Latest news with #CHUH
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio Senate leadership disapproves of some House restrictions to public school funding
Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original article.) Ohio Senate leadership has given public school districts some hope that their version of the state budget will provide better financial support for education. Cleveland Heights/University Heights City School District (CHUH) prioritizes musical expression for its students. 'I'm part of band, and we go on trips and we play music, we perform,' CHUH freshman Kennedi Brown said. 'We also do a lot of fundraisers, and it's really fun.' For the flutist, she has been waiting for a trip for musicians to go to New York. 'We do master classes, which actually enhance our playing and it makes us better players,' she said. Brown, Emmanuel Gutierrez, and a group of students and educators came to Columbus to represent the school, testifying before the Ohio Senate Education Committee about the importance of education funding. The district would have received $7 million from the state under the expected full phase-in of Ohio's Fair School Funding formula. But under cuts in the Ohio House version of the education budget, they would only receive $700,000. Asked if they fear that trip won't happen if school funding is cut, Brown responded, 'Absolutely.' She said she worries the state will squeeze school budgeting even more, through a House proposal to cap districts' rainy day funds to 30% — and refunding anything above that back to the taxpayer. The Senate Finance Committee is currently reviewing hundreds of amendments to the House's passed budget, and although the chamber's budget isn't out yet, Senate leadership has already said that the 30% cap isn't enough. 'I, personally, think 30% is too low if we were to do a carryover balance cap,' Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, said. A week later, he added that the caucus would 'definitely' need to have a conversation as to 'whether we want to have a cap at all.' Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, who helped come up with the idea, defended the cap. 'Schools are just sitting on a lot more money than they can spend,' Huffman claimed. According to the House GOP, schools have carried over $10.5 billion, which should be going back to the residents. The bill would require counties to cut property tax rates, distributing unspent cash back. 'The extra money that you have, that you didn't need to spend and you don't need to start your year — while your other taxes are coming in — we're going to reduce the real estate taxes in that school district on a pro rata basis,' the speaker said. School district treasurers and county auditors have warned that the plan to cap reserves would cause major problems. They say it would throw the most basic aspects of money management for schools into complete disarray, punish districts for being good stewards of public funds, and make financial planning, saving for projects, and managing risk all much more difficult. The Cleveland Heights students hope that the Senate will follow through on public education funding. 'Losing school funding could cut down on all of our stuff in the orchestra and everything in our school,' Gutierrez said. The substitute bill is expected to be announced in early June. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Northeast Ohio students travel to Statehouse to fight for school funding, DEI initiatives
Ohio high school students testifying at the Statehouse. (Photo by Morgan Trau, WEWS.) High school students from Northeast Ohio testified at the Statehouse Wednesday, urging the lawmakers to fully fund education and support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. 'It's very easy to make a decision that impacts many people — when that person isn't you,' Cleveland Heights/University Heights City School District (CHUH) freshman Cavan Bruce said. Four students and three educators made a two-and-a-half-hour drive — coming down from Cleveland Heights to Columbus — to fight for their school. 'I think it was just important for us to be there because we specifically represent diversity and we are all people of color,' CHUH freshman Kennedi Brown said. Brown and freshman Emmanuel Gutierrez came to represent their district, testifying about the importance of school funding in front of the Senate Education Committee, urging the legislature not to restrict DEI initiatives. 'We all have an equal chance to be successful,' Gutierrez said. The district would have received $7 million from the state under the expected funding formula. Due to the House cutting the education budget, they would only receive $700,000. Both students are a part of multicultural clubs and music groups — both programs are at risk of being cut. 'We need a lot of funding to do music and be creative because a lot of people, especially in Cleveland Heights — they love art,' Brown said. 'I should be able to produce my art.' But Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, claimed that schools are overspending, and there isn't enough money in the budget to afford the high cost of per-pupil needs. 'One of our school districts spends about $12,000 per child,' he said about a Northwest Ohio school. 'And [the superintendent] hastened to point out that the average was $16,300.' We asked Huffman about the concerns that school clubs would be shut down. Huffman responded that he doesn't think anyone is saying that cultural clubs would be shuttered. He and state Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania, say that DEI policies can actually stigmatize students — and can hurt Black, Brown, female, and students with disabilities. 'DEI policies are this closeted ghost that makes people believe that's the only reason you're in the room,' Williams said. 'I want individuals to look inside of a particular room and see a Black individual and know they must be qualified to be there.' Freshman Jesse Bowling disagreed, saying DEI initiatives empowered him to join school leadership. 'I was able to meet people just like me,' he said. The students worry that the lawmakers won't listen. 'Was the two and a half hour drive worth it?' we asked Bowling and Bruce. 'Well, it gives us a chance to have our voice heard,' Bruce responded. 'Being able to have our voices heard, even if they weren't paying attention, it's still the old saying, 'It's the thought that counts,'' Bowling said. The budget will continue to be debated over the coming months. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
