Centers that provide support services to school districts across Ohio could see tens of millions in combined state funding cuts over two years under Republican Gov. John Kasich’s proposed budget.
The potential cuts in funding for the 55 Educational Service Centers, or ESCs, could total up to $91 million and lead to higher charges to districts, the Dayton Daily News reported. The ESCs provide districts with shared services such as speech and physical therapists, school nurses and curriculum and attendance supervisors.
Kasich budget spokesman Jim Lynch has said that each center in Ohio would have its state funding cut by 22.5 percent in fiscal year 2014 and 27.2 percent the next fiscal year. Also, funds previously deducted and sent to service centers to support mandated services would be returned to districts.
The centers currently are paid $6.50 per pupil for such services as curriculum, gifted supervision and bus driver trainings. They also receive supervisory services funding for curriculum and special education.
Under the governor’s plan, the state money going to the support centers would instead go to local districts and changes would be made to the way the centers’ governing boards are structured. By law, the centers are not able to put tax levies before voters and get most of their revenue from charging other districts.
