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Board hears state legislative update as lawmakers consider bills affecting school funding
Summary
At its June 24 meeting, the South Euclid Lyndhurst Board of Education received a legislative report on several Ohio bills — including House Bill 15, House Bill 96, House Bill 335 and House Bill 114 — and was told one proposal could cut the district about $5.1 million if enacted as drafted.
The South Euclid Lyndhurst Board of Education received a legislative update Tuesday about several state bills that could affect district funding and operations.
Miss Wachamblad, the board's legislative liaison, told the board the governor signed House Bill 15, which includes provisions allowing a board of education to apply to the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission for loans from an "energy performance contracting loan fund" to pay certain energy conservation measure installment contracts. She also said House Bill 96 remained in conference committee and could reach the governor by July 1 once final differences were reconciled.
"Got some, starting from the top on the governor's desk is, the governor signed House Bill 15," Miss Wachamblad said. "It allows the board of education of the city to apply to the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission for a loan from a...energy performance contracting loan fund to pay certain energy conservation measure installment contract."
Board member Miss King and other members flagged House Bill 335 — described in the meeting as a proposed property tax relief measure that would eliminate "inside millage." A board member said the district had estimated a loss of about $5,100,000 under the bill as drafted and warned that would require significant cuts.
"That inside millage dollar amount would be about 5,100,000 underneath the current tax value," a board member said during the legislative report. "That would cripple multiple public school districts. That said, once, I'll say it again, this is 100% an attack on public education."
Superintendent Capel told the board the district has been monitoring developments and coordinating with advocacy groups, including the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA), the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) and the Educational Service Center (ESC). The superintendent said the district has prepared contingency plans if the legislation moves forward.
The board also heard that House Bill 114, which alters the age requirement for kindergarten admission, passed the Ohio House and was awaiting further action in the Senate.
Why this matters: Board members said the largest concern was the potential fiscal impact of House Bill 335. District officials said a reduction on the scale described would affect after-school programs, staffing and other services. The board said it has submitted letters to lawmakers and will continue advocacy and monitoring through the July 1 legislative deadline.
No formal district action was taken on the bills at the June 24 meeting; the report was informational.
