Crescent-News.com - Strickland's plan is 'breath of fresh air' for education

By JENNY DERRINGER

Major changes could take place in the state under the guidance of Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland.

In his first State of the State address on Wednesday, the governor is hoping to throw more support behind the state's traditional public schools. In doing so, Strickland plans to cut back on the state voucher program and other alternative education.

A reduction in vouchers could reduce funding for students using state monies for private school tuition.

The new governor's goal is to reroute more funding back into public schools. In turn, by 2009, this would increase the state's share of funding education to 54 percent. The long-term effect would be to reduce the burden on local property taxes to pay for education.

A 7 percent increase in state funding would also go into effect.

Strickland's office reports that there are 310 charter schools in the state serving 76,000 students. Because of this, about $520 million in taxpayer monies each year is channeled away from public schools.

According to Mark Hartman, superintendent of Antwerp Local Schools, this year it costs approximately $5,400 to educate a child. If the student goes to a charter school or another district through open enrollment, that state money follows the child.

He is hoping that Strickland's new plan will put more pressure on charter schools to raise their accountability and ensure they have licensed teachers. That accountability could cause many charter schools to close, he said, with students returning to public schools and their funding following suit.

"The state's funding is the most complex of any in the nation," added Hartman. "We're all in the same situation. I hope the governor is able to follow through with things he's proposing."

"I think this is a breath of fresh air for education," added Gary Jones, superintendent of Continental Local Schools. "Our people have been supportive of levies and putting up buildings. We've really counted on the (local) people. But it's the state's responsibility to come through on that.

"We've asked the local people about as much as we can ask. We used to get a 6 or 7 percent increase a year. But it's gone the other way.

"Under the Democratic leadership, schools have received more," Jones added. "I hope the leadership is headed in the right direction. That would be a plus for education. I'm anxious to sit back and see if he can get things going."

"I think he's on the right track," Daniela McAfee, president of the Defiance City Education Association, said of Strickland's proposals. "The major problem is the funding issue. That's the reason why charter schools have surfaced. The appropriate funds haven't been given to public schools to improve. They've been funneled away to charter schools.

"There's also the accountability issue," she added. "Our feet are held to the fire with the federal No Child Left 'Untested.' Charter schools are not held as accountable for their product as we are."

Concerning the potential cutback in vouchers, the proposal could be detrimental to parochial schools, though more than likely affecting only the Toledo area of NW Ohio.

"We are not involved in the voucher program," said Sandy Herman, principal of Defiance Catholic Schools. "That affects more so the Toledo area. We're not in it because of our geographical location."

Mary Rettig, principal of St. John Lutheran School in Napoleon, also confirmed that the Lutheran schools in the area won't be affected by any changes Strickland may institute in the voucher program.