| Voters in the Columbus Schools area who were | | | | 15th in terms of teacher pay. Columbus Schools |
| hoping to see a ballot initiative in November will be | | | | benefit from the $8,963 per pupil expenditure that |
| disappointed. The Campaign for Ohio's Future, a | | | | places the state 16th highest in student spending. |
| group made up of 12 separate educational groups, | | | | Educators in Columbus Schools realize that in terms |
| simply ran out of time to collect all the signatures | | | | of national standards they are at the better end of |
| needed to put their proposal on the 2007 November | | | | the continuum, in terms of available funds. But |
| ballot. Supporters in the Columbus Schools had hoped | | | | administrators in Columbus Schools are well aware |
| that the proposal would shift financial obligations from | | | | that that doesn't mean the funds are enough, or |
| the local community to the state, and improve the | | | | even that money alone can address all of the issues. |
| quality of public education. | | | | Governor Strickland, the Ohio Business Roundtable, |
| Over 400,000 signatures were required; the group | | | | and the Ohio Education Association are trying to |
| managed to collect 150,000 before deciding to put | | | | create different legislative initiatives to fix Ohio and |
| the program on the back burner. They say they will | | | | Columbus Schools. Local districts like Columbus |
| try again in 2008. But not everyone in Columbus | | | | Schools are hopeful that their input will be sought |
| Schools, or in Ohio, supports the proposal. One of the | | | | before final decisions are made. The issue of |
| most notable opponents is Ohio Governor Ted | | | | transferring the major burden of funding from local |
| Strickland. The Governor is seeking legislative | | | | taxpayers in Columbus Schools to the state has |
| methods to fix the problems of Ohio and Columbus | | | | numerous ramifications. It pits Columbus Schools and |
| Schools. Still, the disappointment felt by many in the | | | | other Ohio districts against each in competition for |
| Columbus Schools, and its surrounding communities, is | | | | the funds. But this is not unusual in the world of public |
| apparent. | | | | education funding. |
| Bob Greenwood, superintendent of the East | | | | One of the biggest trends nationally is for large |
| Guernsey district, about 80 miles east of Columbus | | | | corporations to fund public school systems. So it's not |
| Schools, has said, "It is very disappointing. We just | | | | surprising that part of the Governor's team includes |
| had $8 million of cuts to balance our budget and are | | | | an Ohio business organization. Columbus Schools and |
| to the point where we can't cut anymore." This is | | | | the other districts in Ohio will wait for both the |
| concerning as Ohio and Columbus Schools strive to | | | | Governor's proposal, and to see if the Campaign for |
| meet national mandates and stretch state funds. Ohio | | | | Ohio's Future will present their proposal in 2008. |
| is currently 9th in the nation for graduation rates, and | | | | |