A preliminary look at the impact of a $1.4 billion plan to fix Ohio's school funding problems shows Cincinnati Public and Norwood schools would lose millions of dollars.

        CPS officials said Thursday the two-year proposed plan would mean a 2-percent loss — or $2.8 million — in state funds.

        Norwood would see a 0.96-percent cut in its state funding, or a loss of $82,699.

        All other districts in Hamilton County would see a funding increase.

        But legislators caution that the numbers could change. Architects of the plan point out that districts such as Wyoming, which could see an increase in state funds of 41 percent, currently receive very little money from the state. In contrast, 41 percent of Cincinnati Public Schools' budget comes from Columbus.

        Catherine Ingram, Cincinnati Board of Education member, said the proposed plan does not help districts reduce their reliance on property taxes.

        “The reality is that we are going to scream bloody murder,” Ms. Ingram said. “It is not fair. They are isolating us from the other urban districts.”

        The state's seven other big-city school districts would all see funding increases, ranging from 0.06 percent in Dayton to 14.71 percent in Cleveland.

        The plan would boost aid to school districts from $4,294 this year to about $4,814 per pupil next school year and $4,949 the following year.

        The plan also provides $300 million in “parity money,” which would be used to correct the imbalance of funding between property-poor and property-rich districts. Officials said 489 out of 612 districts would be eligible for such aid.

        The Ohio Supreme Court, which has twice found the state's current school funding plan unconstitutional, gave lawmakers until June 15 to come up with a way to bring Ohio's poor school districts up to par with richer ones.

        Sen. Jeff Jacobson, R-Brookville, said criticisms of the plan are unfounded. Only changes in enrollment and property valuation could mean a loss in funding for some districts, he said.

        “Will some districts lose? Yes,” Mr. Jacobson said. “But the loss won't be because of anything in this plan. Cincinnati does as well as it should.”

        Sen. Mark Mallory, D-Cincinnati, said the plan will not satisfy the court because the whole concept was to equalize funding.

        “I certainly can't support a plan that takes money away from a district like Cincinnati,” Mr. Mallory said. “There have to be some changes made.”

        Norwood Superintendent Barbara Rider said she did not expect her district to be a big winner.

        “I'm disappointed because it seems this does not provide for the systematic overhaul of school funding in Ohio that is required (by the Ohio Supreme Court),” Mrs. Rider said.

        Norwood Schools were spending less over the last two years, and with voters passing a levy last November, the district had just begun to breathe a little easier financially.

        “We hope we won't have to make any cuts to the district, especially when the community is spending more to support it,” Mrs. Rider said. “It doesn't make sense. When this is finalized, we'll have to look again at what we're doing. I'll have to analyze why this is happening — why our districts are apparently not gaining revenue through this. That is really disappointing.”

        Jennifer Detwiler, spokeswoman for House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, said more updated school funding figures would be released within the next few days.

        Rep. Patti Clancy, R-Colerain Township, said that while Cincinnati does show a projected enrollment decline, figures floating around are not final.

        “There is talk of putting in a provision that no district could lose money,” Ms. Clancy said. “They would either gain or stay flat-lined. That's still under discussion at this point.”

        Enquirer reporter Cindy Kranz contributed.
       

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