Board Against Tax Vouchers for Private Schooling

As of Nov. 28, the was one of 171 boards in Ohio to pass a resolution stating the district's disapproval of House Bill 136.

If passed, HB 136 would give tax vouchers for education to families making a combined income of $95,000 or less — regardless of what public school the student is assigned to attend. 

Currently, the state gives vouchers to families assigned to drastically underperforming public school districts.

For example in Stow, if the bill passes, a family that makes a combined income of $95,000 or less could get a voucher to attend a private school in the area instead of going to a Stow-Munroe Falls school, which are all rated 'Excellent' by the Ohio State Board of Education.

Vouchers from about $2,300 a year to $4,600 a year would be handed out.

"This would impact all of us with suburban schools that are 'Excellent,'" said Superintendent Russ Jones. "We fight so hard to obtain dollars and retain those dollars and use them efficiently to have that taken away [would be] very troubling."

Matt Huffman (R-Lima) is the state representative who sponsored the Parental Choice and Taxpayer Savings Scholarship Program. , is also listed as a cosponsor of the bill.