Attorney General

The Attorney General expressed support for granting additional authority to pursue civil or criminal action against technology companies that encourage or facilitate suicide, self-harm, or harm to others. The proposal aligns with broader state concern regarding child safety, mental health, and the role of digital platforms in exposing young people to harmful content. For school districts, the issue is relevant because the effects of unsafe online environments show up in attendance, behavior, counseling demand, and overall student wellbeing. 

District Advocacy Position

• Support stronger child-safety protections in digital spaces, particularly when legislation places responsibility on technology platforms rather than shifting the burden to schools.

• Advocate for parallel investment in school-based mental health services, prevention programming, and digital citizenship education.

• Request clear statutory language and implementation guidance so schools are not left navigating vague expectations after legislation is enacted.

FY26-27 Budget

State tax collections in February modestly exceeded projections, with stronger income tax and Commercial Activity Tax performance offsetting weaker sales tax results. The overall message is that state revenues remain relatively stable heading into the final third of the fiscal year. For public school districts, that stability matters because it may improve the likelihood of sustaining state commitments, but revenue strength alone does not guarantee equitable investment in K-12 education.

District Advocacy Position

• Advocate for full and sustainable funding for public education, including formula aid, special education, transportation, English learner services, and student support systems.

• Emphasize that positive revenue performance should translate into meaningful investment in districts serving concentrated poverty and elevated student need.

• Request multi-year fiscal predictability so staffing, programming, and intervention planning can be based on stable assumptions rather than annual uncertainty.

Education

The State Board of Education selected Philip Wagner as the next state superintendent of public instruction and approved Jason Wagner as interim superintendent until the transition is complete later this summer. At the same time, legislative discussions continued around educator preparation in the science of reading, with testimony highlighting Ohio’s requirements for institutions of higher education to prepare educators accordingly. Additional attention focused on efforts to strengthen the connection between education data and workforce outcomes through pending legislation that would require a return-on-investment initiative and expanded middle school career exploration. Taken together, the section reflects continuing state emphasis on leadership transition, literacy implementation, and workforce alignment.

District Advocacy Position

• Support strong and stable state leadership that prioritizes implementation support, coherence, and realistic expectations for districts.

• Endorse continued science of reading work while insisting on adequate resources for professional development, instructional materials, intervention systems, and educator preparation.

• Support career exploration and stronger education-to-workforce data use only if districts receive implementation funding, usable reporting tools, and safeguards against simplistic accountability measures.

General Assembly / Statehouse

Legislative leaders indicated that proposals highlighted in the Governor’s remarks could move forward if formally introduced, with one of the most likely candidates being legislation that would prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to create child pornography. Democratic leaders responded by arguing that many Ohio families remain under significant strain despite the administration’s stated priorities. In addition, opponents testified against proposals to call an Article V constitutional convention, warning that such a process could place broader constitutional protections at risk. The broader takeaway is that education leaders are operating in a fast-moving policy environment where child safety, political messaging, and structural governance questions are all competing for legislative attention.

District Advocacy Position

• Support targeted legislation that protects children from AI-enabled exploitation and abuse.

• Urge policymakers to remain focused on practical issues affecting schools and families, including literacy, attendance, student mental health, staffing, and funding adequacy.

• Oppose large-scale governance disruptions that create instability and distract from urgent educational priorities.

Other Legislative Action

Several measures advanced through committee, including House Bill 125 regarding school absences for 4-H and FFA participation and Senate Bill 318 regarding school resource officers at private schools. Other reported bills addressed areas such as transportation, local government, child care, utilities, public safety, and parole board procedures. For school districts, the most immediate significance lies in attendance policy, student participation in approved leadership and agricultural programs, and the broader policy conversation around school safety responsibilities.

District Advocacy Position

• Support reasonable flexibility for excused absences tied to legitimate student leadership, career-technical, and agricultural learning opportunities.

• Advocate for school safety policy that recognizes the operational and fiscal realities carried by public school districts.

• Request timely state guidance whenever new legislation affects attendance procedures, reporting requirements, or safety expectations.

Families across Ohio deserve relief from rising property taxes, and communities deserve strong schools, safe neighborhoods, and reliable public services. Achieving both is possible, but only if the responsibility is shared fairly among families, local governments, businesses, and the state.

The Springfield City School District recognizes that change is necessary, and our team is committed to being part of the solution. However, reforms must be balanced to protect both taxpayers and the future of public education.

What happened?

• State Policy Shifts
  Over time, state-level decisions have placed greater reliance on local property taxes to fund schools.

• School District Actions
  Districts have already implemented consolidations, shared services, and efficiency measures to reduce costs while protecting student learning.

• Changing Tax Burden
  The balance has shifted significantly: homeowners and farmers now pay nearly 70% of school property taxes, compared to just 47% in 1991. Businesses, by contrast, carry a far smaller share than they once did.

• Community Actions
  Residents can play an important role by:

• Talking directly with legislators about the need for fair reform.

• Informing teachers and staff about the impact of state policy changes.

• Engaging neighbors and community members in conversations about equity.

• Advocating for solutions that ensure schools remain strong and property tax reform is balanced.

Ohio Schools’ Commitments

• Transparency
  We will continue to be clear about where funding comes from and how it is spent, ensuring accountability to taxpayers.

• Empathy
  Property taxes feel high because they are high—homeowners and farmers are paying more than ever before.

• Partnership
  We support reforms that relieve families while also ensuring strong schools and safe, thriving communities.

Key Point

Unlike those who blame schools for rising property taxes, Ohio schools are allies of taxpayers. State-level tax policy changes have shifted the burden dramatically: homeowners and farmers now carry nearly 70% of the load—the highest in state history.

Balanced reform is necessary. Families deserve relief. Schools and communities deserve stability. Together, both are possible.

The Myth of Exploding School Budgets

Despite what you may hear, school funding hasn’t exploded. In fact, over the last 20 years, schools have been asked to take on significantly more, from advanced technology to safety upgrades to expanded student support, but the funding to pay for these initiatives has barely budged. When you adjust for inflation, state revenue per student has only grown by a fraction of a percent each year. Schools are being asked to do a lot more with essentially the same resources.

1. State revenues have not kept pace.

• From 2000 to 2022, overall state revenue actually decreased by 2.2% after inflation.

• On a per student basis, state revenue grew just 6.6% over 22 years — that’s only about 0.3% a year.
  ➡️ In other words, state funding for each student has been essentially flat for two decades.

2. School spending increases look big until you break them down.

• Overall, school spending rose 9.4% over 22 years — that’s only 0.43% a year after inflation.

• On a per-student basis, spending grew 19.4% over 22 years, or about 0.88% a year after inflation.
  ➡️ Less than 1% growth per year is hardly the “massive increase” some claim.

3. Expectations have skyrocketed while funding hasn’t.

• Schools are asked to provide far more today than in 2000: new technology, safety measures, mental health supports, career readiness pathways, and more.

• Yet the dollars to support those responsibilities have stayed nearly flat.

How to Advocate

1. Contact your legislators about the need for balanced reform.

2. Ask: What would losing teachers, staff, or programs mean for our community?

3. Share this information with neighbors, friends, business leaders, and community groups to amplify Springfield’s voice.

Moving Forward

Springfield’s students deserve stable, equitable resources that reflect today’s educational costs and community priorities. Thoughtful tax reform is welcome; unfunded mandates are not. By engaging legislators now, residents can protect instructional quality, public safety, and the economic vitality of the entire city, today and for generations to come.

• Sample Phone Script (Word Version)

• Sample Phone Script (PDF Version)

• Sample Email or Letter (Word Version)

• Sample Email or Letter (PDF Version)

• Fact Sheet

Send the SCSD an email at:

communications@scsdoh.org

Leverage our downloadable advocacy letter and phone script to contact your state legislators. Urge them to support balanced property tax reform that provides relief for families, restores fairness in who pays, and protects strong schools and essential community services. By acting together, we can ensure the Springfield City School District remains strong and sustainable for generations to come.