April 2017 - Student Growth & State Funding in Perrysburg Schools

By Thomas L. Hosler, Superintendent

With all the new construction in the area and the new students that it brings to the schools, a question that we often hear is: “With all those new students, aren’t the schools getting more state money?” After all, of districts that have 4,500 or more students, Perrysburg Schools is the 4th fastest growing district in the state over the last 5 years. Consider that in just 10 years, Perrysburg Schools has grown from 4,522 to 5,159 students. That means that we have added 637 students in the last decade. To put it in perspective, we have added the equivalent of one elementary school to our school district – Woodland Elementary has exactly 637 students today.

In Ohio, the average school district receives close to 46% of its funds from the state and 40% from local funds. Perrysburg receives 27% state funds and 64% from local funds.

The Ohio school funding formula begins with a set dollar amount per pupil that the state determines is enough to provide a “thorough and efficient” system of common schools. This amount, also known as the foundation, is inserted into the state funding formula, which is unique for each district. Based on factors that may include local property values, the amount of businesses and agricultural properties, the formula then determines what the local share should be based on the community’s ability to pay. Each district then receives a percentage of the state share or foundation.

The state formula is complex and does utilize student enrollment in calculating state funding. However, in fast growing districts like Perrysburg, the number of students counted in this formula is “capped.”

Our most recent FY16 Detailed School Funding Report from the Ohio Department of Education shows our total calculated funding to be $13,058,974.04, but then it sets our cap limit at $9,346,765.22, which is a loss of over $3.7 million in funding.

Charter schools are actually public schools. They receive state funding, have a board of education (not elected) and are required to follow some of the same laws and guidelines as traditional public school.

However, charter schools receive the full foundation amount (or more) for each student that is enrolled in that school. Charter schools do not have the same funding formula as traditional public schools. In fact, the school district where the charter school student lives is deducted the full state foundation amount for each student attending a charter school, even if that is more than the school district received from the state for that student.

Fifty-five students living in Perrysburg School District are enrolled in a charter school. The state-required transfer from Perrysburg Schools to charter schools this year is $458,080.89.

The simple question: “Does Perrysburg receive more state money for all the new students?” is not very simple to answer under Ohio’s school funding formula. Though some increases do come with growth, the increases are much less than it costs to educate a pupil, and that is why our schools must periodically ask our community for a local tax levy, to make up this difference.