Columbus Schools Superintendent Calls Proposed $45 Million Budget Cut a ‘Betrayal of Trust’
Columbus City Schools Superintendent Angela Chapman is raising the alarm over Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s proposed state budget, which she says would strip the district of more than $45 million in funding over the next two years. In a letter to the community, Chapman called the cuts “a betrayal of trust”, warning that they would have a devastating impact on students, families, and the broader Columbus community.
The funding reductions are based on higher property tax valuations being factored into the state’s funding formula, but without an updated calculation of the actual cost of educating a child in 2025. If the budget is approved, Chapman said the district would be forced to use the entire $38 million operating fund from the $100 million levy passed by voters in 2023 just to offset state losses, meaning families would continue paying for the levy without receiving all the educational services they were promised.
Chapman also pointed out that 87% of public schools across Ohio face similar reductions, with more than $100 million in total cuts to school districts statewide. Columbus City Schools alone could see a 10% reduction in state funding each year, with its state share potentially being cut in half by 2027. She emphasized that this treats CCS as if it were as wealthy as some of its more affluent suburban neighbors, despite the district serving a student population with far greater challenges.
