Waynesfield, OHIO -
While students at Waynesfield-Goshen are busy learning in their classrooms, state leaders are in another classroom, learning from members of the Small School District Advisory Network.
Waynesfield-Goshen superintendent Chris Pfister is part of the network and says the high number of mandates a school is given actually hinders a student's education.
"You can't count all of the mandates and all of the data systems, and so you have rules and regulations in a complex system, and it's not focused on student learning," said Pfister.
Pfister provided examples during the meeting that was also attended by members of the Ohio School Boards Association and state legislators.
State Senator Cliff Hite was an educator before becoming a politician.
"What we've done is we come up with great ideas," said Hite, District 1. "But the paperwork is insurmountable."
One of the reasons why those mandates are so difficult to achieve is money.
However, getting lawmakers and educators in the same room is one step towards solving the mandate and funding problem.
"The important part is having the opportunities and the resources to do the things we're expected to do and do them well," said Rick Lewis, Executive Director of the Ohio School Boards Association.
The funding situation is complicated, but Senator Hite has some lofty ideas.
"What I'd like to see us do is a bipartisan system," said Hite. "Make it solid, so we don't have to come back to the drawing board on a regular basis."
Senator Hite expects the state legislature to address new school funding proposals early next year.
