Heights Superintendent Comments On School Funding Legislation

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — The much-discussed House Bill 305 — which would change Ohio's unconstitutional school funding plan — will not be voted on by the Ohio Senate until at least 2021.

House Bill 305 would alter public school funding to a per pupil for individual districts plan, and would consider a host of factors when determining how much money each district should receive. The Fair School Funding Plan blends property and income wealth to determine local district funding.

The legislation passed the Ohio House last week by a vote of 84-8. But the Ohio Senate won't consider the bill until at least 2021, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Heights Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Kirby said the district will be pressuring lawmakers to pass the legislation. She also said she understood legislators would need time to vet the bill and work out any kinks.

"Although it may seem like a setback, I feel that we must allow the elected officials some time to fulfill Dolan’s plan of carefully vetting this bill so that it is done correctly and with attention to these extremely important details," she said.

But giving legislators time to digest the intricacies of the bill doesn't mean letting it sit idle in the Ohio Senate.

"In the new year, we will work with our advocacy partners here in the Heights and in Columbus to be sure this work moves forward as promised. We will continue to make clear that in 2021, this must be a priority," she said.

The Heights Schools have faced regular budget crunches in recent years and school levy proposals have grown divisive in the Cleveland Heights and University Heights communities. House Bill 305 could alleviate some of that tension.