To the editor:
Recently, several concerned citizens attended the Indian Creek school board meeting to request they remove themselves from the coalition wrongfully named Vouchers Hurt Ohio, which is an effort to end Ohio's EdChoice program.
Ohio's EdChoice program allows students in underperforming schools to use the state portion received to go toward the student's choice, allowing the student to find a better school. The districts continue to keep local funding. There is equity built into the program to allow students from low-income families to attend the school of their choice. Since not all students learn the same, this should be celebrated as an achievement for Ohio toward more individualized education. But some districts want to move students into a one-size-fits-all and take away choices.
The question of Indian Creek's ranking by the Ohio Department of Education was asked, but board members said they didn't know it. How could they not know? Assume they did not know: They're ranked 503 out of 607 school districts throughout Ohio. What other germane factors are they unaware of? What are their blind spots when it comes to EdChoice, the school voucher program, that they would be so callus as to continue participation in the suit against Ohioans who want school choice?
The board issued several statements about the vouchers, which are tenuous at best. The first is that vouchers are unconstitutional. But it takes much hair splitting to make that claim and when you see their language juxtaposed to the actual Ohio Constitution language, it's not the same. They claim the Ohio Constitution says there shall be a single system of common schools. That's not what it says. But what it does say is that the legislation will secure a thorough and efficient system of common schools.
There's no mention of a single system, but when comparing the cost of public schools to alternative schools, efficiency doesn't seem to be a priority in the public schools. They claim the loss of the state money hurts the school. But if the school was the choice, there would be no loss. Let the schools compete for the money. Besides, costs can be offset by the increase of the local funds per student for those who remain.
Those of us who favor school choice, allowing parents and students to decide, are not against the public school system. We are for the kids and parents. We want all Ohio students to receive the best education they can and allow them to make their own choices about what that means. We want them to not only become educated but also self-reliant and this is certainly a step in the right direction for a young person. If their choice is the local public school system, that's great. But if it isn't, whose fault is that?
If you believe in allowing the parents and kids to make education choices, contact the Indian Creek School Board members and the superintendent and request they remove the district from the coalition suing you.
Philip Parenti
Mount Pleasant