House Finance Committee
The committee accepted a substitute version of House Bill (HB) 166, which makes appropriations for the state operating budget for fiscal years (FY) 2020 and 2021, including the school-funding formula.
Changes include:
• Maintains Gov. Mike DeWine’s school-funding proposal guaranteeing districts receive the aggregate amount of funding they received in FY 2019.
• Does not incorporate the funding proposal developed by Reps. Robert R. Cupp (R-Lima) and John Patterson (D-Jefferson).
• Increases the proposed Student Wellness and Success Funds to $275 million in FY 2020 and $400 million in FY 2021 (previously $250 million and $300 million, respectively).
• Prohibits the establishment of new academic distress commissions through June 30, 2021.
• Permits districts to allow students to use two full seasons of show choir to fulfill high school physical education requirements.
• Requires public schools with at least 70% of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals to participate in the federal school breakfast program; reduces the participation threshold to 60% in the second year and 50% in the third year and each subsequent year.
• Prohibits school districts from reducing the transportation they opted to provide students after the first day of the school year.
• Provides $20 million for school bus purchases.
Click here for a description of the changes between the two versions. The pertinent changes to education occur on page 138.
The committee is expected to amend and pass the bill next week. The full House is expected to vote on the bill next week.
House activity
The House passed HB 154 by a vote of 83-12. The bill, sponsored by Reps. Joseph A. Miller III (D-Amherst) and Don Jones (R-Freeport), dissolves all current academic distress commissions, repeals the laws regarding academic distress commissions and requires school districts to assemble an improvement team and create an improvement plan for low-performing school buildings.
House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee conducted a second hearing on Senate Bill 4, sponsored by Sens. Michael A. Rulli (R-Salem) and Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard). The bill appropriates $100 million for school facilities projects.
The following superintendents testified in support of the bill:
• Bill Wise, South-Western City;
• Jodi Armstrong, Green Local (Scioto);
• Tim Tarvin, Shelby City;
• Tim Williams, Logan Elm Local (Pickaway).
OSBA, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA) and the Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO) also testified in support of the bill, which can be accessed here.
The committee also amended and passed HB 154. OSBA, BASA and OASBO offered proponent testimony on the bill, a copy of which can be accessed here. Several school board members also testified in support, including:
• Stephanie Eichenberg, Toledo City;
• Chris Varwig, Toledo City;
• Ronald Shadd, Youngstown City.
Finally, the committee conducted second hearings on:
• HB 23, sponsored by Rep. Niraj J. Antani (R-Miamisburg), which permits international students possessing an F-1 visa to participate in interscholastic athletics;
• HB 164, sponsored by Rep. Timothy E. Ginter (R-Salem), which deals with student religious expression in public schools.
House Health Committee
The committee conducted a fourth hearing on HB 90, which requires public schools to implement instructional programs regarding the humanity of the unborn child. OSBA, BASA and OASBO provided opposition testimony on the bill, which can be accessed here.
House Ways and Means Committee
The committee conducted a first hearing on HB 135, sponsored Antani, which provides a three-day sales tax holiday for purchases of less than $100 on school supplies and school instructional materials and for purchases of less than $2,000 on laptops or tablets.
Senate Finance Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education
The committee continued to conduct informal hearings on HB 166.
Posted by Will Schwartz on 5/3/2019.