Wednesday, October 27, 1999
Taft stumps for local school levies
Coalition argues state should focus on children's needs
BY PAUL SOUHRADA
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS — As Gov. Bob Taft began a statewide campaign tour Tuesday to drum up support for local school levies, the coalition of school districts battling the state over funding released its plan for creating a quality education.
“My message is that the voters in these communities have a wonderful opportunity to receive a very strong state return on the local dollars that they would be investing in their school-building projects,” Mr. Taft told reporters in Columbus before heading for campaign stops in Canton and Alliance.
Mr. Taft has proposed a $10.1 billion school construction plan that would help rebuild or replace rundown or overcrowded schools in every district over the next 12 years. Because the building program requires local taxpayers to come up with part of the money, Mr. Taft urged voters to support their local levies.
Local funds sought
Mr. Taft said he hopes voters will approve “the local funds that will attract these state dollars.” He said about half of the bond issues on the Nov. 2 ballot will be matched by the state.
Leaders of the Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding said at a separate event Mr. Taft's school-building program only addresses part of the problem.
The coalition, which represents most of Ohio's 611 school districts and successfully challenged the way the state pays for education, argues Mr. Taft and other state officials are too focused on the costs of education.
“The only way to resolve the DeRolph litigation is to base Ohio's school funding on the needs of Ohio's children,” said Paul Folmer, a spokesman for the coalition.
Lawsuit filed
Mr. Folmer was referring to the 1991 lawsuit filed on behalf of Nathan DeRolph, a former student at Sheridan High School in the Northern Local School District in Perry Coun ty.
The Ohio Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing Nov. 16 before determining whether the state has complied with its 1997 order to come up with a new system that provides an adequate education while also reducing the burden on local property taxpayers.
The coalition released a 70-page document it says outlines the components of an essential education for every student.
The plan starts with big-ticket items, such as all-day, every day kindergarten, smaller class sizes and up to 10 days of teacher training every year. It also includes more mundane items, such as making sure students have enough clay, scissors and other art supplies and that schools replace workbooks every year.
Some districts in Ohio already are providing the type of education called for in the report, said William Phillis, the coalition's executive director. He declined to name them, however.
No estimate
Nor would the coalition's members provide an estimate of how much the report would cost to put in place.
Cost isn't relevant, Mr. Phillis argued, because the Ohio Constitution requires the state to provide a thorough and efficient education to all students.
The state countered with a fund ing fix that was based on how much money school districts that met a series of performance standards spent on their students.
The philosophical argument over which way to set goals is at the heart of Ohio's school-funding dispute.
Mr. Taft said he'll look at the coalition's plan, but doesn't think it will change the state's approach.
“We believe that the legislature, with our support, has put into place a constitutional system for operating our schools,” he said.
“Our proposal, I think, is superior ... because it's based on achieving the results the people of Ohio want and expect.”
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