More information on proposed school funding cuts

Action Alert from the Catholic Conference of Ohio
Communicated by Margaret Lyons, Secretary for Education / Superintendent
Office of Catholic Education + Diocese of Cleveland + June 24, 2009

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Dear Pastors, Principals, and Business managers,

By now you have heard that Governor Strickland is proposing massive cuts to address the $3.2 billion deficit in the state's operating budget. These cuts fall disproportionately on health and human services for Ohio's most vulnerable residents and upon parents of the children in our Catholic elementary schools and high schools.

We recognize that summer is a challenging time to enlist support; but this is the window the state government has handed us. Please do what you can to get phone calls and emails to state representatives and senators. They need to hear from the voters.

God bless you and your schools and parishes for the ministry you bring to the people of the Cleveland Diocese.
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What do the proposed cuts mean to our schools and parishes?

1. The proposed reduction in Auxiliary Services is 15 percent ($20.7 million per year), in each year of the biennium. Funding used in our schools to purchase textbooks and provide remedial, speech, and psychological service for students.

2. The proposed reduction in Administrative Cost Reimbursement also is 15 percent ($9 million per year), in each year of the biennium. These reimbursement funds (usually referred to as Mandated Services Money) are often wed by schools / parishes as operating income for the school budget.

3. NOTE: We have no reason to believe that similar cuts would be applied to the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program or the Ohio EdChoice Scholarship "vouchers.”
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What are some specific comments to make to legislators?

1. Education is the foundation for a healthy economic future in Ohio! Do not cut funding or Auxiliary Services that provide necessary services for children in the chartered non-public school (includes Catholic Schools)

2. Do not cut funding for Administrative Cost Reimbursement – reimbursement funds to non-public chartered schools (includes Catholic Schools) for services that are mandated by the Ohio Department of Education to be performed by school administration and teachers.

Attached is an "Action Alert" for you to use, if you wish.

Click here to see the Action Alert posted earlier on this blog which lists contact information for area legislators.