Medina City Schools faces $1.5 million funding cut

If Governor Mike DeWine's proposed budget is approved, Medina City Schools could lose $1.5 million in state funding. This news was shared by Superintendent Aaron Sable at a recent school board meeting. Sable highlighted that the school district is currently financially stable due to a recently passed levy. However, he expressed concern that the budget cuts would complicate their fiscal plans. If the budget is finalized as is, the district may need to lay off about 15 staff members, reduce programs, and increase class sizes. Despite recently receiving a levy that helped finances, the district may have to ask local taxpayers for more funding to maintain current services. Presently, Medina spends about $13,000 per student, with only $850 coming from state funds. A decrease in state funding will mean even less support for students. Additionally, Sable pointed out that last year the state allocated approximately $1.2 billion for school vouchers. While these vouchers were designed to help low-income families, he noted that many are now used by families who have never attended public schools. He emphasized that 89 percent of Ohio students are in public schools, yet funding is increasingly directed towards the smaller percentage attending private institutions. The proposed budget must be approved by July 1. Sable is urging community members to stay informed and speak with their state representatives about the potential impact on local education.