Strickland signs energy plan

The governor has signed Senate Bill (SB) 221, the plan to restructure electricity regulation in Ohio. This signing occurs a year after Gov. Ted Strickland announced his plans to make comprehensive energy policy changes.

OSBA, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators and the Ohio Association of School Business Officials worked together to present public testimony on SB 221 and advocate for school districts during the legislative proceedings on the energy bill. We were pleased with some of the provisions in the final version of the bill that recognize the fact that school districts should have special consideration when it comes to rates for electricity.

We were able to secure language in the bill that allows for school districts specifically to enter into special contracts with their utility companies for lower rates. There is also a provision that may allow schools to shop for electricity on the open market if those rates are more favorable. Our organizations are currently analyzing the bill and assessing the various options for schools. Since there are choices to be made, we want to be sure that the advice we give to members is well thought out and will lead to the best possible electricity rates for schools. We will be providing a complete update to members very soon.

Vote on special education vouchers likely May 6!

Hearings continue on SB 57, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Coughlin (R-Cuyahoga Falls), legislation creating the Special Education Scholarship Program to provide vouchers for disabled children in grades K-12 to attend alternative public or private special education programs. SB 57 has been slated for a possible vote on Tuesday.

Thanks to all who have contacted their legislators urging them to oppose the bill. We need to keep the contacts going! If you haven’t contacted your state senator, now is the time. Please use the following talking points to voice your opposition to the Special Education Voucher Bill:

• We believe that public school funds should not be diverted to support voucher-type programs at the expense of the other students remaining in public schools. While the vast majority of students continue to be educated in public schools, vouchers and similar scholarship programs serve to siphon public dollars from public schools, undermining programs and efficiencies already in place.
• This proposal does not require private providers of special education to provide services for voucher students in the least restrictive environment or require access to the same general education curriculum offered and taught by highly qualified teachers in traditional public schools.
• The legislation would require the resident school district to re-evaluate the Individualized Education Program, even though the district would have no interaction with the voucher student or the benefit of knowing firsthand the progress of the student or his or her ability level.
• This program weakens the due process rights afforded to parents and students.
• It requires parents and voucher students to opt out of their due process rights under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act and Ohio’s Operating Standards for Students with Disabilities.
• The current system allows school districts to use outside providers if the district cannot meet the needs of a particular student.
• This voucher program will only serve to drain resources from public schools without providing increased educational opportunities for special education students.
• State resources should be used to improve public schools’ ability to serve and educate students, not encourage them to leave.
• It is impossible to hold private schools accountable for the expenditure of public dollars.

We need you to contact your state senator as soon as possible and share your concerns with SB 57. Please contact the OSBA legislative division if you have questions!

The committee also heard sponsor testimony on a calamity day bill. SB 322, sponsored by Sen. Jason Wilson (D-Columbiana), waives the requirement for a school district to make up days or hours its schools were closed due to flooding during the 2007-2008 school year if the district (1) was unable to make up the days as anticipated in its contingency plan because of continued flooding and (2) increased the length of remaining school days to make up days or hours schools were closed for reasons other than flooding in excess of the five calamity days permitted by law.

The bill is in response to districts devastated by flooding in Tuscarawas County.

House Finance and Appropriations Committee

Sen. Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) provided sponsor testimony on SB 273, a bill that would correct unintended consequences following the passage of the biennium budget bill (HB 119) as to how the Ohio School Facilities Commission calculates the equity list to determine the local share of a school building project.

Specifically, SB 273:

• Requires the calculation of an alternate ranking of school districts for fiscal year (FY) 2008, based on open enrollment net gain for the previous year, for purposes of determining school districts’ eligibility for assistance under the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program (CFAP) and their local shares in FY 2009.
• Requires the recalculation of the local share of a current project under CFAP for certain districts that had a net gain in open enrollment when they became eligible for assistance under the program.
• Requires the calculation of an alternative ranking, based on a one-year adjusted valuation per pupil, for FY 2009 funding under CFAP and the Exceptional Needs School Facilities Assistance Program for certain districts with large one-year reductions in tax valuation.
• Specifies the local share of new CFAP projects for school districts that previously received assistance under CFAP or the Exceptional
• Needs School Facilities Assistance Program within the prior 20-year period.
• Increases from 2% to 3% the percentage of classroom facilities appropriations in FY 2008 that may be used for assistance to joint vocational school districts.

The committee also heard sponsor testimony on HB 162, sponsored by Rep. Clayton Luckie (D-Dayton). The bill offers a refundable tax credit for teachers that work and live in the state's urban school districts, and provides a larger credit for those teachers who instruct students in math, science and technology.

Have questions about Facts in a Flash? Please contact Jennifer Economus at j_economus@osba-ohio.org or 1-800-589-OSBA.

Links
For the House Committee schedule, click on: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/house_committee_schedule.cfm

For the Senate Committee schedule, click on: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/senate_committee_schedule.cfm

For the status of all education bills, click on: http://www.osba-ohio.org/127status.htm