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Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2007 > June > 25 > Entry
Act now to build with tobacco cash
It looks like Gov. Ted Strickland’s plan to “securitize” Ohio’s share of the national tobacco settlement (trading $7 billion over 26 years for $5 billion now) means only a few more districts will get to build using tobacco money. The Ohio School Facilities Commission will carry on, funded by other sources, but the big bang of tobacco cash will soon be used up and school districts will have to depend on the state legislature to keep the program going every two years goin forward.
Former Ohio Gov. Bob Taft once promised that every district in the state would have the chance for a share of the statewide school construction program. Now it looks like the program’s funding spark will be gone with just about half of the state’s school district having accessed the construction dollars to build schools.
This also ratchets up the pressure on districts who are undecided about partnering with the state on construction. This may be their last chance to get state matching dollars. Take a look at the story by Chris Magan and I in today’s paper and tell us what you think.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: School Construction
Comments
By Keith
June 28, 2007 5:15 PM | Link to this
It’s interesting how the big building boon for contractors and building materials suppliers happened in Taft’s administration. As for fairness in distribution of monies, don’t hold your breath. Trothood has two swimming pools in the new building we paid for in their district—does anyone know that’s not true? That’s what I was told after a newspaper article when the high school opened. Now tell me that makes sense…By laura
June 26, 2007 10:03 PM | Link to this
First to Ohio Buckeye: If you think all the people who run the schools are “dummies” maybe you should get involved and fix things for us. Second to Greener: No one in their right mind wants to go into education now so what makes you think they would teach for $12 an hour? Besides, by then, $12 an hour will probably be minimum wage. Given the number of hours that many teachers spend over the paid ones, new teachers probably don’t make much more than that now. As a matter of fact, minimum wage is all some support staff make now.By OHIO BUCKEYE
June 26, 2007 7:28 AM | Link to this
How long will it take for the dummies that run the school system to realize that income tax is the way to fund the school system. we are sick and tired of more property tax.By greener
June 26, 2007 3:12 AM | Link to this
watch out S/E your red colors are showing through,it is a smart move 26 yrs from now all public school’s will be charter unions will be out of schl. districts teachers will be making 12.00 an hr. support staff willl be making min. wage there will be no need for administrators,because school’s will be for profitt. get the money now GET ON WITH THE SHOW!By Mary
June 25, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this
Binge shopping and spending is part of the current American psyche. I think it is particularly interesting that the billions were earmarked for construction. My gut feel was the intended beneficiary of the billions is the construction business, not students and taxpayers. As I quoted on a previous blog weeks ago, something to the effect -“I prioritize mission over mortar.” Students and taxpayers, who will be stuck with financial charges and upkeep of the buildings, do not have the same political clout as the school construction business. I believe the book “Cheating our kids- how politics and greed ruin education” also adressses the role of the construction business in education.