Cardinal Schools Asks Residents to Lobby for State Funding
Cardinal Schools’ superintendent and treasurer sent out an SOS March 12 urging every member of “Team Cardinal” to lobby the State House against cutting school funding.
Cardinal Schools’ superintendent and treasurer sent out an SOS March 12 urging every member of “Team Cardinal” to lobby the State House against cutting school funding.
In the update about discussions on the state budget, which will be passed in one form or another in June, the letter recommends parents, teachers and anyone concerned about funding for public education send letters, emails or make phone calls to Columbus pleading the case for fair funding.
“Based on the governor’s budget, Cardinal Local Schools is projected to see another reduction of up to $274,738 in state foundation aid over the next two years, according to a recent analysis by the Ohio Education Policy Institute,” read the letter, signed by Superintendent Jack Cunningham and Treasurer Terry Armstrong.
It is one more crack in public education’s financial foundation, they said, pointing out Cardinal lost more than $13 million from the state’s phase-out of the tangible personal property taxes over the last decade, and the state provides only 24% of Cardinal’s revenue.
Local taxes account for 69% of the district’s budget, according to a pie chart in the letter.
Armstrong and Cunningham recommend calls, letters and emails should be personal and persuasive.
Sharing a personal story from a staff member, parent or resident explaining why the school is important is a good place to start, they said.
Requests in the second paragraph should be for the Ohio Legislature to prioritize public school funding, to keep the current funding guarantees in place, approve the final phase in the Fair School Funding Plan, update base cost inputs to fiscal year 2024 (currently it is based on costs from FY2022) and increase the current minimum state share.
Finally, the format suggests thanking the legislators for their support of Cardinal Schools.
Geauga County legislators’ contact information was included in the letter, which can be found on Cardinal’s website, as well as a list of talking points residents may use in their conversations.
Contact information includes Rep. Sarah Fowler Miller, 77 South High Street 12th Floor, Columbus OH 43215, phone 614-466-1405, email Rep99@ohiohouse.gov; and Sen. Sandra O’Brien, Senate Building 1 Capitol Square, First Floor 125, Columbus Ohio, 43215, phone 614-466-7182 and email obrien@ohiosenate.gov.
