Gadfly Bites 6/25/25—Appealing

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1. Before we talk about the status of the state budget bill, here’s an op-ed from our own Aaron Churchill, talking about one of the niche-ier proposals in the bill: A plan to offer what is termed “performance pay” to schools, but whose flawed design Aaron says actually undermines its intended—and important—purpose. (Toledo Blade, 6/24/25)
   
   

2. The state budget bill was approved by conference committee in the wee hours of this morning, heading back to both the House and the Senate for final floor votes later today. Not much coverage of education provisions yet (certainly not the niche-ier ones, as above), but the Dispatch tells us that the Senate’s funding plan was retained in the final version and that two property tax relief proposals—related to tax millage rates and total allowed carryover funds—which would impact K-12 schools also were included. More to come on this, of course. (Columbus Dispatch, 6/25/25)
   
   

3. Back here on the ground, we return to the extremely real—and pretty dire—financial situation unfolding in Cincinnati City Schools, whose leaders are trying to plug a $50 million hole that has materialized in their budget. So far, we have heard that their student enrollment projections indicate they need 75 fewer teachers next year than they currently have but that they would not cut any actual teachers despite this fact. True to their word, the elected school board voted yesterday to eliminate 109 teaching positions, but 68 of these were already vacant and most of the 41 actual teachers being eliminated (all in the K-5 bands) will be allowed to take any other open position they might want—even if that is outside their licensure or experience. So, while some attrition may occur if these folks prefer a proper teaching job elsewhere, the “cuts” (such as they are) are expected to save the district less than $1 million. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 6/24/25)
   
   

4. We close our clips with yesterday’s biggest news: Franklin County judge (and proud private school alumna) Jaiza Page ruled that Ohio’s EdChoice Scholarship Program is unconstitutional, siding with the plaintiffs on some—but not all—of their arguments. Ugh. I was planning to be petty here and use some pathetic clip like this one to reflect my feelings on this outcome. But instead, I like this one—from the same source that employs our supercrusading school funding warrior reporter (you remember her, right?)—because the thorough and efficient coverage actually bothers to include a quote from an EdChoice mom from Parma, who says quite reasonably: “I’m not against public schools; however, I do feel strongly that when you live in a district that doesn’t have the strongest educational program for your children, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with seeking outside of the local schools.” This, I think, is a sentiment that should resonate with Judge Page and her family, even if they had some other path than a voucher to send her honor to first a Catholic school (that does take and has always taken EdChoice vouchers) and then to a bougie all-girls school (which has never taken and still doesn’t take voucher students, true, but has plenty of its own means to help deserving young ladies access the high-dollar education their families want for their ambitious daughters who were ill-served by, say, the large urban school district in which they lived). Luckily for this Mom, Her Honor also stayed her decision, citing the fact that it “may cause significant changes to school funding in Ohio” if enacted and “the high likelihood that the parties will immediately appeal.” That is, Ohio’s voucher programs continue uninterrupted—sparing tens of thousands of families from immediate disruption to the same education that Judge Page herself was fortunate enough to receive (whew)—until the appeals process is completed. She also notes that there is no reason for that appeals process to be delayed at all, so hopefully it will begin forthwith. (News 5 Cleveland, 6/24/25)

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