The future of public education is on the ballot.
We are members of the Northwest Ohio Alliance of Public Servants. We live in six different school district, with most of us serving on local or state boards of education.
In 2021, with bipartisan approval, the Ohio legislature created the FSFP, offering hope that the state would recognize its partnership with local communities to support public education.
Yet the legislature never fully enacted this plan. Last year, the state legislature ignored the formula and froze the funding at 2022 levels, leaving district struggling to meet rising costs. As the state has moved backwards, local property taxpayers are increasingly expected to fill the gap.
We agree that property tax reform is needed. But that reform should not be at the expense of our children’s education.
For the last two decades, our current legislative supermajority, aligned with our governor, has gradually reduced the state’s share of funding for our children’s futures. In 1999, the state’s share for a district’s education costs was an average of 46%. Since then, the state’s “share” has fallen, and in 2027, the average is projected to be 32%. Most of our district’s revenue from the state is far less than this average. This is not the partnership that was promised.
Educating the 88% of Ohio’s children who attend public schools should not be a partisan issue. Preparing students to be successful, contributing members of our nation has always been foundational to who we are.
But unless the current legislative monopoly is broken up, state funding for public education will continue to decline. In 2002, Ohio ranked 35th nationally in the share of state K-12 education funding provided from state sources. Today, while failing to honor the FSFP, Ohio ranks 45th in the nation. Our students are paying that price.
We urge voters to support your local school district levies. These levies are needed to make up the funding shortfall left by the state’s failure to fund the FSFP.
We urge voters to support candidates whose records clearly demonstrate a commitment to invest in every student with their fair share.
We will be voting for Erika White (41st), Elgin Rogers, Jr. (42nd), Michelle Grim (43rd), David Fournier (44th), and Rick Rettig (75th) for the Ohio House, Paula Hicks-Hudson (11th) for the Ohio Senate, and Amy Acton for Governor.
Our children’s future depends on the choices we make today.
Tanya Baldwin
Dawn Burks
Kimberly Conklin
Teresa Fedor
Allison Fiscus
Julie Hoffman
Emily Klocko
Denise Phillips
Susan Rowland Miller
Chris Varwig
Kristina White
