"Build a Model for School Funding that Doesn't Include Levies"

The above is a quote from John Pennycuff of Cincinnati, former president of the Ohio School Boards Association, in response to how school funding could be improved. Mr. Pennycuff grew up in Indiana, where school levies do not exist. Can you imagine? No school levy campaigns! It is possible. However, that is not necessarily on the radar for Ohio at this time.
Barbara Mattei-Smith, a veteran of the school funding conundrum since before the DeRolph case (http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=2055), gathered with eighteen members of the Ohio School Board Association board of trustees from all across the state this morning in Columbus to discuss possibilities in regard to school funding. Mattei-Smith defined the overarching goal as "Preparing children so they leave their k-12 education ready for the next stage of life - be that post-secondary educaion, a career, etc." She named three principles which will be followed in reaching that goal: 1) Student-centered, recognizing different needs (ESL, special ed, gifted, etc.) 2) Resources must get to classroom (classroom is broadly defined) 3) Resources must recognize multiple systems of delivery (traditional, online, charter, ESC, voc ed, etc.)
Top Ten Key Issues raised in response, by various members of the Board:
1) Early childhood education is key. It is not enough to have k-12 education. Even extreme fiscal conservatives note that research demonstrates a cost-savings - when money is invested into very young children, much more money is saved later.
2) Unfunded mandates need to be severely limited. These are difficult for school districts.
3) There is a sense of partisan politics wreaking havoc on education from all sides.
4) Competition results in winners and losers - and do we want any of our children to be losers? (this is a quote from Diane Ravitch)
5) Labor unions have made concessions in order to balance education budgets (via Bob Vasquez, with Toledo public)
6) Local schools are funded for students who then go to charter or private schools, and the local schools end up paying more than what they are given from the state, resulting in a net loss for the district.
7) Inflationary growth should be added into the model.
8) The model will not be perfect, and should include a mechanism for continued monitoring regardless of which political party is in control in Columbus - continuity is key.
9) Foreign language should be taught in elementary school.
10) Schools should have longer days, and more days in school. This is what is happening in other countries.

This is plenty of food for thought for now. Ms. Mattei-Smith agreed to take the ideas of the Board under consideration, and return with a model for school funding. I will keep working and keep everyone posted. And as always, comments and questions are welcomed and encouraged.