Senate Finance Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education
The subcommittee heard testimony on House Bill (HB) 166, which makes appropriations for the state operating budget for fiscal years (FY) 2020 and 2021, including the school-funding formula. OSBA, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators and Ohio Association of School Business Officials offered joint testimony on the bill, which can be accessed here.
Dr. Mary E. Rice, board member, East Cleveland City, testified in support of the bill’s provisions regarding academic distress commissions (ADCs). Read her testimony here. Meanwhile, several supporters of the ADC framework from Lorain City and Youngstown City testified in opposition to the bill’s ADC changes.
Dr. Philip Wagner, superintendent, Licking Heights Local (Licking), and Jacob King, board member, Bethel Local (Miami), testified on the school-funding cap and their districts’ growing enrollment. Click here for Wagner’s testimony and here for King’s testimony.
Dan Grothause, transportation supervisor, St. Marys City, offered testimony on the bill’s transportation provisions. His testimony can be accessed here.
The following school district representatives testified on the school breakfast provisions of the bill:
• Douglas C. Ute, superintendent, Newark City;
• Steve Denny, executive director, Office of Business Affairs, Winton Woods City;
• Tony W. Deem, superintendent, Southern Local (Meigs).
Other witnesses included:
• William DiMascio, superintendent, Lakewood City;
• Dennis L. Franks, superintendent, Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center;
• Craig Burford, executive director, Ohio ESC Association;
• Scott DiMauro, vice president, Ohio Education Association;
• Melissa Cropper, president, Ohio Federation of Teachers.
House Economic and Workforce Development Committee
The committee conducted a first hearing on HB 2, sponsored by Reps. Jon Cross (R-Kenton) and Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown). The bill creates a regional workforce partnership grant program under which school districts, career centers and others are eligible for grants to partner with employers. It also requires the funds to be used for hiring coordinators, development of curricula or educational resources, and marketing.
House Finance Committee
The committee conducted a first hearing on HB 194, sponsored by Reps. Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake) and Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati). The bill legalizes and regulates sports gaming and earmarks a portion of the sports gaming profits for education.
House Criminal Justice Committee
The committee last week passed Senate Bill 10, which increases the penalty for theft in office when the value of property or services stolen is $150,000 or more.
Posted by Will Schwartz on 5/17/2019