Charting a New Start for Ohio Education

Last week President Trump signed an Executive Order bringing to an end the Federal Department of Education. This action will free up over $268 billion dollars. The President’s intention is to send this money back to the states in the form of Block Grants. Before we start deciding how Ohio will spend its portion of this money, let’s take a look at the current State of Ohio’s public education system.

Over the past two decades, I have worn three different professional hats and they have all involved education. I have been a public school classroom teacher. I have been a county auditor. I am currently serving as a State Senator in the Ohio Legislature. This background gives me a unique perspective regarding Ohio’s public schools.

Speaking from my experience as a teacher, no one could have prepared me for the child who comes to school unprepared to learn. A classroom teacher should not be responsible for a child who comes to school hungry. That is the responsibility of the child’s parents. A teacher should not be responsible for a disruptive or violent student in their classroom. That is the responsibility of either the school administration or law enforcement. Teachers should not be responsible for a student’s poor academic performance when parents do not show up for parent-teacher conferences. God bless the many grandparents who do so often step into that role and attend the conferences. My conclusion as a classroom teacher is that we have a serious problem with parental neglect that no amount of added dollars will remedy.

Next, how do I view public education as a former county auditor? I see generous Ohio taxpayers who have provided billions upon billions of tax dollars to public schools. The result of their generosity is poor academic results. Little Mary can’t read and little Jonny can’t add or subtract. I see taxpayers who have supplied over $12 billion to build hundreds of new schools across Ohio. Despite this expenditure, academic results still lag. I see county auditors across the state fielding angry phone calls from property owners wanting to know why their property taxes are skyrocketing. They patiently answer that 2/3rd of their property tax goes to schools. Once again, there is no improvement in test scores even due to these additional funds. My conclusion as a former county auditor is that Ohio taxpayers are tapped out. It is starting to dawn on them that they are not getting their money’s worth.

Allow me now to address public schools as a State Senator. I am now being urged to vote for the final portion of the Ohio Fair Funding Bill. Before voting in favor of this bill, which I have done in the past, I have a few questions. In 2021 Ohio’s schools received $7 billion in Federal Stimulus dollars.

First, where did this money go and did it result in any academic improvements?

Secondly, why do Ohio’s public schools have a collective $10.3 billion carryover? These questions need to be answered.

Third, why are we spending $30 billion on our public schools with a statewide absentee rate of 25.6%? I would liken this to someone purchasing a 12 pack of Coke and later finding out that three cans are empty. Why are we paying for nonattending students? Do taxpayers get a refund?

Fourth, K-12 schools receive over 41% of the state budget. In order to increase this percentage, what other state departments should be cut? Fifth, the state of Ohio recently passed the Parental Ed Choice Bill. Public schools receive $30 billion. School choice parents receive less than $1 billion. Does anyone seriously believe that an additional $1 billion of school choice money will improve Ohio public school’s test results? The war on Ed Choice is not about money. It is about control. It is a desperate ploy to stop parents from fleeing a failing system.

What is my conclusion on Ohio’s public school system as a State Senator? It is in the cardiac ward on life support. With regard to the Fair Funding Bill, I see no reason to throw good money after bad.

Huge changes are coming to public education. I predict that in 10 year’s time, we won’t recognize the system we have today. The new program will respect teachers and demand parental responsibility. It will respect and be grateful to Ohio taxpayers who fund the system. It will make sure little Mary can read and little Johnny can do arithmetic.

It is my hope we will use the incoming block grant money President Trump is proposing to build a new sustainable student-based education system.

Sandra O’Brien
State Senator, 32nd District