BY PAUL BARTON
Enquirer Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- Too many southern Ohio children attend class in "desperate" conditions -- buildings that are old, neglected and crowded, according to a survey conducted by U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland.
"Alarming is a word I would feel comfortable using," Mr. Strickland, D-Lucasville, said Wednesday in discussing his findings.
The condition of schools in the 6th Congressional District, an economically struggling area, illustrates the problems of inequitable school funding that Ohioans will try to address in a sales tax referendum next month, he contends.
The findings would likely not be as severe in other Ohio congressional districts, he said.
"I don't think it's moral to have these unfair circumstances existing within the state of Ohio," Mr. Strickland said.
The findings came as President Clinton called Wednesday for a multibillion-dollar effort to rebuild schools.
Mr. Strickland recently sent out survey forms asking about building conditions and learning resources to all 289 public schools in his congressional district and got back responses from 73 percent. The survey found:
School buildings in the district average 46 years old.
One in 10 schools didn't meet local fire codes.
Twenty-five percent of schools need asbestos removal.
Seventy-five percent do not have adequate medical facilities. More than 20 percent have to use temporary buildings to deal with crowding. Some schools have sliced rooms in half, while others have three teachers sharing a classroom.
"These environments would not be considered appropriate for local elected officials, business leaders, members of Congress or the governor to work in. Yet our children are expected to tolerate these inadequate and -- in some cases -- unsafe environments day after day," Mr. Strickland said.
The survey repeatedly reports examples of students learning in extreme conditions.
One school provides speech classes in a closet; another holds art class in a converted furnace room.
While he says education is primarily a state and local issue, Mr. Strickland contends there is a role for the federal government. The survey indicated principals favor federal initiatives that lower Internet access costs or reduce financing costs for school construction bonds.
President Clinton has proposed $22 billion in tax credits to provide interest-free construction financing for school districts most in need of new facilities.
"What we need is a partnership between federal, state and local efforts," Mr. Strickland said.
Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, is reviewing the president's education proposals but has concerns about how they would be funded and whether they would require cuts in other education programs important to the Tristate.
"We don't think it's appropriate to rob Peter to pay Paul," said Portman aide Brian Besanceney.
