Twinsburg School Board Stands Up Against School Choice Bill

The Twinsburg Board of Education approved a resolution opposing a school choice bill moving through the Ohio Legislature, saying that it will "destroy public education" in Ohio.

House Bill 136 expands the school voucher program by allowing students to receive public money to attend a private school, taking the money from their home school district.

The resolution was unanimously approved Wednesday night by the school board.

“It’s just another example of decisions being made in Columbus that would have a negative affect on the monies that we receive from the state to educate kids in the public schools,” said , board president.


Stuver said the school district gets nearly $820 in state funding for every student. In HB 136, if a student in the district chooses a private school, the state will take away approximately $5,600 from the schools, depending on the family’s income.

The current voucher program is offered only to students in under-performing districts.

“This bill will open it up to any student, in any district, regardless of that district’s standing,” Stuver said.

Superintendent Kathryn Powers said there are 412 children in the district who currently attend non-public, or private, schools. If these changes were applied now, at approximately $5,600 per child, Powers said it could cost the district nearly $2.3 million from the general fund.

“That’s not even taking into account what might happen if the vouchers become freely available,” Board Member David Andrews said. “Additional students can leave the district taking $5,000 plus with them.”

“At a time when we are deficit spending to a tune of $5.2 million dollars this fiscal year, we can not afford to lose these dollars,” Powers said. “The financial impact would be detrimental to our students and our school community.”

The board’s opposition will be forwarded on to legislators in Columbus. StateImpact Ohio reports that as of Oct. 27, more than 70 school districts have passed legislation opposing HB 136, .

“This is just a direct attack on public education,” Andrews said. “If you have any value in public education whatsoever, you should be against this bill.”

Board member Stephen Shebeck said he is “befuddled” by this bill, saying the state is way off base with this plan to fix education.

“I’m wondering what was in the coffee when they were actually drafting this legislation,” Shebeck said.

Solon Patch's Chris Mazzolini contributed to this report.