http://www.rightforohio.org/school.php
I saw the article in the courier today. The launch has begun to try and make a significant impact on changing the State Funding Structure for Education. 400,000 signatures by August is the next goal. Check out the site. Doing my duty! Initial Reactions?
ps--how do you insert hyperlinks into the title? not sure...
February 20, 2007 - The proposed constitutional amendment to change how public schools are funded in Ohio is flawed. It won't lower property taxes. It won't hold districts accountable for what they spend and how they spend it. It will do an end run around the elected legislature which is responsible for state spending and state priorities. It will lead to increases in state taxes and/or reduction of services in other areas. It will put the educational bureaucracy in charge of determining how much is spent. It is a bad, bad idea! Here are some links to other articles and what others have to say about this amendment that would put the fox in charge of the henhouse.
* Full text of constitutional amendment - http://www.dispatch.com/2007/extras/school_amendment.pdf
* Columbus Dispatch - OEA to vote on contributing to school-funding campaign - http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/02/20/2007022...
* Columbus Dispatch - Bad and expensive - High price tag is just one reason to reject school-funding proposal - http://www.dispatch.com/editorials-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/02/18/2...
* Buckeye Institute - Getting It Wrong for Ohio
It looks like we are going to have to choose between this option and a plan from the governor. Either way, the funding issue needs to be solved because rural schools and schools with low income districts will continue to be left in the dark.
Districts' school funding burden growing
By Dennis J. Willard
"Despite four Ohio Supreme Court rulings that ordered lawmakers to reduce the reliance on local property taxes to fund public schools, Ohio school districts are supported less by state government than at anytime since the school-funding lawsuit was filed in 1991."
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)
"In each ruling, the justices have said the state's method of funding schools, which relies heavily on property taxes, was unconstitutional because it favored rich districts over poor."
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Saturday, July 08, 2006
ERIC OSBERG
"As in most states, Ohio