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A school funding measure introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives might well put a smile on the face of Richland County school officials. Some more than others, admittedly (particularly those in Ontario).

The County’s four home-based districts would each receive an increase under the measure, each receiving a share of the proposed $600 million increase over two years.

A full 10% of that amount, $64 million, would arrive in Franklin County school districts during the first two years (2019-2021).

Although the bill purports to direct increases to rural areas and high-poverty rate urban districts, there are some surprising figures in estimates related last week for House Bill 305, whose main sponsors are a Lima Republican, Rep Robert Cupp, and an Ashtabula County Democrat, John Patterson.

Ontario Schools would see the biggest boost – and one of the largest in the area by percentage.

Richland County districts would see the following increases for the first year (District — Current funding — 2019-2020 funding and percentage increase — 2020-2021 funding and percentage increase):

• Clear Fork – $8,591,066 — $8,909,236 (3.7%) — $9,096,908 (2.1%)
• Crestview — $6,875,352 — $6,982,303 (1.6%) — $6,989,014 (0.1%)
• Lexington — $8,632,294 — $8,709,834 (0.9%) — $8,692,862 (-0.2%)
• Lucas — $2,848,002 — $3,054,813 (7.3%) — $3,175,136 (3.9%)
• Madison — $16,090,702 — $16,895,577 (5.0%) — $17,682,484 (4.7%)
• Mansfield — $24,571,492 — $25,375,582 (3.3%) — $25,607,328 (0.9%)
• Ontario — $4,829,422 — $5,829,210 (20.7%) — $6,615,085 (13.5%)
• Plymouth-Shiloh — $5,441,393 — $5,821,314 (7.0%) — $6,120,958 (5.1%)
• Shelby — $9,715,379 — $10,088,118 (3.8%) — $10,294,611 (2.0%)

A copy of the legislation, which is the product of almost two years of working with educators, can be found here.

Education, Featured, Ohio House of Representatives

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