Toledo City School Board unanimously opposes Ohio bills it says would punish vulnerable students and districts

The Toledo City School District Board of Education on Dec. 17 adopted two resolutions opposing pending state legislation it said would harm vulnerable students and undermine local control.

The board voted unanimously to oppose Senate Bill 295, which the resolution says would expand the criteria for closure or restructuring of low‑performing schools and could lead to closures, takeovers and overrides of collective bargaining. "SB 295 represents legislative overreach that threatens public education," the resolution reads; the board urged state lawmakers to invest in, rather than divest from, vulnerable communities.

In discussion before the vote, board member Sheena Barnes said, "To this date, for the past year or two, 725 anti‑LGBTQ+ bills have been proposed across the country," and warned the board that punitive state measures can disproportionately affect schools serving Black, Brown and multilingual students. "This is defunding public education," Barnes said, arguing the bill would not address root causes such as poverty and shortages of mental‑health resources.

The board also adopted a resolution opposing House Bill 666, which the resolution says would require state and local authorities to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and could result in funding cuts for communities and schools that do not comply. The resolution cites the U.S. Supreme Court's 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe and Ohio compulsory‑education law in arguing that denying or conditioning education for undocumented students would violate equal‑protection principles. "Compliance with HB 666 would create an insecure situation for undocumented students," the document states.

Board members described emotional accounts from staff and students after recent elections, and called the measures politically motivated. "You can imagine a sixth‑grade student after the election in this country worried about being deported back to a country where they felt they were going to be killed," a board member said during discussion, noting why the board considered legal precedent and community safety.

Beyond the resolutions, the board approved its consent agenda (items 6.01–6.41), the non‑certified personnel section for Dec. 17, and two early‑childhood items: a disability waiver request for a delegate (GLCAP) and an application for new Head Start funds for Lucas County. Dr. Allen presented the early‑childhood items and said the grant opportunity became available locally.

The board also handled routine organizational business, including nominating and approving a president pro tem for the 2025 organizational meeting and setting the organizational meeting for Jan. 7, 2025. The meeting closed with retiree recognitions for Kelly Reppable, Lynette Taylor and Jill Nagle, and holiday remarks from the superintendent and board members.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution opposing SB 295 — Approved (unanimous roll‑call vote) - Resolution opposing HB 666 — Approved (unanimous roll‑call vote) - Consent agenda items 6.01–6.41 — Approved - Non‑certified personnel section (12/17/2024) — Approved - Disability waiver request (GLCAP delegate) — Approved - Head Start grant application (Lucas County) — Approved - President pro tem nomination (2025 organizational meeting) — Approved - Organizational meeting date set for Jan. 7, 2025 — Approved

The board said the resolutions would be transmitted promptly to state lawmakers because the legislature was scheduled to vote soon. The board adjourned after offering holiday wishes to staff and the community.