News Intelligence Analysis
From The News-Herald of Ohio
10/02/2005
65-cent plan renews school funding
debate
Many Ohioans don't have faith in how school leaders spend
money.
When a school district faces a financial crisis, the typical
solution is seeking a new levy - many times very large. But taxpayers
want school administrators and boards to spread the pain.
Districts that prove they can make the hard choices eventually
will get loyalty from voters. Those that don't likely have leaders
who will confront a steady stream of complaints about their inability
to let high-paid administrators go when pennies must be pinched.
Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell is seizing on this sentiment
at a time when he hopes to be the Republican Party's nominee
for governor in 2006.
He will push a ballot initiative that requires the state's 612
school districts to spend at least 65 percent of its operating
budget on instructional expenditures. He hopes to have the proposal
before Ohio voters in November 2006.
Blackwell claims "The 65-Cent Solution," as some now
call it, would increase classroom spending by more than $1.2
billion without a tax increase.
The state clearly needs a system of school funding that can be
understood by more than education department bureaucrats, school
district treasurers and just a few others. The existing system
relies heavily on property taxes by creating a mathematical maze
established by several laws.
Despite Ohio Supreme Court decisions and frustrated taxpayers,
state lawmakers have failed to accomplish fundamental reform
of this system for nearly a decade.
Blackwell's idea could shape part of a renewed debate on changing
Ohio's method of funding schools.
And many Ohio taxpayers would argue it's not unreasonable to
expect a minimum of 65 percent of a school district's revenues
to instruct children.
But Ohio ranks 47th nationally, with only 57.4 percent of education
money reaching Ohio's classrooms.
Few Northeast Ohio school districts come close to spending 65
percent on "in-the-classroom" expenses, according to
information from the Ohio Department of Education. The Ashtabula
City School District came closest, spending an average of 62
percent over fiscal years 2002, 2003 and 2004. Painesville City
School District was next closest, achieving 62 percent in fiscal
year 2004.
These figures were tabulated according to the DOE's definition
of instructional expenditures: teachers, teacher aides or paraprofessionals,
as well as materials, computers, books and other consumable materials
that are used with students in the classroom setting.
Blackwell's definition differs by including the DOE items plus:
field trips, athletics, music, arts and varied costs for special
needs students.
School administrators counter that Blackwell's idea further decreases
the amount of money school leaders actually control. And they
ask why transportation, food service and classroom space don't
count as instructional expenditures.
Arguments also can be made that those are far more important
to "instruction" than athletics. A clear definition
is needed. If we can't agree on what constitutes an education,
how are we ever going to agree how to pay for it?
But maybe Blackwell's idea gives Ohioans some hope that the stalled
school funding debate can finally receive a much needed jump-start.
©The News-Herald 2005
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