COLUMBUS, Ohio — After proposed major budget cuts to Ohio’s public schools, Columbus City Council, along with other city officials across the state, are urging Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly to reconsider and fully fund public education by adjusting the Ohio Fair School Funding Plan formula to match inflation.

What You Need To Know

  • City officials across the state are supporting school boards in the pursuit to call on state legislators to reconsider the 2025 public school budget 

  • According to school boards and city officials, the Ohio Fair School Funding Plan needs to be adjusted because of inflation

  • Columbus City Schools Superintendent Angela Chapman sai over the next two years, Columbus City Schools would lose $45 million

“At the end of the day, it is Ohio's responsibility to make sure that the children have the resources they need to get a good education,” said Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin. 

Columbus City Council is adopting a resolution, calling on state legislators to reconsider the current state budget for public schools and adjust it to rising inflation. It says the state’s constitutional duty to fully fund public education and the city is in full support. 

“A school district's issues are a city's issues like a city's issues are a school district's issues. These are our children fundamentally,” said Hardin.  

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District is just one of many school districts across the state being vocal about their disagreement with the budget cuts, with Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb standing side-by-side the school district holding state legislators accountable for their decision. 

“Cleveland is the city that believes in the importance of public education. And last November, the voters of the city voted overwhelmingly to continue to invest in public education. And now is not the time to turn our backs on public education in Ohio and across the country,” said Bibb. 

Columbus City Schools is the largest school district in the state, serving over 47,000 students. According to Chapman, over the next two years, Columbus City Schools would lose $45 million, taking away essential resources students need. During Monday’s Columbus City Council meeting, Chapman and Columbus School Board President Michael Cole spoke at council thanking them for their support. But as Chapman said, the advocacy continues. 

“We are continuing to advocate. We are continuing to make sure the legislature is aware of how this shift in funding, a significant decrease in funding will impact students and families in Columbus at school,” said Chapman. 

According to this new budget proposal, millions of dollars will be taken away from public schools across the state, severely impacting schools that heavily rely on state funding. With school boards and local leaders speaking up about this issue, the future of public schools may look a little different in the future.