Recently Claudia Zaler, District Treasurer/CFO, attended the OSBA 2025 State Legislative Conference and had the opportunity to meet with State Representatives Jason Stephens, former Speaker of the House, and Phillip M. Robinson, Jr., House District 19. Our discussions focused on the current Governor’s budget proposal, House Bill (HB) 96, and the urgent need to continue phasing in the Fair School Funding Plan while updating base cost inputs to ensure a more balanced State and Local share.
Without these updates, projections indicate that by Fiscal Year 2027, the State share of education funding could drop below 32% statewide, placing an increasing financial burden on local districts. In addition to advocating for these necessary funding updates, she also raised concerns about the Governor’s current budget proposal, which allocates double-digit funding increases to private school vouchers (EdChoice Vouchers) while 87% of public school districts—representing 90% of Ohio’s students—face a decrease in state funding.
Recently, District State Representative Justin Pizzulli visited our schools to tour the buildings and hear firsthand about the great things happening in Minford and public education. His visit reinforced the importance of fair and sustainable funding to ensure continued success for our students.
We strongly encourage community members to reach out to our State Legislators, Representative Justin Pizzulli and Senator Terry Johnson, and urge them to support the continued phase-in of the Fair School Funding Plan and necessary funding updates. Your voice is essential in ensuring our schools receive the resources they need to thrive.
Thank you for your continued support in advocating for equitable school funding. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or would like to discuss these issues further.