The Columbus City School District held a Board of Education meeting on December 19, 2023, focusing on the ongoing development of a new school resourcing model aimed at improving transparency and equity in resource allocation. The meeting highlighted the need for a clearer understanding among principals and the community regarding how resources, positions, and funding are distributed to schools.

Currently, the district employs a traditional staffing formula that often rolls over staffing levels from the previous year, with adjustments made based on enrollment changes. However, this method lacks transparency and does not adequately account for varying student needs across schools. To address these issues, the district is transitioning to a weighted staffing formula. This new approach will allocate additional resources to schools based on their specific needs, categorizing them into high, medium, and low tiers.

Stakeholder engagement has been a critical component of this design phase. The district has formed a design team that includes representatives from the central office, schools, and union leadership. This team has been instrumental in providing feedback and insights as the new resource model is developed. The district plans to release a two-page document detailing the current state of resources allocated to schools, enhancing accessibility and understanding for all stakeholders.

Looking ahead, the district is preparing to pilot the new resource model in select schools, which will inform a larger-scale rollout in the future. The meeting concluded with an invitation for questions from board members, signaling an ongoing commitment to transparency and community involvement in the decision-making process.