Aftershocks of yesterdays assault on public education by the Governor are coming into focus. Innovation Ohio (pdf) has the 20,000 foot view
- While Gov. Kasich’s office has released spreadsheets claiming school districts would see slight 1% increases from the previous year, the comparison does not factor in the stimulus money that was distributed through the foundation formula in FY 11. In other words, the Administration pretends that the stimulus money never happened.
- However, when the stimulus money from FY 11 is included, Gov. Kasich’s budget actually proposes a $395 million cut in FY 12 from what school districts had FY 11 ( a 6.1% cut to districts statewide), and a $305 million reduction (4.7%) in FY 13 from what they received FY 11.1
- On average, this means that districts would have to either raise an additional 1.59 mills to make up the Governor’s cuts, or drastically cut education services to their children.
- Using an average salary of $55,2502 for teachers in Ohio, these cuts represent 7,149 teachers, and would likely result in significant layoffs.
According to early OEA analysis
As the Dayton Daily News notes
School districts across the state are trying to analyze the impact of this draconian budget
David James, the superintendent of Akron Public Schools, did not comment on the budget Tuesday because he needed more time to sift through it.
Without a funding formula available, assessing the true cost to each district will be impossible. As further news, analysis and developments happen, Join the Future will bring you those updates.
In further news, State Superintendent Delisle resigned under pressure from the Governor, her parting comments
Her resignation takes effect April 30.
Delisle said she was asked "to support the governor's budget and remain ambivalent about it. I said I hadn't seen it. ... I perceived (the comments) as bribery or a threat."
She said she was told that "if I did good, there would be a nice exit strategy."
Stay tuned to Join the Future for more.