The Lima City School Board says the rules for one school district must apply to all districts, if they get the same public money.
Monday evening, they approved a resolution in "opposition" of Ohio House Bill 136. The bill was sponsored by 4th District Representative Matt Huffman. If passed, the bill would create a scholarship program to expand school choice, and to create more vouchers state wide for students to attend private or parochial schools, no matter of the schools academic performance, not just failing school districts.
Lima Superintendent Karol Oxley and Board President Ann Miles, testified before the House Education Committee against the bill, because the educational requirements and rules for public and private schools differ so much that it could hurt public schools, and since the money is public funding, the same standards should apply to both. Another point of contention is the allowing students to take any extra money left over from their tuition cost and put in a saving account for future college or private school.
The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with the Ohio Associations of Public School Employees, to document details of the reduction in staff made over the summer. The board is having a special meeting on Wednesday to review and act upon negotiations made between the board and the union.
