By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
New Bowling Green School Board President Ardy Gonyer used his bully pulpit last week to come to the defense of public education.
For decades, the state has worked against public education – first by continuing to use a school funding system ruled as unconstitutional, and in recent years by siphoning taxpayer money away from public schools for private schools.
“The time for us to stand up and speak out is now,” Gonyer said during the school board’s first monthly meeting of the year.
He described how public schools have been forced to turn to property taxes for much of their funding, despite a ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court more than 25 years ago that the heavy reliance on property taxes to fund schools was unconstitutional. That ruling was repeated twice since then – but no substantial changes were made by the state legislature.
Then came school vouchers, intended to allow low-income students in failing school districts to attend private schools.
As the years have passed, more and more taxpayer funding is being directed toward private schools – $1 billion in the past fiscal year – despite the lack of public oversight required for public schools.
The vouchers are no longer focused on helping low-income children to access better quality schools. The funding is now available to students in quality public schools, whose families can afford to send them to private schools, Gonyer said.
For example, vouchers are now available to a family of four with an annual income of $144,674 – to pay approximately $6,000 a year for K-8 students, and $8,000 for 9-12 students.
This use of public money being spent to send students from good districts to private schools is “frankly sickening,” Gonyer said.
Gonyer asked those present at the meeting to reach out to their state legislators to bring about meaningful funding changes, and protect public education.
Also at last week’s school board meeting, Superintendent Ted Haselman talked about the construction underway on the new high school. “What a change,” he said, noting the steel erected for the academic wing, the main office walls in place, and the shaft for an elevator installed.
To prepare for the transition to the new high school, efforts are underway to select furnishings for the classrooms. Currently, two different styles of furniture are being tested by students and teachers in two classrooms.
“It’s a big hit,” Haselman said of the furnishings testing.
And as always, the superintendent repeated that the new high school construction “remains on budget and on time.”
In other business, Haselman updated the board on the district’s bus transportation.
With the addition of more bus drivers bringing the roster up to full strength, the district has been able to offer bus transportation to all students beyond a one-mile radius of their school buildings. During the driver shortage, the district had to limit rides to those students living two miles or more from their schools.
The expansion has gone smoothly, Haselman said, with approximately 60 more students using bus services each day.
Haselman also reported that student enrollment continues to increase, with 35 more students enrolling this year. He credited the increase to the district’s improved state report cards, the new high school under construction, and the supportive Bowling Green community.
Also at last week’s meeting, the school board:
- Accepted donations totaling $7,085 for unpaid school lunches, Bobcat Basics, winter coats, shoes, boots and hats, two snow blowers, the PBIS program, and cross country.
- Approved a student trip request for the high school and middle school jazz band students to attend a live music performance at the University of Michigan. All costs will be paid by the students.
- Established a fund for a high school quiz bowl.
- Recognized winners in the Wood County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Safety Kids Calendar contest. Three fifth graders received honorable mention, including Emmeline Miller and Jessa Donaldson from Kenwood Elementary, and Emily Clemens from Crim Elementary.
