ANNOUNCER: BACKSTORY IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY KEYBANK.

WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

(MUSIC) JASON HIBBS: MANY PARENTS REMEMBER THE VERY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR THEIR KIDS, SENDING THE KID AWAY JUST HOPING THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY.

BUT THE REALITY IS A CHILD'S EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOL VARIES GREATLY, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY LIVE.

IN OHIO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THAT MATTER.

ALL SCHOOLS ARE NOT CREATED EQUALLY.

IN FACT, MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO, THE OHIO SUPREME COURT RULED THE WAY THE STATE FUNDS EDUCATION UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AND SINCE THEN LAWMAKERS HAVE ADDED PROGRAMS LIKE VOUCHERS AND SCHOOL CHOICE BUT THEY'RE STILL SEARCHING FOR A FAIR FIX TO THE PROBLEM AND WE MAY BE CLOSER TO A SOLUTION.

OUR GUESTS TODAY ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT OVERHAULING OHIO SCHOOL FUNDING VIA HOUSE BILL ONE.

REPRESENTATIVE BRIDE ROSE SWEENEY IS A DEMOCRAT ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND CO SPONSORED HB ONE, AND SHE'S THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE ELECTED FROM DISTRICT 14 THAT'S NEAR CLEVELAND.

AND TOM HOSLER HAS BEEN A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT FOR 21 YEARS 14 OF THOSE AT THE PERRYSBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT.

HE'S ALSO BEEN A PRINCIPAL, TEACHER AND COACH.

HE'S CO CHAIR OF A GROUP THAT HELPED CREATE HB ONE AND INVOLVED IN MANY OTHER GROUPS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC EDUCATION ACROSS THE STATE.

THANKS SO MUCH TO BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

REPRESENTATIVE, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT ONE DISCLAIMER TO GET OUT OF THE WAY HERE IN FULL DISCLOSURE, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, WHICH HELPS PRODUCE AND SPONSOR BACKSTORY ACTIVELY SUPPORTS THE PASSAGE OF FAIR SCHOOL FUNDING REPRESENTATIVE BY HB ONE, THE LEAGUE ADVISE THE COURT IN THE 1991 DE RAUF CASE, A LANDMARK CASE IN WHICH THE STATE SUPREME COURT RULED OHIO'S METHOD FOR FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

SO NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT OUT OF THE WAY, REPRESENTATIVE, BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE BILL, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHY IT'S NEEDED.

IF YOU CAN GIVE US A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON.

WHY DID THE STATE SUPREME COURT MAKE THAT DECISION?

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CURRENT METHOD OF FUNDING SCHOOLS?

REP. SWEENEY: YES, WELL, FIRST, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING THIS AND FOR COVERING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

I KEEP SAYING THAT, I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE CURRENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THERE IS A MORE IMPORTANT ISSUE BEFORE US.

BECAUSE IT'S BEEN OVER 24 YEARS AS you INDICATED.

SINCE WE, THAT SUPREME COURT, THE OHIO SUPREME COURT RENDERED THE DECISION THAT THE METHODOLOGY THAT WE WERE USING TO FUND OUR SCHOOLS WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AND THERE WAS FOUR DIFFERENT RULINGS.

AND ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE OR KNOWN IS THIS ISSUE OF THE OVER RELIANCE ON PROPERTY TAX.

AND WHAT WE END UP HAVING NOW IS VERY CLEARLY YOU CAN POINT TO THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION OR THE RESOURCES A SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS IS DEPENDENT ON, YOU KNOW, THE LOCAL CAPACITY THAT DISTRICT TO FUND THOSE SCHOOLS AND WHY THIS IS SO NEEDED AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S BEFORE US.

IT'S NOT THAT THEY HAVEN'T TRIED OR DIDN'T CARE.

I'LL SAY SOME PROBABLY DIDN'T.

BUT IT'S VERY COMPLICATED.

AND WHAT ENDED UP WHAT ENDED UP GOING THROUGH WERE WHAT ARE CALLED BAND AID FIXES.

THERE WAS NEVER AN COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF ACTUALLY TAKING A STEP BACK SCRAPPING THE CURRENT FORMULA AND REALLY WORKING FROM A BASE OF WHAT DOES IT ACTUALLY COST TO EDUCATE A CHILD IN OHIO.

AND WHAT WE ARE LEFT WITH INTO TODAY'S AGE IS WHERE NOT ONE SINGLE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF OHIO IS ACTUALLY BEING FUNDED BY THE FORMULA.

BEFORE THE LAST GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IT WAS 80% WEREN'T ON THE FUNDING FORMULA.

AND NOW WE'RE TO A POINT WHERE NOT ONE SINGLE DISTRICT IS GETTING WHAT THE FORMULA SAYS IT NEEDS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME WE KICK THIS CAN DOWN THE ROAD, IT IS OHIO STUDENTS WHO ARE BEING THE MOST LEFT BEHIND AND WE KNOW IT'S BROKEN.

I MEAN, IT COULDN'T BE WORSE, BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ONE THAT IS FUNDING IT.

SO THAT IS KIND OF THE SHORT OF IT OF TO THE ISSUE AND WHY IT'S GOTTEN SO BAD AND WHY THIS IS THE TIME TO ACT.

JASON HIBBS: AS SUPERINTENDENT, YOU HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION.

WHAT PROBLEMS HAVE YOU PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED?

THOMAS HOSLER: WHETHER YOU'RE IN AN URBAN SUBURBAN DISTRICT, AN URBAN DISTRICT, A RURAL DISTRICT, THIS FORMULA IS NOT FAIR.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THAT IS EASILY PREDICTABLE.

IT'S DEPENDENT ON YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FACTORS THAT ARE OUTSIDE YOUR DISTRICT AND WHAT YOU CAN CAN'T DO.

AND AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IS A FAST GROWING SCHOOL DISTRICT HERE IN THE STATE, WE'RE GETTING STUDENTS INTO PERRYSBURG.

AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE OWED IN THE FORMULA IS CAPPED.

SO WE HAVE TO GO TO OUR LOCAL VOTERS, AND ASK THEM TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE.

AND AND THAT IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS.

THE OTHER PIECE IS, RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF POVERTY, THE FORMULA DOESN'T REALLY ADDRESS POVERTY IN A WAY THAT IS BASED ON, YOU KNOW, RESEARCH AND WHAT'S BEST FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE LIVING IN, YOU KNOW, IN POVERTY.

AND JASON, ALMOST 50% OF THE STUDENTS IN OHIO TODAY, LIVE IN POVERTY.

AND, AND SO WE NEED A FORMULA THAT THAT REALLY REPRESENTS ALL THIS THAT HAS THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

AND SO IT'S IT'S FAILING, FAST GROWING SUBURBAN DISTRICTS IN THIS FORMULA IS FAILING URBAN DISTRICTS WITH HIGH POVERTY.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS CRAZY AS THIS SOUNDS, RURAL DISTRICTS, IF IF THEIR PROPERTY VALUATIONS INCREASE IN THE FARM COMMUNITIES, IT THROWS OFF WHAT EVERY OTHER DISTRICT IS GOING TO GET FROM THE STATE OF OHIO.

SO IT YOU HAVE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BEEN ARMED, UNARMED AND COMING TOGETHER, SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT WORKING FOR US, AND VERY RARELY IN THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY.

AND REPRESENTATIVE CAN CAN CERTAINLY PROBABLY COMMENT ON THIS, YOU DON'T FIND URBAN AND SUBURBAN AND RURAL AND SMALL TOWN AND BIG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICTS LIKE AGREEING ON ANYTHING.

BUT LIKE THE HOUSE VOTE, THERE IS JUST AN OVERWHELMING SUPPORT TO TAKE THIS STEP, WHICH IS SO NEEDED TO BENEFIT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

JASON HIBBS: SO REPRESENTATIVE, ON THAT NOTE, WHAT DOES HB ONE DO?

HOW DOES IT FIX THESE PROBLEMS?

REP. SWEENEY: YES, WELL, I SHOULD START WITH AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ALL THE CREDIT FOR HOUSE BILL ONE.

IT IS THE CULMINATION OF DECADES OF WORK, BUT MOST RECENTLY, THE FAIR SCHOOL FUNDING WORKGROUP WHICH, YOU KNOW, SUPERINTENDENT HOSSLER, WAS ON, THAT TOOK THREE YEARS OF CREATING THIS FORMULA.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T JUST WAVE A MAGIC WAND AND FIXED IT.

AND THEY BROUGHT IN AT THE HEAD OF FORMER REPRESENTATIVE JOHN PATTERSON.

AND NOW SPEAKER CUPP SAID, WE'RE GONNA ACTUALLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, AND TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S POINT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TRY TO FIX IT FOR OURSELVES OR OUR OWN DISTRICTS, WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN RURAL URBAN HIGH WEALTH, LOW WEALTH DISTRICTS, AND GET TO A PLACE THAT IS FAIR, AND IT'S A TRANSPARENT FORMULA.

AND GOING BACK IS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN OHIO, WE ARE ANSWERING THE QUESTION, WHAT DOES IT COST TO FUND OR TO EDUCATE A STUDENT IN OHIO, THAT HAS NEVER ACTUALLY BEEN ADDRESSED.

AND WHEN YOU ACTUALLY START PEELING BACK WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, THE BASE COST OF WHAT A TYPICAL STUDENT GETS IS $6,020.

THAT'S OUT OF THIN AIR THAT'S NOT TETHERED TO ANY ACTUAL COSTS.

AND IT'S SHOULD UPSET EVERYONE.

EDUCATION IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST EXPENSES IN THE STATE.

AND IT'S JUST SO FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE JUST TO BE THROWING MONEY AT A PROBLEM IN SUCH AN ERRATIC WAY.

AND SO WHAT WE DID HERE WAS USE AND DO STUDIES TO SHOW WHAT DOES IT COST AN OHIO STUDENT USING OHIO DATA TO COME TO THAT PORTION OF AT LEAST THAT BASE COST AND THEN BUILD UPON THAT OF THE ADD ONS OF IF YOU'RE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED IF YOUR LANGUAGE IF ENGLISH IS YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE, IF YOU'RE GIFTED IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, AND ADDING ON TO THAT WITH, AGAIN, OHIO, OHIO DATA TO SEE WHAT DOES IT COST TO EDUCATE A STUDENT IN OHIO?

AND THAT'S KIND OF THE FRAMEWORK, BUT I KNOW THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS ACTUALLY THE ONE THAT CREATED THAT.

AND I'M JUST HERE TO GET THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

FINALLY, AFTER DECADES OF OHIO STUDENTS WAITING, JASON HIBBS: SO WHAT NUMBER DID YOU ARRIVE?

REP. SWEENEY: WELL, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL HAVE ITS OWN BASE COST DIRECTED TO THEM, AND INDIVIDUALIZED BASED ON, YOU KNOW, THIS DATA OF WHAT IDEAL RATIOS ARE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL GRADE LEVEL.

AND SO IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY STUDENTS YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, IN KINDERGARTEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH 12TH GRADE.

AND THERE IS A LOCAL CONTROL ASPECT OF WHERE YOU WANT TO PUT RESOURCES, BUT WE'RE FUNDING ON WHERE STUDENTS ARE EDUCATED.

THAT'S ANOTHER BIG CHANGE WE'RE MAKING IS NOW WE'RE FINDING STUDENTS AND WHERE THEY LIVE AND NOT THE OPTION THAT THEY'RE CHOOSING, WHICH CAUSES A WHOLE SLEW OF ISSUES WITH THESE DEDUX AND CAUSES THE DIFFERENT CHOICES WE HAVE IN THE STATE TO HAVE A VERY HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT.

AND SO JUST ANOTHER VERY SMART, TRANSPARENT FIX WAS WE'RE GOING TO FUND STUDENTS WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY EDUCATED AND HAVE THOSE DIRECT LINES GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IF THEY CHOOSE A CHARTER SCHOOL, AND SO FORTH.

SO THERE ISN'T A WE COULD GIVE YOU A TYPICAL AVERAGE.

BUT YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WHAT WE HAVE IS JUST A BLANKETED BASE COSTS.

AND RIGHT NOW IT'S SPECIFIC AND INDIVIDUALIZED FOR EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT, IN EVERY OR COMMUNITY SCHOOL, WHATEVER OPTION A FAMILY CHOOSES.

THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE FUNDED.

JASON HIBBS: SUPERINTENDENT, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.

DO YOU SUPPORT THAT APPROACH?

I MEAN, IF YOU HAD A MAGIC WAND, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THIS BILL?

THOMAS HOSLER: IT IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE.

IT'S BEEN METICULOUSLY DESIGNED THINKING ABOUT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.

IT'S SCALABLE.

SO 10 YEARS FROM NOW, IF WE NEED MORE MONEY IN TECHNOLOGY, THERE IS NOW A WAY TO PUT MONEY IN THE FORMULA WITHOUT CREATING ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS, THAT THAT YOU CAN ADD MORE MONEY IN THIS CATEGORY OR THAT CATEGORY TODAY, LIKE WITH THE SUCCESS AND WELLNESS FUNDS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS, HAS, HAS BROUGHT IN FOR SCHOOLS.

IT'S ALL MONEY.

THAT IS IT'S FOR A GREAT CAUSE.

BUT IT'S PARKED OUTSIDE THE FORMULA.

SO WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY INCREASE DESPITE ADDING NEW STUDENTS.

AND THIS MONEY NEW TO THE TWO SCHOOLS IS OUTSIDE THE FORMULA, AND IT JUST IS REALLY CHALLENGING.

SO THE ONE CHANGE THAT I WOULD DO IS LET'S FIND THIS ALL YOU KNOW, KEEP IT TOGETHER.

AND AND LET'S LET'S FUND IT AND HIT IT RIGHT OUT OF THE PARK.

JASON HIBBS: OKAY, BUT I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT OPPONENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE BILL.

BUT FIRST, WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK THOSE OF YOU AT HOME, GRAB YOUR CELL PHONE, GET READY TO TAKE A PHOTO BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU SOME WEBSITES IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS SOME WEBSITES WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET MORE INFORMATION.

WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE BACKSTORY IN JUST A MOMENT.

(MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BACKSTORY.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OVERHAULING OHIO SCHOOL FUNDING VIA HOUSE BILL ONE WITH REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN ROSE SWEENEY AND SUPERINTENDENT TOM HOSLER.

REPRESENTATIVE.

A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WANT TO EXPAND THE VOUCHER PROGRAM THEY INTRODUCED A BILL TO DO THAT LETS THE MONEY FOLLOW THE CHILD GIVE PARENTS A CHOICE.

HOW DOES YOUR BILL IMPACT PARENTS WITH KIDS ENROLLED IN PRIVATE SCHOOL OR USING VOUCHERS?

REP. SWEENEY: YEAH, SO OUR BILL WON'T ACTUALLY HAVE ANY IMPACT AND WHAT WE ON THE ACTUAL QUALIFY IF SOMEONE QUALIFIES TO GET A VOUCHER OR THEIR OPTIONS TO CHOOSE IN THE STATE.

BUT WHAT WE DID HERE IS ON THE BACK END, IS THAT CURRENTLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING THE WAY THAT WE CURRENTLY FUND SCHOOLS IS WHERE WE COUNT STUDENTS IS THAT THEY ARE COUNTED WHERE THEY LIVE, AND THEN THEY ARE DEDUCTED IF THEY CHOOSE A DIFFERENT OPTION OUTSIDE OF THAT TRADITIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

SO IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE A STUDENT THAT LIVES IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, BUT YOU DECIDE TO USE A VOUCHER OPTIONS, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS DEDUCTING THAT FROM THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL BUDGET.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES WE DO THIS FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND FOR VOUCHERS IS THAT IT'S NOT ALWAYS A STRAIGHT LINE.

SO SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACTUALLY WILL BE DEDUCTED MORE THAN THE STATE GIVES THEM.

AND THAT MAKES, AS I MENTIONED, VERY HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS IN THE STATE.

AND THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE COMPETITORS.

AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA COMPETE FOR STUDENTS.

BUT NO ONE SHOULD BE LOSING OUT MORE THAN WHAT'S OWED TO THEM AND MAKING ONE OPTION WORSE THAN THE OTHER.

AND SO, AGAIN, IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING FOR WHO QUALIFIES FROM THAT.

BUT IT'S GOING TO MAKE I BELIEVE, THE ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THESE SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS BETTER SO PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY FOCUS ON ATTRACTING STUDENTS TO THE SCHOOL AND NOT TAKING RESOURCES, OTHER PEOPLE'S POCKETS.

JASON HIBBS: AND REPRESENTATIVE WHEN PEOPLE HEAR TALK ABOUT CHANGING ANYTHING, THERE'S ALWAYS THE FEAR THAT TAXES WILL INCREASE.

HOW WILL THIS IMPACT TAXES?

REP. SWEENEY: WELL, WE ARE WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED BEFORE YOU WHICH IS IS FULLY PHASED IN IS A $2 BILLION INCREASE OVER SIX YEAR PHASING.

AND THAT SEEMS LIKE A LOT BUT FIRST SAY THAT THE COST OF NOT DOING THIS HAS COST US WAY MORE AND TO IF YOU LOOK AT THE INCREASES BY EVERY GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT WE HAVE INCREASED, IT'S ON PAR WITH THAT SIX YEAR PHASE IN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, $300 MILLION.

AND SO THIS ADDITIONAL DOLLARS WE HAVE CURRENTLY IN THE STATE, AND WE WILL NOT NEED TO INCREASE TAXES IN ANY WAY ON THE STATE LEVEL.

AND, BUT THIS OF THE WAY WE FUND SCHOOLS IN THE STATE IS STILL A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

BUT YOU KNOW, SO IT'S NOT GOING TO GET RID OF LEVIES, BUT WE HOPE THAT BECAUSE WE'RE DOING IT IN A TRANSPARENT, MORE STABLE AND ACTUALLY FUNDING, WHAT IT ACTUALLY COSTS EDUCATED STUDENT THAT LEVIES WILL HOPEFULLY BE LESS, THEY WON'T HAVE TO IN THE SUPERINTENDENCE EXAMPLE THAT HE HAS TO KEEP GOING BACK TO HIS DISTRICT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE AND MORE STUDENTS AND THE STATE IS NOT KICKING IN, THAT'S UNFAIR, AND THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS DON'T HAVE TO KEEP COMING BACK FOR LEVIES AND LEVIES.

SO IT'S NOT GOING TO GET REMOVED THE LEVIES.

BUT HOPEFULLY IT SHOULD MAKE THEM LESS AND ALSO HOPEFULLY, HAVE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW WE'RE SPENDING MONEY WHERE IT'S COMING FROM, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU, THERE'S NOT MANY PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF OHIO THAT COULD EXPLAIN HOW IT CURRENTLY WORKS.

AND THAT'S NOT JUST SAYING BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.

I MEAN, IT IS SO BACKWARDS AND CONVOLUTED THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW CITIZENS CAN UNDERSTAND.

AND I GET THEIR FRUSTRATION AS TO WHY THEY DON'T HAVE A FULL GRASP AS TO WHY, YOU KNOW, THEIR SCHOOLS ARE COMING TO THEM YEAR AFTER YEAR TO INCREASE OUR LEVY, JASON HIBBS: SUPERINTENDENT, THIS IS A 20 PLUS YEAR CONVERSATION, AND WE'VE HAD SIMILAR BILL IN THE PAST THAT FAILED.

HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT THIS THING WILL GET PAST THE FINISH LINE?

THOMAS HOSLER: I THINK THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT COMING FROM THE HOUSE DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND IT THE MOST ARE TRULY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS SINCERELY, I THINK THERE WERE IN REPRESENTATIVE CORRECT ME, I THINK THERE WAS APPLAUSE AFTER IT PASSED IN DECEMBER.

IT WAS A GREAT MOMENT.

AND AND SO YOU KNOW, NOW IT MOVES INTO THE SENATE WHERE THE SENATE HAS KIND OF DIFFERENT MARCHING ORDERS IN TERMS OF THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO PRIORITIZE.

AND, AND SO THERE'S THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

AND AND THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS A PRETTY BIG BARGAINING CHIP.

SO NOW IT MOVES INTO THE REALM OF POLITICS.

BUT TO KIND OF PULL BACK FROM POLITICS FOR A MOMENT, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT A LOT OF NUMBERS HERE.

THERE'S ONE NUMBER THAT HAS REALLY DRIVEN WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

AND RIGHT NOW, THAT NUMBER IS 2034.

AND NO, THAT'S NOT MY PIN NUMBER ON MY DEBIT CARD.

BUT 2034 IS RIGHT NOW TODAY, WE'RE REGISTERING STUDENTS WHO ARE WHO ARE GOING TO GRADUATE IN THE CLASS OF 2034.

AND WE HAVE A FORMULA HERE THAT IS BASED ON COMPONENTS FROM THE 21ST CENTURY FROM THE 80S AND 90S.

AND WE'RE NOW EDUCATING STUDENTS FOR THE, YOU KNOW, THE 21ST CENTURY, THE SECOND QUARTER, BUT YET WE HAVE A FUNDING MECHANISM THAT IS TIED TO THE PAST.

AND AND YOU KNOW, I'M A MUSIC LOVER, AND AND TODAY'S KIDS ARE LISTENING, THEY CARRY AN IPHONE, THEY LISTEN TO THEIR AIR PODS, AND THEY STREAM MUSIC.

BUT WE HAVE A FUNDING SYSTEM THAT WAS AROUND WHEN PEOPLE WERE LISTENING TO EIGHT TRACK TAPES AND CASSETTES.

AND OHIO DESERVES BETTER THAN THAT.

SO I GET THE NUMBERS AND WHAT THE STATE CAN COMMIT TO AND WHAT THE STATE CAN'T COMMIT TO.

THOSE ARE ALL IMPORTANT THINGS.

BUT WHEN THE STATE DOESN'T ACT, AND WHEN THE STATE DOESN'T TAKE THE STEP TO OWN THIS, AND IT'S PART OF IT'S IN THE CONSTITUTION, WHEN THEY SIT ON THEIR HANDS, LOCAL TAXPAYERS, LIKE IN PERRYSBURG HAVE TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE.

THEY KNOW WHAT THAT PRICE TAG IS.

AND I THINK IT'S TIME THAT THE STATE IS ABLE TO COME TOGETHER, THEY HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO IT, AS THE REPRESENTATIVE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THIS, AND IT'S A PERFECT TIME.

SO I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA PASS IT IN TOTAL.

THERE'LL BE SOME, SOME HORSE TRADING THERE AT THE END.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT THAT THE THIS BILL, THE WORK THAT WAS PUT IN IS INTACT, AND AND GETS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE.

JASON HIBBS: YEAH, I MEAN, YOU TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT SUPERINTENDENT, WHAT HAPPENS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IF LAWMAKERS DO NOTHING?

THOMAS HOSLER: WELL, WE, YOU KNOW, JASON, WE'VE SEEN THIS MOVIE, WE KNOW HOW IT ENDS.

AND THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BACK AT THE POLLS WE'RE ASKING VOTERS FOR TO MAKE UP THAT GAP.

UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE ANOTHER FREEZE THAT'LL BE FOUR YEARS OF A STATE FUNDING FREEZE ON THE BASE FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND AND IN A GROWING DISTRICT, WHO'S HOW DO WE PAY FOR THESE EXTRA TEACHERS?

HOW DO WE PAY FOR THE EXTRA BUSES TO BUS OUR STUDENTS?

AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

SINCE 1976, THIS IS THIS IS AMAZING.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT TALKING JUST ABOUT PERRYSBURG BECAUSE PERRYSBURG RESIDENT WE'LL THINK IT'S JUST IN PERRYSBURG.

BUT JUST 1976.

IN OHIO, THERE'S BEEN 10,000 SCHOOL LEVIES PUT BEFORE VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

THERE ISN'T ANOTHER STATE NEAR THAT.

AND THAT'S CRAZY.

AND AND THERE'S ELEMENTS HERE THAT WE NEED TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS THAT, BECAUSE THE LOCAL VOTERS ARE SAYING WHY.

AND AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY NOW TO AS REPRESENTATIVE SAID, WE'RE STILL GOING TO NEED LEVIES, BECAUSE THE WAY THE STATE SHARE IS SET UP, BUT IT'LL BE PREDICTABLE.

AND MAYBE LESS FREQUENTLY AND LESS INTENSE.

BECAUSE NOW IT'S HIGH STAKES WHEN WHEN DISTRICTS GO, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS RIDING ON IT.

AND WE'RE HOPING TO CALM THAT DOWN.

JASON HIBBS: SO YOU BOTH SUPPORT THE BILL, AS WE WRAP UP, REPRESENTATIVE, WHAT ARE NAYSAYERS SAYING?

AND WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THEM?

REP. SWEENEY: UM, WE DON'T HAVE ANY NAYSAYERS I'M KIDDING, I'M AT THE END OF THE DAY.

THE BIG THING IS THE COSTS.

BUT I THINK AS I'VE ALREADY BROKEN DOWN THE COST, SOMEONE'S PAYING FOR IT, IT'S EITHER THE CHILDREN AREN'T GETTING THE EDUCATION, WHICH IS THERE'S A COST TO THAT.

IT'S BEEN ON THE BACKS OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

AND THE FACT THAT IT IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PORTIONS OF THE BUDGET, AND IT IS JUST THE MOST FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE THING, TO HAVE A FUNDING FORMULA THAT NOT ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ON.

AND IT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PORTIONS OF OUR STATE BUDGET, AND WE CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I CONNECT IT TO ME, YOU KNOW, I AM A LITTLE BIT YOUNGER, WHEN THIS THE ROTH CASE CAME OUT, I WAS IN KINDERGARTEN, SO I AM OLD ENOUGH, OR THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH THAT I'VE GONE THROUGH MY ENTIRE EDUCATION JOURNEY TO COLLEGE TO BE OLD ENOUGH TO BE A STATE REP TO FINALLY AND FULLY FIXED THIS.

THERE IS NO OTHER PLAN, THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE.

IT IS EITHER WE HAVE THIS THAT IS SUPPORTED BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HIGH INCOME, LOW INCOME, RURAL, URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND THE OTHER FACTORS HERE, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS JUST THE ALMOST LIKE THE BARE MINIMUM TO GET US TO A FORMULA THAT IS AT LEAST FAIR AND THAT WE GOT AGREEMENT ON.

SO THERE ARE THINGS OF COURSE WE CAN COMPROMISE ON BUT THE ACTUAL BUILDING BLOCKS THAT WERE CREATED BY THIS GROUP FOR THREE YEARS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO LOGICAL REASON WHY WE CANNOT BE WORKING FROM THIS FAIR SCHOOL FUNDING PLAN.

JASON HIBBS: THE BILLS ONLINE, IT IS NOT A QUICK READ.

MOST OF THEM AREN'T, I'M SURE, SUPERINTENDENT, A LOT OF PARENTS, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY DON'T KNOW THE INTRICACIES OF THIS.

WHAT SHOULD COMMUNITY MEMBERS DO?

THOMAS HOSLER: I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE BEAUTIES ABOUT THIS, THIS PLAN AND WHY IT HAS SURVIVED THREE YEARS OF DISCUSSION AND DEBATE AND REFINEMENT IS BECAUSE I THINK EDUCATORS PRACTITIONERS FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE HAS COME TOGETHER.

MY CO CHAIR WAS SOMEBODY FROM AKRON ON THE OTHER END OF THE TURNPIKE.

AND I THINK WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIPARTISAN LEADERSHIP THAT WE SAW, I THINK THE FACT THAT THE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES HAVE PUT TOGETHER THIS GROUP, I THINK THAT IT SHOWS THAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING OUT FOR ALL OHIO, ALL OHIOANS AND ALL CHILDREN IN OHIO.

AND AND IT'S VERY COMPLICATED, AS A REPRESENTATIVE SAID, SO WHO DO YOU TRUST TO GUIDE YOU?

THIS IS WHAT WE DO.

YOU KNOW, MR. PENDLETON AND I HAVE 37 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE IN AS A TREASURER AND SUPERINTENDENT, WE WAKE UP THINKING ABOUT EDUCATION AND THESE STUDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SO I WOULD SAY TRUST THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU TRUST YOUR CHILDREN TO ALREADY, BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONES THAT ARE OUT THERE WHO UNDERSTAND IT.

BEWARE OF THOSE WHO ARE PART OF THREE OR FOUR COMMITTEES WHO ARE JUGGLING LOTS OF THINGS WHO COME IN AT THE LAST MINUTE AND SAY, HEY, WE HAVE A PLAN.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN AROUND THE ENTIRE STATE AND REPRESENTATIVE AS WELL TALKING TO EDUCATORS FROM ATHENS AND AND TRUMBULL COUNTY AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY, WE HAVE FACED EVERYBODY ANSWERED EVERY QUESTION.

THIS HAS BEEN WELL VETTED.

REPRESENTATIVE.

JASON HIBBS: I'M SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF.

SUPERINTENDENT REPRESENTATIVE.

I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD, WHAT SAY YOU TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY?

REP. SWEENEY: I SAY THAT THIS IS THIS IS IT.

THIS IS THE MOMENT AS I SAID IF IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE FUNDING COMES FROM.

AND SO I'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, I MEAN, SEVEN YEARS WORKING ON CAPITOL SQUARE, AND THE ONLY TIME I'VE EVER SEEN ANYONE MOVE ON SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T WANT TO IS BY PUBLIC PRESSURE.

AND THIS IMPACTS EVERYONE IN THE STATE REGARDLESS IF YOU HAVE STUDENTS THERE OR NOT.

WE'RE ALL TAXPAYERS.

IT IS FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.

THE WAY THAT WE'RE FUNDING THIS WE CANNOT AFFORD I MEAN, IT IS WHY YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE OF THE MORAL IMPERATIVE OF A YOU KNOW, NO MATTER WHERE COME FROM WHERE YOU LIVE.

IT IS IN OUR OHIO CONSTITUTION THAT YOU'RE OWED A QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE STATE AND WE ARE NOT DELIVERING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE GET TOLD THAT, YOU KNOW, BY YOUR SUPREME COURT THAT, HEY, YOU NEED TO FIX THIS AND WE JUST HAVE IT.

JASON HIBBS: I'M SORRY.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO LEAVE IT AT THAT.

I APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND DISCUSSING THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.

THANKS FOR EVERYONE WORKING HARD BEHIND THE SCENES THAT BACKSTORY AND THANKS TO YOU AT HOME FOR WATCHING.

I'M JASON HIBBS.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON BACKSTORY.

ANNOUNCER: BACKSTORY IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY KEYBANK WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU (MUSIC)