The $1.4 billion compromise plan to fix Ohio's school funding would be devastating to Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati district officials said Thursday.

        “We actually lose money under a formula that is supposed to give us more,” Superintendent Steven Adamowski told the Enquirer in an editorial board meeting. “This is going in absolutely the wrong direction.”

Adamowski

        Mr. Adamowski said that if approved, the plan would force the district to ask voters to approve a tax levy within two years. Voters in November approved a 6-mill, $35.8 million levy.

        A district analysis of the state's proposed funding formula shows CPS would lose $2.8 million, or 2 percent, in state funding in the next two years.

        The architect of the funding formula, however, said the district refers to figures that are not final.

        State Sen. Jeff Jacobson, a Brookville Republican, said school districts and legislators should be careful about reaching the wrong conclusions.

        “There is nothing in this (proposed funding formula) that diminishes the amount of money school districts will get,” Mr. Jacobson said. “If they say they will lose, it's because of a change in number of kids they have and their valuation.”

        CPS officials said they plan to make their case to legislators. Mr. Adamowski said he is scheduled to speak with Gov. Bob Taft today .

        Cincinnati school officials said the plan punishes their district because it is a property-rich, income-poor district. Kent Cashell, CPS business executive, said the funding formula uses average household income - not median income - to calculate who qualifies for extra funding.

        Cincinnati's median income places it 532nd out of 612 districts. Average income raises it to 168th.

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