Austintown supt: Open enrollment and charter schools biggest scam ever against Ohio taxpayers

From John Curry, April 15, 2008

Subject: .......a bold Ohio Super who has the guts to tell it like it is!?

"THE OPEN ENROLLMENT POLICY AND CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE THE BIGGEST SCAM EVER WAGED AGAINST THE TAXPAYERS OF THE STATE OF OHIO."

I wonder how many Supers are thinking the same thing but are afraid to ruffle political feathers by saying it out loud? This guy deserves a medal from every public school educator in the Buckeye State! John

WYTV 33 Youngstown, OH

Austintown School Open Enrollment

by Jason Vinkler

Austintown School Superintendent Doug Hoyer has proposed the idea. Allow open enrollment in the township's schools ---And possibly bring in enough money to at least ---ease a projected deficit. But open enrollment means opening the doors to everyone. With only a few exceptions, any student from any other district would be allowed to attend school in Austintown. Tonight was the publics chance to respond to the idea of open enrollment, most of the people who showed up were --Against the idea.

In the past several years Austintown schools have lost 245 students to surrounding districts and charter schools, with those students went the state funding that comes with them. Nearly 55-Hundred dollars per student, or a total of more than 1 point 6 million dollars. To make up some of the lost money, superintendent Doug Hoyer has suggested open enrollment.

"WITH SOME DEFINITE PARAMETERS IN PLACE ON THIS I FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE A VIABLE OPTION FOR US TO REGAIN SOME OF THIS REVENUE THAT'S BEING LOST IN REGARDS TO THIS STATE FUNDING."

The plan however is meeting some strong opposition in the community. Many people don't feel that the state dollars are worth opening the doors to kids living outside of Austintown.

"I WAS IMPRESSED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE OPPOSE OPEN ENROLLMENT ONLY BECAUSE THEY believe IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CONCEPT. OR THEY TOLD ME IT WAS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IDENTITY OR EVEN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OWNERSHIP."

Other opponents agree, and feel that this is a temporary fix and the district will have to go back to the voters for more tax money even if they approve open enrollment.

"THE OPEN ENROLLMENT POLICY AND CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE THE BIGGEST SCAM EVER WAGED AGAINST THE TAXPAYERS OF THE STATE OF OHIO."

But Heuer feels that if this doesn't go through Austintown schools will have more financial issues in the future.

"SO IF WE DON'T SOMEONE TO REGAIN THIS WE'LL NOT ONLY HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT CLASS SIZE, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO REDUCE OUR TEACHING STAFF FURTHER, WHICH WILL ONLY MAKE CLASS SIZES MUCH LARGER THAN ANY OPTION THAT WOULD COME OUT OF A LIMITED OPEN ENROLLMENT."
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[I just sent some comments to Mr. Heuer (Super of Austintown Schools) in the form of a short congratulatory note re. his brave stand against charter schools and open enrollment. If you want to drop him a few lines please click here to do so. John]