, Blasdel talked about the importance of regional cooperation.
The grant request isn't just about one community or one school system. It's about making sure that the Mahoning Valley is treated fairly by the decision-makers in Columbus and that bureaucratic red tape does not impede the prompt response from the state education department.
Without the $1.3 million, the district would face a $62,000 budget shortfall by the end of the 2003-04 school year -- through no fault of its own.