Now Accepting Applications for Vacant Board Seat
Community members are invited to apply to fill the vacant seat through the online application. Completed applications must be submitted to Olentangy Schools through the online application by June 7.
The School Advocacy Committee’s dual purpose is to educate the Olentangy community about the issues facing the district with regard to state funding systems and to advocate for the Olentangy student and taxpayer at local, state and federal levels.
The District held a School Funding Virtual Public Forum March 22, 2021 featuring Senator Andrew Brenner, State Reps. Rick Carfagna and Kris Jordan, as well as District Superintendent Mark Raiff and District Treasurer Emily Hatfield. The group discussed the state's current school funding status as well as an update on the status of the Fair State Funding Plan.
2019 was a busy year since it was a budget year for our state. The School Advocacy Committee requested eight calls to action asking our elected officials to support the Cupp-Patterson Ohio Fair Funding plan and one call to action asking Rep. Kris Jordan to be a co-sponsor of House Bill 305, the Cupp-Patterson bill. These were done on our Facebook page and through district emails and other communications. We had 47 Facebook posts updating people on the state budget process as it related to school funding. School district Treasurer/CEO Emily Hatfield testified in front of the House Finance Primary and Secondary Education Subcommittee and the Senate Finance Committee, asking for a change to the school funding formula. Mr. Raiff and members of the School Advocacy Committee had numerous one-on-one meetings with members of the House and Senate to educate the elected officials on how lack of school funding impacts our school district. Mr. Raiff also met with members of the administration.
Although a new school funding formula was NOT included in the state’s budget, the members of the House and Senate did approve a Fair Funding amendment which would make the minimum amount of state funding that any school district would receive be the same amount of what private schools receive. This amendment would have been effective July 1, 2022, and would have meant over $29 million in state funding for our school district. However, on July 18, 2019, Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed that amendment. In his veto comments Gov. De Wine said “Ohio’s school funding system was designed to offer the most support to the districts that are least able to provide adequate services to their student. The districts that would benefit the most from this item are among the wealthiest in Ohio. Carving out a special exemption to provide additional resources to the districts most capable of providing resources for their students is not a responsible use of the limited funding available.” Columbus Dispatch July 18, 2019.
In September 2019 the Cupp-Patterson plan was turned into a stand-alone bill, House Bill 305. Rep. Rick Carfagna is one of the co-sponsors but Rep. Kris Jordan is not. That bill had several hearings in the House Finance Committee this fall but no hearings for proponent testimony. The last hearing was held prior to Thanksgiving and no hearings have been scheduled yet in 2020.
What is the State Share Index?
What are Caps?
Do private schools get state funding?
What does the average pubic school receive from the state?
What does this mean for Olentangy?
When was the last levy/bond issue for Olentangy?
What is Olentangy’s March 17, 2020 school issue:
What is a mill?
The district’s October 5-Year Financial Forecast is on the district’s website at www.olentangy.k12.oh.us. Click on the Departments tab and go to the Treasurer’s page to review the document.
SAC Meeting Summaries, Reports and Presentations
2017-2018 Meetings:
2016-2017 Meetings: Unless noted otherwise, the SAC meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. in the Olentangy Administrative Office Berlin Room, 7840 Graphics Way.
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We are looking for residents who are willing to help make a difference by contacting legislators when a concern to the district arises. You CAN make a difference! Contact Holly Hanson: hhanson7661@gmail.com
How to contact our elected officials
Sen. Andrew Brenner
614-466-8086
Rep. Rick Carfagna
614-466-1431
Rep. Kris Jordan
614-644-6711
Gov. Mike DeWine
614-644-4357
Submit comments or concerns to Governor Mike Dewine
About the Committee Meetings
All meetings are open and the public is welcome to attend. Unless noted otherwise, the meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. in the Olentangy Administrative Office Berlin Room.
Community members are invited to apply to fill the vacant seat through the online application. Completed applications must be submitted to Olentangy Schools through the online application by June 7.