BOARDMAN — One of the architects of a fair school funding formula that has been discussed by state legislators over the last two years is expected to discuss the latest plan during a virtual meeting scheduled 6 p.m. Monday at the Boardman High School Performing Arts Center.

The Ohio Senate last week introduced its version of a school financing plan that proponents say would finally create a funding mechanism that meets the state’s constitutional requirements. State Rep. John Patterson, D-Jefferson, a former Jefferson Area High School history teacher, is expected to talk about the Cupp-Patterson legislation.

If approved by the Senate and a version is signed into law, the proposed school funding formula would be determined by the actual cost to educate students today, including direct classroom instruction.

The Fair Funding Plan, House Bill 305, had its first hearing before the Senate Finance Committee in October 2019 and its sixth and last in November 2019.

The plan is comprised of three steps: a base cost, state and local share and categorical aid.

Each district’s local share will be based on a combination of property values and other income factors, according to the plan. Other factors, such as transportation, poverty, special education needs and technology, also will be considered.

The introduction of the Senate’s version was expected to take place last spring, but everything was delayed as the state grappled with the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic.

In the meantime, its proponents gathered a 16-member committee of superintendents, treasurers and others who worked to improve the legislation.

THE RATIONALE

“The fairness of this plan stems from the fact it is based on the cost to educate a student,” Boardman Treasurer Terry Armstrong said. “It includes 75 percent directed to the classroom and also includes co-curriculars, social emotional supports, technology, security and other items necessary to educate a student in 2020.

“It is rational as it does not over-rely on property tax valuations,” Armstrong said. “This formula will include income levels of school communities. This will be a great help with many schools in the Mahoning Valley as the current formula sees them as property rich while they are income average. This plan includes a 40 percent weight on income and 60 percent on property wealth.”

Armstrong said if the legislation is signed into law in its current version the Boardman district’s per student award would increase from $1,600 per student to $3,400 per student.

Boardman specifically has seen a loss of more than $2 million per year in tangible personal property taxes, and current funding is for a “capped” district costing more than $3 million annually, according to Armstrong.

Capped districts do not receive all of the money they are eligible to receive under the funding formula. Under the current system, only 18 percent of 600-plus districts receive the full eligible allocation.

The remaining 82 percent either are guaranteed income or capped districts. Lordstown, Howland and Weathersfield also are negatively impacted by caps.

“This new plan has no cap and is a huge improvement over the old formula that current funding is based on that resulted in over 80 percent of districts being funded outside the formula,” he said. “Boardman would see an increase from just over $1,600 per student to $3,400 per student.”

Armstrong said school districts, such as Boardman and Lordstown, where he previously worked as a superintendent, are capped districts. They were not given their full allocation of state funds.

Under the new formula, once fully funded, Boardman can expect an increase in state funding of about $7.1 million per year, he explained.

Looking at budget state realities, however, the expectation is the plan will be phased in over a six-year period.

WHAT’S EXPECTED

“The beauty of the plan is it is scalable,” LaBrae Superintendent A.J. Calderone said. “Using the formula, school districts will be able to project how much they are expected to receive based on the number of students they actually have, poverty levels and property values.”

Calderone said there will be greater emphasis for economically disadvantaged districts and greater funding for special education students.

School districts that do not have the capacity to raise income through local tax increases also are given increased consideration in the new formula.

LaBrae schools have not had a new operating levy for more than 28 years, Calderone said.

“The district, as its residents have wanted, has worked to do more with less,” Calderone said. “However, I don’t know how much longer we can provide 2020 services on 1992 tax valuations.”

Calderone said there is a lot of optimism this plan will be approved.

“I think Ohio residents are ready for a school funding formula that will work,” Calderone said. “A simpler program that makes sense and is predictable.”

He emphasized that this is not a Democrat or a Republican issue, but an Ohio issue.

QUALITY EDUCATION

Justin Jennings, chief executive officer of Youngstown City Schools, said the estimated $5 million per year the city schools may receive, once the program is fully funded, will help in providing a quality education for the district’s students.

“We have been so fortunate with the relief the district has received from pandemic funding that we have not had to use much general fund revenue,” Jennings said. “This new money will have a positive effect.”

Because Youngstown is recognized as a high poverty district, Jennings said a portion of the additional money will be used to provide professional development for staff members as well as address the social-emotional needs of both students and district staff members.

“It has been hard for our scholars and some staff members to stay at home, looking at computer screens for the entire school day,” Jennings said. “Coming to school for many people often is a break from what they are experiencing in their homes.”

School Funding Session

A school funding session will be 6 p.m. Monday at Boardman High School Performing Arts Center, available to the public via the Boardman YouTube channel. The link is https://www.bstntv.com/livestream.

Current and proposed state school funding

TRUMBULL COUNTY

District Formula Aid Formula Aid

Current law Proposed law

Fully implemented

Lakeview Local $5,968,802 $6,476,215

Joseph Badger $4,351,811 $4,983,353

Bristol $3,479,432 $4,185,116

Bloomfield-Mespo $1,570,549 $2,374,254

Maplewood $4,824,795 $5,735,055

Champion $7,056,718 $7,996,217

Mathews $2,036,484 $2,982,840

Newton Falls $6,525,609 $7,713,853

Southington $3,738,727 $4,952,833

McDonald $6,471,620 $7,976,587

Lordstown $1,231,011 $2,802,124

Liberty $4,112,645 $5,761,415

Brookfield $5,618,565 $7,412,559

Hubbard Ex. $9,738,867 $11,578,720

LaBrae $8,230,773 $10,150,721

Howland $5,787,953 $7,876,066

Weathersfield $5,956,313 $8,229,160

Niles $15,558,050 $17,990,377

Girard $13,268,989 $16,028,771

Warren $45,433,207 $50,868,353

MAHONING COUNTY

District Formula Aid Formula Aid

Current law Proposed law

Fully implemented

Sebring $4,714,838 $4,714,838

Springfield $3,960,681 $4,027,042

West Branch $11,667,712 $11,745,824

South Range $5,723,402 $5,829,956

Poland $4,616,816 $4,774,967

Canfield $4,562,981 $5,040,952

Jackson-Milton $2,517,841 $3,117,713

Campbell $13,073,334 $14,051,237

Lowellville $3,302,391 $4,677,082

Western Reserve $3,230,260 $5,021,669

Struthers $13,341,150 $15,354,338

Youngstown $56,143,739 $61,160,605

Austintown $20,457,238 $26,038,561

Boardman $6,464,251 $13,574,544