School-choice forum planned

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

The League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown is having a public program at 6:30 p.m. Monday titled “What Does School Choice Cost Community Taxpayers?”

The forum at Austintown Middle School cafeteria, 800 S. Raccoon Road, will have speakers from the state and treasurers from local school districts.

“We are really trying to educate the voter about what is happening to their tax dollars at both the state and local level. It is not to help pass or not pass any school levy,” said Barbara Brothers, of the LWV.

Bill Phillis, executive director of the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding, and Steve Dyer, education policy fellow at Innovation Ohio, are slated to speak, as are treasurers from Austintown, Boardman, Canfield, Jackson Milton and South Range.

“The purpose of the meeting is for people to really understand what is happening to local and state tax dollars,” Brothers said.