GROVE CITY, Ohio — More than 40 parents, educators, and community members met at South Western Career Academy in Grove City, Ohio, on Sept. 9, 2026, for a town hall addressing public school funding challenges.

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The event was organized by the local chapter of Parents United for Public Schools, a statewide public education advocacy network. Attendees discussed the state’s funding distribution formula, property tax reliance, potential federal budget cuts, and the expansion of private school vouchers.

A major focus of the discussion was Ohio’s Fair School Funding Plan. Although the state adopted the formula in fiscal year 2022 to divide education expenses between state and local entities, state calculations still rely on fiscal year 2022 cost data. Consequently, the state’s average share of calculated base costs is projected to drop to roughly 32% in fiscal year 2027, down from 43% in fiscal year 2024.

Data from research group Policy Matters Ohio indicates that South Western City Schools will receive about $76 million less under the current state budget than it would under a fully updated funding model. Statewide, primary and secondary funding is estimated at $14.09 billion for fiscal year 2027, up from $13.51 billion in fiscal year 2025. However, school advocates estimate the enacted budget falls $2.75 billion short of what a fully updated Fair School Funding Plan would provide across the state.

Hugh Garside, treasurer and chief financial officer for South Western City Schools, explained that the state funding issues impact the district’s general operating budget, which supports classroom resources and daily operations.

“People often ask me what’s the hardest part of my job,” Garside said. “And when I answer, I tell the same thing every time: when I know there’s a need or something we can do that would be better for students, but we just don’t have the funds to do it.”

Rebecah Jones of the Ohio Education Association explained that minimal growth in state funding alongside rising costs places greater pressure on local property taxes to maintain school operations.

Local advocates stressed the need for unified community support for public education.

“Wanting our public schools to be fairly funded, and consequently strong and effective, really is something that we can all have in common,” said Joseph Harris, membership chair of the South-Western chapter of Parents United for Public Schools.

In addition to general operational funding, the district is preparing for an upcoming vote on Nov. 3. District voters will decide on a 2.26-mill no-new-millage bond issue to construct replacements for Grove City High School and Westland High School, as well as finance building improvements. School officials noted the bond revenue cannot be used for operational expenses like teacher salaries, but approval would unlock roughly $113 million in state matching funds for facilities.

Source: NBC4 Columbus — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Grove City: Dhaqaale Yarida Dugsiyada South Western oo Welwel Abuurtay

GROVE CITY, Ohio — Ka badan 40 waalid, macallin iyo xubnaha bulshada ayaa 9-kii Sebtembar 2026 ku kulumay xarunta South Western Career Academy oo ku taalla magaalada Grove City, Ohio, si ay uga wada hadlaan caqabadaha dhaqaale ee wajahaya dugsiyada dadweynaha ee South Western City Schools.

Kulankan oo ay soo qorganizeday qeybta hoose ee ururka Parents United for Public Schools ayaa lagaga hadlay qaabka dowladda gobolka Ohio ay u qeybiso dhaqaalaha dugsiyada, ku tiirsanaanta canshuuraha guryaha (property taxes), dhimista suurtagalka ah ee miisaaniyadda federaalka, iyo kordhinta barnaamijka lacagaha waxbarashada ee dugsiyada gaarka loo leeyahay ee vouchers.

Ajandaha ugu weyn ee kulanka ayaa ahaa qorshaha dhaqaalaha dugsiyada ee Fair School Funding Plan, oo gobolku bilaabay sannad-dhaqaaleedka 2022. Waxaa la tilmaamay in inkastoo hadda lagu jiro sannad-dhaqaaleedka 2027, haddana xogta lagu xisaabiyo kharashka ardayda ay wali ku bataysan tahay sannadkii 2022. Taasi waxay keentay in saami-qeybsiga dowladda gobolku uu hoos u dhaco oo uu gaaro projected 32% sannad-dhaqaaleedka 2027, marka la barbardhigo 43% oo uu ahaa sannad-dhaqaaleedka 2024.

Sida ku cad xogta ay soo saartay hay’adda taageerada ee Policy Matters Ohio, dugsiyada South Western City Schools ayaa la filayaa inay helaan lacag ka yar ku dhawaad $76 million marka loo eego inta ay heli lahaayeen haddii qorshaha Fair School Funding Plan si buuxda loo hirgelin lahaa. Inkastoo miisaaniyadda dowladda gobolka ee waxbarashada dugsiyada hoose iyo dhexe ay kordhtay oo ay gaartay $14.09 billion sannadka 2027 marka la barbardhigo $13.51 billion oo ay ahayd 2025, dadka u dooda waxbarashada dadweynaha waxay sheegeen in miisaaniyadda cusub ay $2.75 billion ka yar tahay intii loo baahnaa.

Hugh Garside, oo ah khasajiga iyo agaasimaha maaliyadda ee South Western City Schools, ayaa u sheegay kaparticipate-yada in dhibaatada dhaqaale ay si toos ah u saamayneyso miisaaniyadda maareynta maalinlaha ah ee dugsiyada. Garside ayaa yiri: “Dadku badanaa waxay i weydiiyaan waxa ugu adag shaqadayda. Markaan u jawaabayo, waxaan mar walba u sheegaa meel isku mid ah: marka aan ogahay inuu jiro baahi ama wax aan u qaban karno ardayda oo ka wanaagsan, laakiin aysan naga suurtagelin sababtoo ah dhaqaale la’aan.”

Rebecah Jones oo ka socotay Ohio Education Association ayaa iyadana sheegtay in kobaca yar ee taageerada gobolka iyo kor u kaca kharashka ay keeneen in dugsiyadu ay si weyn ugu tiirsanaadaan canshuuraha guryaha ee dadka deegaanka.

Waalidka Joseph Harris, oo ah guddoomiyaha xubinnimada ee qeybta South-Western ee Parents United for Public Schools, ayaa carrabka ku adkeeyay in helidda dhaqaale caddaalad ah ay tahay mid dan u ah dhammaan bulshada. Harris ayaa yiri: “Inaan rabno in dugsiyadeenna dadweynaha ay helaan dhaqaale caddaalad ah, uuna noqdo mid xoog badan oo wax ku ool ah, waa wax aan wadaagi karno dhammaanteen.”

Dhinaca kale, dadka deegaanka ayaa taariikhda 3-da Nofeembar cod ka bixin doona soo jeedinta barnaamijka deynta ee 2.26-mill no-new-millage bond issue. Lacagtan ayaa loogu talagalay in lagu beddelo dhismayaasha dugsiyada sare ee Grove City High School iyo Westland High School. Maamulka dugsiga ayaa sheegay in lacagtan aan loo adeegsan karin mushaharka macallimiinta ama kharashka maalinlaha ah, laakiin haddii la ansixiyo waxay degmada u meelmarin doontaa ku dhawaad $113 million oo ah dhaqaale taageero ah oo ka imanaya dowladda gobolka.

Xigasho: NBC4 Columbus