Southeastern Ohio school district officials say Gov. Bob Taft's proposed $13.2 million for math and science programs could be better spent to fund existing programs.
Taft's proposal, called Ohio Core, would require all high school students to take four years of math, including Algebra II; four years of English; three years of lab-based sciences, including physical science biology and an option of chemistry, physics or higher level biology; three years of social studies and two years of foreign language, according to information provided by the Office of the Governor at http://www.governor.ohio.gov/.
The $13.2 million from unused money in the Ohio General Fund would fund the training and re-training of more teachers in the fields of math, science and foreign languages, said Taft spokesman Mark Rickel. He said the purpose of the proposal is to increase Ohio students' preparedness for college and entry level jobs.
State Rep. Jimmy Stewart, R-Athens, said legislators are talking with their constituents, and the proposal is being discussed jointly in the Ohio House and Senate committees.
It is not certain how long the proposal will be discussed in committees, but in order for a bill to be passed, a vote must be made before the general assembly session ends in December, Stewart said.
Nelsonville superintendent Ted Bayat said additional math, science and foreign language funding is a good idea, but the district cannot afford the programs it is required to run now.
Nelsonville schools are lacking at least three classrooms to perform at the level that is expected, and the implementation of the Ohio Core would require the use of three additional classrooms that the school does not have, Bayat said.
The state legislators do not have the guts and the integrity to do what is right for the school districts
he said.
Stewart said he has heard concern about a lack of funding for current programs and will not support an unfunded Ohio Core.
Rickel disputed the claim that current school programs are under-funded. He said funding for Ohio schools has increased 56 percent since 1999, and Ohio ranks 16th of all states in public school funding with $2.2 billion spent last year.
Trimble High School Principal John Abdella said the programs proposed in the Ohio Core would be beneficial to students that are going to college, but he also said the proposal might cause staffing problems.
If the plan is passed, Trimble High School would be faced with a shortage of staff because it does not have enough teachers to teach additional math, science and foreign language classes, Abdella said.
Abdella said the main concern of the legislators should be making funding equitable among all school districts.
There is a reason why Taft is counted as one of the worst governors in the history of Ohio governors he said.
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