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Decade of DeRolph: Local officials express their attitudes, frustrations on state's school funding

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By JENNY DERRINGER

derringer@crescent-news.com

While many people enjoy celebrating anniversaries, one coming up this weekend may be just as memorable, though not necessarily a happy occasion.

Saturday will mark the 10th anniversary of the Ohio Supreme Court ruling of the unconstitutionality of the state's funding method of public schools as a result of DeRolph vs. the State of Ohio, a case filed on behalf of a student in December 1991 by the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding.

The landmark ruling was initially handed down on March 24, 1997, and even today, the debate continues on whether or not funding education through property taxes is fair to all districts. Most agree that something drastic needs to be done to overhaul the current funding system for the state's more than 1.8 million students.

The funding system was also declared unconstitutional in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The state legislature has been given many deadlines to meet to resolve the school-financing issue -- all of which have come and gone. The initial court ruling that mandated an "overhaul" of the funding system had set a March 24, 1998, date for compliance.

Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, in his State of the State address earlier this month, stated that he is hoping to throw additional support behind the funding of public schools. His proposal would reduce funding for vouchers and charter schools in an effort to increase the state's share of funding for public education.

The governor's office reported that currently, approximately $520 million in taxpayer money is redirected to charter and voucher programs instead of public schools each year.

"We appreciate Gov. Strickland's expressed commitment to repairing Ohio's school funding formula, which remains unconstitutional since the first landmark Ohio Supreme Court ruling 10 years ago," noted the Campaign for Ohio's Future. "However, we are disappointed that under his budget proposal, nearly half of Ohio school districts would receive no additional state dollars next year and nearly 250 would receive no additional funding for the two-year biennium."

The over-reliance on property taxes remains a problem. And while 10 years have passed since the ruling, that's still not nearly as long as it took New Jersey to resolve its funding issues. Bill Phillis, of the Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding, noted that it took New Jersey 30 years to fix its school funding system.

"I am surprised it has gone on this long. It makes it difficult to project a budget and do a five-year forecast," stressed David Watson, superintendent of Napoleon Area Schools. "The (school) treasurers do the best they can."

Watson noted that he sees an acknowledgment by the state that there is a problem. He is even hopeful with the education proposals made by the governor.

"We all hope," he added. "We want to be as positive as we can."

Also expressing concern was Sue Westendorf, a member at-large with the Ohio Board of Education.

"We're anxious. In our area of the state, the money just isn't there," said Westendorf.

The state education board has set up subcommittees to look at ways districts can run more efficiently, thus saving more money. The committees are also looking at programs in effect, determining what works and what's getting the best result, added Westendorf of Bowling Green, who has served on the board since 1997.

The board would also like to see more funding geared toward pre-schoolers, with the theory that if money is invested in early education to diagnose those in need, the investment will pay off later.

"Progress is being made, but not fast enough for voters," stated Rep. Bruce Goodwin, R-Defiance. "It's on everyone's radar screen down here (Columbus) -- a constant topic of discussion. We're working at finding the right way to do it that's not going to bankrupt the state. We're on the right track, unfortunately, it's going to take some time."

Goodwin issued a press release on Thursday, citing numerous facts to support positive changes are being made. These include:

-- Ohio will spend $8.5 billion in fiscal year 2007 on primary and secondary education compared to $5.1 billion in fiscal year 1997, equaling a 67 percent increase.

-- In fiscal year 2007, per pupil spending is $5,403, compared to $3,550 in fiscal year 1997, a 52 percent increase.

-- From 2002 to 2004, Ohio increased spending in high-poverty districts by $629 per student.

-- Ohio has appropriated more than $7 billion for school facility projects since fiscal year 1998 through the Ohio School Facilities Commission, spending an average of $3 million a day on building projects.

As long as voters continue to return to the polls every few years, Goodwin noted, it will continue to be an issue.