Talawanda BOE to consider resolution asking for more funding for special education
According to Superintendent Edward Theroux, the idea was sent to him by the Ohio School Board Association, which is leading a “40 by 40” campaign to increase federal special education funding to 40% by 2040.
Superintendent Edward Theroux recommended the Talawanda Board of Education consider a resolution to ask the federal government for more funding for students in special education during a regular meeting on Oct. 15.
According to Theroux, the idea was sent to him by the Ohio School Board Association (OSBA), which is leading a “40 by 40” campaign to increase federal special education funding to 40% by 2040.
When the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed in 1975, Congress committed to funding 40% of the national average per-pupil expenditure multiplied by the number of students in special education. Fifty years later, Congress still hasn’t appropriated enough funds to meet the benchmark, according to data collected by the National Education Association (NEA), the largest labor union in the U.S.
Data from the Census of Government, U.S. Department of Education and the National Center for Education Statistics show Ohio needed around $1.3 billion in appropriations to reach this benchmark in 2022, but only received an appropriation of more than $447 million – a funding gap of more than $940 million.
The OSBA is encouraging boards across the state to accept a sample resolution to support the campaign, which Theroux recommended to the board.
“As we know, (special education resources are) a major cost for all school districts, including ours,” Theroux said. “We are glad that those students are in our schools. … I think it's a great idea to get back to the promise of 40%.”
Theroux added that changes in federal government funding have created an “overreliance” on Ohio property taxes and indicated there will be an action before the board at the next regular meeting if they choose to accept the resolution or otherwise participate in the campaign tools.
Legislative updates
In other business, the Oct. 15 meeting was the first for newly appointed Board Member Molly Farler, who was designated as the board’s legislative liaison, picking up on former member Matt Wyatt’s responsibilities.
Among several updates in legislation regarding academic policies and procedures, Farler pointed to Ohio Senate Bill 276, which took effect on Oct. 6 and includes a provision allowing homeschool students to petition to participate in extracurricular activities at neighboring schools and requires districts to adopt policies on the topic.
The Talawanda School District already has a policy on the topic, which requires the parent or guardian of the student to contact the principal of the equivalent-level school where they would like to participate in an activity.
Farler also pointed to Ohio House Bill 1012, which has only been introduced, that would create a $360 million special education threshold for cost reimbursements in the state’s general revenue fund.
According to the bill, “(The) Special Education Threshold Cost Reimbursement, shall be used to provide additional state aid to city, local, exempted village, and joint vocational school districts for special education students.”
“The goal is to reduce how often districts have to cover those costs from their general fund,” Farler said.
MOU with Miami
The board also approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the school district and a student intern from Miami University to assist another staff member in filling in for a special education coordinator position.
Meade told the board his concern with the internship is that it “opens a can of worms” with the university in hiring more interns.
“If their students need educational experiences, I don’t know if we should have to pay for them,” Meade said, adding this is an exception since the superintendent reached out to the university for help in filling a position.
The board also approved the financial report for September, a contracted service agreement with the Butler County Educational Service Center for special education support and services, a mutual facilities agreement between the district and the City of Oxford and an agreement with Pepsi, among other personnel items. The complete agenda can be found on the district website under “Board of Education” and “Agendas.”
The board will have its next regular meeting on Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Talawanda High School auditorium.
