Statewide Stories of the Day

Liberty school officials, state financial panel discuss budget (Vindicator)

LIBERTY - Almost a year after the school district was placed in fiscal emergency, school officials met with the state-appointed financial oversight committee Wednesday. Chairman Roger Nehls and his committee discussed appropriations and expenditures with Liberty Superintendent Stan Watson and Treasurer Jim Wilson. The committee went through budget items from the previous school year as well as items for the upcoming year, said Nehls. The district spent approximately $15.5 million from its general fund by the end of fiscal year 2012. Read more...

School groups warn of lottery windfall hurdle (Newark Advocate)

Higher-than-expected state lottery profits in the past fiscal year do not equal a windfall for Ohio's schools this year, according to three major public education associations. Earlier this month, the Ohio Lottery Commission released results for this past fiscal year, which concluded June 30. Sales surpassed $2.7 billion, and that led to a profit of $771 million, well above the $717.5 million that had been budgeted for schools. By law, all Ohio Lottery profits must be directed toward K-12 public education. Read more...

Taxing sales to fund schools? Expect hefty hike (Repository)

COLUMBUS — As Ohio considers new ways to pay for public schools, legislative analysts said Wednesday one option is to replace local property tax revenue with an increase in the state sales tax, but they cautioned that it might be a risky move. To raise the more than $9.9 billion that’s needed, policymakers would need to more than double the sales tax rate — from 5.5 cents on the dollar to 13.2 cents. It’s one of many ideas being kicked around by an Ohio House subcommittee laying the groundwork for a new state funding formula for schools. Read more...

Local Issues

Johnstown retracts decision on busing to private schools (Newark Advocate)

JOHNSTOWN - More than a month after it passed a resolution deeming busing for some non-public school students impractical, the Johnstown-Monroe School Board retracted its decision at its Wednesday meeting. The board will work with Northridge Local Schools and administrators from private schools in Newark and Granville to attempt to find another solution, board president Roger Montgomery said. This past school year, Johnstown had about 35 students the district bused to private schools, including Granville Christian Academy. Read more...

Cleveland schools seek big tax increase in November to carry out transformation plans (Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland School District and Mayor Frank Jackson will ask voters this fall to raise their school taxes by about 50 percent to make major changes aimed at pulling the district out of its academic and budget hole. The 15-mill levy -- the first operating increase for the district since 1996 -- would give the district an estimated $77 million more a year to add to its $670 million operating budget and $1.1 billion total budget. It would also provide $5.5 million to go to charter schools that partner with the district, making it the first local tax in Ohio to go to charters. Read more...

Board to vote on eliminating positions (News-Sun)

Northwestern board members are expected to vote tonight on a controversial decision to eliminate a position championed by some families. The board will decide whether to eliminate the family liaison and middle school principal positions to prepare for the move from three to two buildings when Northwestern opens its new schools next fall, said Superintendent Tony Orr. The board will vote at 6 p.m. tonight in the auditorium at Northwestern High School. Read more...

Editorial

Schools cut costs by sharing (Tribune Chronicle)

The idea of shared school administrations is taking hold near and far. If school districts in Trumbull and Mahoning counties don't figure out ways to share these duties, local teachers and students will continue to get shortchanged. Nearby, Grand Valley and Pymatuning Valley school districts in southern Ashtabula County have opened discussions on sharing a superintendent beginning this fall. Pymatuning Valley Superintendent Alex Geordan resigned to accept a job in Canfield, prompting the Board of Education to contact Grand Valley about sharing its superintendent. Read more...