As the school year winds down and students head off for a well-deserved summer break, important decisions are being made in Columbus that could significantly impact the future of public education across Ohio—including right here in West Clermont.

The state’s biennial budget isn’t just about dollars and cents—it’s about values. It determines how we invest in our students, support our staff, and plan responsibly for the future. That’s why we’re paying close attention to the proposals currently being debated at the Statehouse, and why we’re asking our community to do the same.

The Promise of Fair School Funding

In 2021, Ohio lawmakers took a bold step forward by adopting the Fair School Funding Plan, the first formula in decades to base school funding on both the actual cost of educating a student and the financial ability of a community to support its schools. It was a critical and long-overdue reform that brought more fairness and predictability to school funding across the state.

Budget Process

In Ohio, the state budget process begins with the governor submitting a proposal to the General Assembly. The budget first moves through the House of Representatives, where it can be debated and amended. Once passed by the House, it goes to the Senate for further consideration and potential changes. If the Senate approves a version that differs from the House’s, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences. The final version is then sent to the governor for approval. Currently, the state Senate is reviewing the House’s proposed budget and may introduce its own changes.

Current Versions

In the Governor’s plan, West Clermont is at risk of losing money. The Governor’s proposal takes West Clermont off the guarantee. The guarantee is a provision in the state’s formula that assures school districts will not receive less state funding than they did in 2019. Taking West Clermont off the guarantee would cause our district to lose 2.1 million dollars over the next two years.

The Ohio House version provided another amendment that would penalize districts with cash balances over 30% of prior-year expenses. These funds would instead be used as short-term property tax relief. But this cap could directly affect West Clermont by limiting our ability to plan ahead. Maintaining fiscally responsible reserves, much like a household savings account, is part of responsible budgeting.

What This Means for Our Community

Without a fair and fully funded system, which includes preserving the guarantee, the impact on students is real: larger class sizes, outdated materials, fewer course options, and increased costs for families. Local taxpayers would be left to shoulder even more of the burden just to keep our schools running. West Clermont is proud of the education we provide. But we need a funding system that supports our mission—not one that undermines it.

What You Can Do

We’re closely monitoring this evolving situation and are actively engaging with our elected officials. But we can’t do it alone. We encourage our community to make their voices heard. Let lawmakers know that our students deserve a budget that reflects their worth.

We invite you to join us in urging lawmakers to keep West Clermont whole, not allowing the state budget to reduce state revenue to our school district. This can be accomplished by:

– Protect the guarantee within the state’s school funding formula, providing financial stability.

– Allow local communities to manage their own reserve funds responsibly.

The final budget must be passed by June 30. Once it’s complete, we’ll launch new community engagement efforts this fall to keep you informed and involved in the future of our schools.

Thank you for your continued support—and we wish all of our families a safe, relaxing, and joyful summer.

By Natasha Adams, Superintendent, and Dan Romano, Treasurer, West Clermont Local Schools.

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