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