February 28, 2025
Dear Columbus City Schools Families & Colleagues,
As an educator for more than 25 years, I have seen how a high-quality public education empowers students and transforms communities. Columbus City Schools is focused on ensuring all students are given the opportunity to immerse themselves in learning that prepares them for real-world success.
In November of 2023, Columbus City Schools stood as one of the few districts in the state to pass a tax levy. Voters of this district demonstrated their faith in our schools by supporting a levy to maintain facilities and operations. Our operating levy funds cover important services such as PreK expansion, 1:1 device program & support, school climate and culture support, and family support, just to name a few.
Today, those investments and more are very much in danger of being taken away. The state budget proposed by Governor Mike DeWine and under review by the Ohio General Assembly would essentially wipe out the operating revenue provided by the levy. Based on the governor’s proposed state funding formula, Columbus City Schools is set to lose over $45 million over the next two school years. CCS is projected to lose these state funds because the governor’s formula calculations include increased property tax valuations but does not update what it costs to educate a child in 2025. Under the governor’s proposal, our state share of education dollars would be cut in half by the end of 2027, treating our district as if it is as wealthy as our neighboring affluent suburbs, communities with far greater income and serving students with fewer barriers to success.
All the dollars our voters approved for the $38 million general operating portion of our levy would now need to be used to fill this $45 million gap. The state government does not intend to return those millions of dollars to district taxpayers, but rather spend them on other priorities. In other words, our families will continue to pay for the levy they voted for, but won’t get all of the essential educational services they were promised.
I respect our governor and state lawmakers, but I believe this is a betrayal of trust for our district, our families, our children and the Columbus community. A state that cares about children invests in children. I am extremely frustrated, and you should be too, but I am not discouraged. We will advocate for our district, and we will keep advocating for the needs of our more than 47,000 students in CCS.
Will you join me to ensure our schools are properly funded by the state?
There is still time to get involved and advocate for Columbus City Schools. Our CCS Treasurer and I will be giving testimony in front of the House Education Committee on March 4. You can tune in to this testimony live on the Ohio Channel.
The public is invited to submit written testimony or provide in-person testimony throughout the month of March. Providing testimony allows you to speak to all members of a committee and provides members with an opportunity to hear the diverse perspectives of Ohioans. You must submit this witness information form and your testimony 24 hours in advance of the committee hearing. Please remember that everything you submit will be a public record and published on the House of Representatives website.
The House Education Committee is scheduled to hear public testimony March 4. For the House Education Committee, submit your witness information form and written testimony to OHReducationcommittee@ohiohouse.gov.
The House Finance Committee is expected to hear public testimony on March 11 and 12. For the House Finance Committee, submit your witness information form and written testimony to OHRfinancecommittee@ohiohouse.gov.
Your voice, my voice, and our collective voices are the foundations of the American political system and protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
I make a promise to keep you informed in the coming weeks and months as state lawmakers determine the future of education funding for CCS.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Angela Chapman
Superintendent/CEO
