Board Addresses Alternative Funding Plan
Memo reflects will and intent of the Board
In the June 23, 2008, Work Session of the Newbury Local Board of Education, the Board approved by a 5-0 vote a memo from the district superintendent as reflecting the will and intent of the Newbury Board of Education in regard to the Alternative Funding Plan prepared by a community resident. The contents of that memo follow.
- Ohio Revised Code Section 3311.24 titled "Transfer of city, exempted village or local school district territory to adjoining district," subsection (A) says that this kind of transfer must be initiated by the Board of Education "in which the territory is located,"1 then that Board must forward its resolution to the Board of Education "to which the territory is transferred."2
- In effect, the mechanism proposed in the Alternative Funding Plan--the transfer of Auburn Township from the Kenston Local School District to the Newbury Local School District-- would have to be initiated by the Kenston Local Board of Education.
- Kenston Superintendent, Dr. Robert Lee, has been quoted by the Geauga County Maple Leaf in its June 12, 2008, issue as having said, " 'There isn't any option that we would ever consider to have Auburn leave Kenston.' "
- The Newbury Superintendent, Richard Wagner, says that "Neither he nor the Newbury Local Board of Education have ever considered trying to annex part of another school district nor would they without having been approached by another school district to do so."
- The Newbury Local School District had no part in writing or developing the Alternative Funding Plan.
- The Kenston Local School District had no part in writing or developing the Alternative Funding Plan.
- In short, the concept of Land Transfer as proposed in the Alternative Funding Plan is contrary to law and is not supported by the Kenston Local Board of Education or the Newbury Local Board of Education.
- Although we appreciate investigation of alternative ways of school district funding, we consider this particular issue closed.
1 Taken from Proposed Funding Plan
2 Taken from Proposed Funding Plan
