Medina Board of Education passes resolution in support of Fair School Funding Plan

MEDINA — The Medina Board of Education recently provided its support of the Fair School Funding Plan, which would address longstanding inequities in Ohio's school funding program. On Tuesday, the Medina Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution in support of the Fair School Funding Plan, emphasizing the need for continued investment in Ohio's students and public schools. The passed resolution states the Fair School Funding Plan was developed using research-driven inputs to ensure all Ohio students receive the resources necessary for a high-quality education. "The (Fair School Funding Plan) represents a bipartisan effort to address longstanding inequities in Ohio's school funding system by accurately determining the cost of educating a student, utilizing a base cost methodology that reflects actual district needs," the resolution reads. The resolution states the current state biennial budget continues funding the Fair School Funding Plan, but fails to update the base cost calculations and relies on outdated 2022 inputs that do not account for current inflationary pressures, rising personnel costs or evolving student needs. A fully implemented and regularly updated funding plan benefits all Ohio students by ensuring predictability, adequacy and fairness in school funding allocations, the resolution reads. With the passed resolution, the Medina Board of Education: Expresses strong support for the continued implementation and full funding of the Fair School Funding Plan, including the use of updated, research-based cost inputs that reflect the current economic conditions and student needs. Rejects any proposals to cut funding from school districts currently receiving funding guarantees. Calls upon the Ohio General Assembly and Gov. Mike DeWine to uphold their commitment to fair and adequate school funding by ensuring that future biennial budgets fully fund the Fair School Funding Plan. Urges the Ohio General Assembly and DeWine to advocate for an equitable school funding system, supporting all students and not pitting school districts against one another in a zero-sum funding model. "It's important that we as the board do this," Medina Board of Education President Andrew West said. "We're advocating for our students in our district and we need everybody's help along with this, but this is our part." Once the resolution was passed, each board member signed a copy of the resolution for it to be forwarded to members of the Ohio General Assembly, DeWine, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and any other stakeholders deemed necessary. "I do think it's important for us to be doing this and I do fully support this," Medina Board of Education member Rebecca Parkhurst said. "I think it's important we're bringing this to the attention of our community members and to our legislators how it will directly impact us." Contact reporter Sara Crawford at (330) 721-4063 or scrawford@medina-gazette.com.