Parent calls Ohio voucher expansion a "scam" in public comment; cites district figures
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Summary
A parent told the board that Ohio’s private-school voucher expansion is diverting billions from public schools, called the program "a scam," and cited local figures comparing state per-student support for public versus voucher students.
During the public-comment portion of the meeting, parent Roy Colaso addressed the board to criticize Ohio’s private-school voucher expansion and to urge residents to pay attention to elected officials’ positions on vouchers.
Colaso argued that the state’s voucher program has shifted large sums of public money to private schools and provided district-level figures to make his point: he said Anthony Wayne schools received about $813 per district student from the state share of the base cost in the 2024–25 school year while up to $8,408 was available per private-school voucher student; he said 614 local students used vouchers. Colaso said the voucher expansion effectively redirected $1,100,000,000 statewide in 2024–25 and called the program a "scam." He also cited a recent trial-court ruling he said found the voucher program unconstitutional and noted the matter is under appeal.
Board members did not debate the substance of Colaso’s remarks during the public comment period. Colaso’s statements expressed citizen concern and political judgment about state policy; the board did not take action in response at the meeting.
The figures Colaso cited were presented as his claims during public comment; the board did not provide a response or staff-verified correction during the meeting.