At its Feb. 10 meeting, the Westerville City Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to approve a resolution urging Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly to update the state school funding formula and adopt measures to stabilize state support for public education.

The resolution calls on state leaders to update cost inputs to reflect inflationary increases each year, implement the cost studies on special education in an inflation-adjusted form, stabilize the state share calculation so districts can plan predictably, fully fund the formula to reduce reliance on local property taxes, and avoid imposing unfunded mandates. The resolution directs that copies be sent to the governor, members of the Ohio General Assembly and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

Superintendent Angie Hamburg summarized the district’s funding concerns in remarks before the vote, saying the current formula still uses FY2022 cost inputs and that the state has implemented only about 67 percent of promised special-education funding. She said the effect is increased reliance on local levies and urged residents to contact legislators. Hamburg also provided illustrative figures that the district receives roughly $3,000 per pupil on average from the state (based on FY2022 inputs), while private-school voucher amounts cited in the discussion were about $6,000 for K–8 students and roughly $8,408 for grades 9–12.

Board members discussed technical fixes for the state share calculation and the timing to press legislators while the state House is developing its budget. The board president and trustees urged the public to use the district’s forthcoming one-page template to contact lawmakers.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes for the Jan. 27, 2025 regular meeting: approved (roll-call yes).
- Resolution to Governor DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly on school funding priorities: approved, unanimous roll-call vote (yes 6, no 0).
- Personnel consent agenda (resignations, retirements, leaves of absence, contract changes): approved, unanimous roll-call vote.
- Final readings (old business items 09/20xx–09/2008): approved, unanimous roll-call vote.
- Out-of-state/overnight field trips for future travel (EF tours, planning 2027): approved, unanimous roll-call vote.
- Approval of early graduate candidates: approved, unanimous roll-call vote.
- Motion to enter executive session to discuss negotiations with employees: approved, unanimous roll-call vote.
- Adjournment: approved.

Ending: Trustees said they will distribute the one-page funding template to parents and community members and encouraged residents to contact state legislators while the House prepares its budget.