COLUMBUS — September 29, 2009 — Ohio Education Association President Patricia Frost-Brooks issued the following statement on the state budget crisis:
“The Ohio Department of Education has given us a sobering damage report on the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision on video lottery terminals. Not only do we risk losing $851 million in state aid to schools, but Ohio could lose billions more by becoming ineligible for federal stimulus dollars. Ohio schools could face immediate cutbacks that actually get worse next school year. OEA called upon legislative leaders to meet quickly in order to resolve this situation in a way that protects public education, as Governor Strickland has pledged to do. Local school districts and Ohio colleges and universities cannot live with the uncertainty of up to $2.3 billion in cuts in state funding. Nor can the state of Ohio turn the corner economically without a strong commitment to public education as a bridge to the careers and industries of the future.”
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The Ohio Education Association (ohea.org) represents 121,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals in Ohio’s public schools, colleges and universities.
CONTACT: Michele Prater
614-227-3071; cell 614-378-0469, praterm@ohea.org