Oakwood board votes to join statewide lawsuit opposing private-school vouchers

The Oakwood Schools Board of Education voted Oct. 13 to join the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy litigation opposing private-school voucher expansion in Ohio. The board approved a resolution to participate in the lawsuit during its regular meeting.

The move follows public comment urging the board to join the suit. Rose Lounsberry, an Oakwood Advocates for Public Education member, told the board she and fellow advocates had repeatedly urged the district to join the litigation and said a yes vote would signal leadership in supporting public education statewide. "A yes vote on joining this lawsuit signals to our community that you are leaders in supporting public education," Lounsberry said.

Board members moved and approved the resolution during the new-business portion of the meeting. The recorded roll call following the motion showed Doctor Middleton, Miss DeLorenzo, Miss Kawai and Mister Wilson voting Aye. The motion maker was recorded as Miss Sauber when asked for a motion; a second was not specified on the record.

The board did not provide additional detail at the meeting about legal counsel, potential costs to the district, or next steps in joining the coalition. Board materials referenced a research report discussed at a prior work session but no financial estimate or contract language was presented during the regular meeting.

The decision to join the coalition is formal board action and will be reflected in the district's legal files and future meeting minutes. The board did not amend or rescind the motion at the meeting.