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Governor’s education plan will not glitter with gold
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Unless the national and global economic pictures suddenly brighten, the jobless rate in this country suddenly dips below 4 percent, high-paying manufacturing jobs suddenly appear and the budgets of state and local governments suddenly drip with black ink, the prospects of finding a lot more in state aid for Ohio’s primary and secondary schools are slim to none — with none having the advantage.
Indeed, expectations for a major overhaul of the public school funding system are being lowered by the day. Any proposal that envisions a state tax increase will be dead-on-arrival next year in the Republican controlled Senate. President Bill Harris of Ashland says that talk of a tax dedicated to K through 12 will be just that — talk.
Even Gov. Ted Srtrickland, a Democrat, has rejected the idea of a tax increase, given the current economic climate.
Thus the question: What relief can property owners in Ohio expect? Property taxes are the major source of operating funds for school districts — even though the Ohio Supreme Court has made it clear on four occasions that such reliance violates the constitutional mandate of providing a fair and thorough education for all children.
Ballot initiative?
But property-tax relief does not appear to be in the cards — unless the governor goes directly to the people through a statewide ballot initiative.
Strickland has said he will unveil a school-reform plan next year that will address the academic and funding aspects of public education in Ohio.
Earlier this year, he held a series of meetings around the state to solicit ideas on how learning in — and out of — the classroom can be improved.
The governor and Chancellor of Higher Education Eric Fingerhut have said their goal is to make sure every Ohioan who wants to go to college from high school is prepared academically and able to financially.
As for funding primary and secondary education, Strickland has acknowledged that over dependence on property taxes is a problem and that state government has the responsibility to come up with solutions.
On Thursday, the governor held the first of several conversations he will have around the state about school funding. The Columbus event was by invitation and included educators, school administrators, parents and community activists.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, the governor did not show his hand with regard to a school-funding fix, but did say that he hopes his plan will include a net increase in overall monetary support for schools.
Strickland deserves credit for moving head with his education reform initiative, when he just as easily could have cited the economic crisis as a reason for doing nothing.