By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Shiloh Carpenter helps students at Lockland Elementary School. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

Like other Ohio teachers, Shiloh Carpenter is under pressure to raise test scores, but she's frustrated that the state doesn't pony up the money she needs to ensure it happens.

Ms. Carpenter, who teaches fifth-grade science at Lockland Elementary, knows that students learn better with hands-on experience. It costs money to set up classroom labs - money her district doesn't have.

"You can't set the bar up here, and yet, only give so much money to do it," she said. "We're not miracle workers."

School districts across the state have complained for years about how education is funded. Their mantra is that there's an overreliance on property taxes to pay for education. That means property-rich districts can spend more per pupil than property-poor districts.

Lockland (enrollment 650) is the smallest school district in Hamilton County. The state funds 25 percent of the district's budget. The district has relied heavily on property tax wealth from General Electric Aircraft Engines, but that's diminished in recent years, leaving the district to rely more on other taxpayers.

In different circumstances is the Lakota Local Schools district in southeastern Butler County. It is the eighth-largest district in the state and second-largest in the Tristate behind Cincinnati Public Schools. The state this year contributed about 36 percent of the district's general fund budget.

Because of the district's exploding growth from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s, voters were frequently asked to approve operating levies and bond issues to pay for new schools and more staff. In 1983, enrollment was 6,684 compared to this year's 15,849 students.

During that same period, the district opened nearly a dozen new schools.

Nick Halmer and Amanda Gallow work in the computer lab at Lakota East High School Wednesday. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

In recent years, levies have been more difficult to pass. Cash-strapped voters rejected money issues on the first try in 1995 and 2000.

Lakota Superintendent Kathleen Klink said Wednesday's that Ohio Supreme Court ruling declaring school funding unconstitutional doesn't clear up anything.

"The way school funding is right now, it's hard to do any planning. We do not know the specific amount we can expect until halfway through the year," Mrs. Klink said. "For me, this is just one more question mark in a series of question marks.''

Lakota Treasurer Alan Hutchinson said funding uncertainties have made it difficult to plan for large purchases or how long a levy will last.

For example, he said, the district would like to beef up its technology.

"With 4,500 computers for nearly 16,000 kids, it's very difficult for students to have adequate access to computer technology,'' Mr. Hutchinson said. "We're replacing what needs to be replaced. We're not going out and providing enough technology because of the uncertainty of funding.''

The state funding formula has forced districts such as Lockland to shop for other revenue, said Rita Broun, Lockland Elementary principal.

A grant, for example, has enabled Lockland to offer two years of summer school for students who don't pass the fourth-grade reading proficiency test. The state requires districts to provide intervention for those students.

"It's one mandate after another with no funds to support that mandate," Ms. Broun said.

The state funding formula forces districts to the ballot box to beg taxpayers for more money. If those levies fail, cuts have to be made.

Lockland used to be considered a wealthy district because of its industrial tax base, Superintendent Phil Fox said, but many industries it relied on have disappeared or made cutbacks.

And so Lockland will be on the ballot in February with an emergency operating levy that would cost the owner of a $75,000 house an extra $553 a year.

Ms. Broun hates to think about the cuts that would have to be made if the levy doesn't pass.

"The bottom line is we still have kiddos to educate," she said. "We are required by law to provide an education. The level of that education, I don't know about."

In the Little Miami Schools the lack of resolution of the lawsuit made it difficult to pass money issues.

"It was always something in the back of everyone's mind that the state was going to come through for us. The state was going to take care of us, so they (voters) didn't have to pass (anything),'' said Barbara Swisher, Little Miami's treasurer.

During the past 11 years, no money issue was approved in fewer than three tries.

Jennifer Mrozowski and Sue Kiesewetter contributed to this report. E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com