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High School social studies teacher Alexis Vafides is on a mission to fix school funding.

As part of a grass roots effort throughout Ohio, she said she wants to see Fairfield teachers and residents jump on board to support a constitutional amendment sponsored by a group called Getting It Right! For Ohio's Future.

The president of the Fairfield Classroom Teachers Association said she sees the amendment as a way to lift the burden property taxes have placed on Ohio residents.

"It's not just about Fairfield," she said.

But it is an issue that hits close to home.

"I see people in my district drained from property taxes," she said. "All children have a right to a fair and free public education. This is a way for something to happen."

Vafides and members of the FCTA will be seeking signatures on petitions, in order to get the issue on the ballot. Supporters across the state, including the Ohio Education Association, Ohio Federation of Teachers and the Ohio Parent Teacher Association, must get more than 400,000 signatures by Aug. 8 to get the amendment on the November ballot.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the DeRolph Ohio Supreme Court case, which ruled school funding unconstitutional. Three subsequent decisions affirmed this ruling, but the court has left it up to the legislature to fix the problem and create a system

of adequate funding for all

children.

Since then, several groups have proposed solutions, but still there is no resolution.

"I think the proposal has started to fix the problem, said Treasurer Nancy Lane. "I think it is a very complex issue and it seems few legislators want to take it on.

Board President Mark

Morris said the district has

yet to take a stance on the amendment, but will consider all information before deciding to support or oppose the amendment. Though in years past the board has avoided

taking sides on such issues, he said people may turn to

the schools to understand it better and the board needs to be prepared.

"Ultimately we are the decision makers for Fairfield," he said. "Personally I support putting it on before the voters. Anything that makes the public look at funding is a good thing."

Funding is important to maintaining an excellent school district, he said.

"I'm very much a public education advocate and to have an excellent school district costs money."

No matter what happens

in the state with funding,

one thing will always remain constant in Fairfield — the support of parent teacher organizations.

Deanna Diallo, president of the Parents and Teachers for Children at Fairfield West Elementary, said the organization holds several fund raising events in the schools in order to raise money for the students and teachers to provide supplies and fund events such as COSI on wheels.

"Our main goal is to provide educational and fun activities for the kids that couldn't have been funded otherwise in the schools," she said.

The PTC at West recently raised enough money to purchase two new interactive white boards, or Smart Boards. Diallo said they felt it was an instrumental part of hands-on learning and wanted students to have access to that technology. Even though the school has a technology budget, she said every little bit helps when money is tight.

Gov. Ted Strickland will propose the next school funding initiatives for the state biennium. Board member Arnold Engel said he believes in tax equity, but is against the amendment because there is no spending accountability.

"The main concern is more money does not guarantee better education for our children," he said.

His other concern, he said

is the way the money will be controlled. The amendment proposes control of school funding would go to the Ohio State Board of Education. The General Assembly may override decisions by three-fifths votes in both Houses. Also, an independent Education Accountability Commission of citizens appointed by the governor, speaker of the house and the president of the senate will advise the board of elected and appointed members.

Morris said the tax system should be evaluated to make it more equitable for all.

"I wish I knew how to solve it, but we need to look outside, beyond the old tried and true. We're so tied to property taxes — that solution doesn't work anymore," Morris said. "I don't know what the magic formula is, but I think we will ultimately end up with a combination of taxes beyond the property tax."

For more information about how you can sign a petition, call 942-4169

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5067 or lhilty@coxohio.com.