Schools

No New Money for Strongsville Schools

Governor's plan doesn't cut funding here, but it doesn't increase it, either

 

Gov. John Kasich's new plan for school funding won't send any extra money to the Strongsville district, according to newly released budget figures.

Strongsville is slated to receive $7,271,965 in 2014 and 2015, the same amount it received this year.

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Other districts, like Berea and Solon, will get 25 percent more money next year and another 25 percent more in 2015.

Strongsville Superintendent John Krupinski said last week that while he was "cautiously optimistic" Strongsville could see a state funding increase, he was relieved to find out it would not be cut.

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"He (Kasich) did quell the fear that for districts like ours, that are property-rich, there would be no additional (funding) cuts," Krupinski said. "That was huge."

Kasich's plan, which includes $1.2 billion in new money for schools during the next two years, is raising eyebrows because some of the area's poorer districts, like Cleveland and East Cleveland, won't get any additional money, while others with high property values like Twinsburg, Avon, Avon Lake and Orange, will see increases. 

Ohio’s school funding formula, which is based on property taxes, was repeatedly ruled unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court. Former Gov. Ted Strickland proposed a plan to address this, as well, but it was not fully funded when passed.

Kasich’s plan creates a base funding level for all but the wealthiest districts, based on a per-student property tax base. 

That could mean districts would get more money to educate students with special education needs, English language learners and children whose families live in poverty. 

The proposal also includes plans for a grant program, the “Straight A Fund,” designed to encourage districts to try new approaches to increase student achievement and lessen costs.

The proposal also mentions that some mandates could be waived at the district level, but does not clarify which mandates that would be.


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