A look at Ohio school funding: Part 1

Dayton, Ohio (WDTN) - On Thursday, Jan 31, Ohio Governor John Kasich will introduce his reform and funding program for Ohio schools.

Kasich is expected to address the long-standing inequities between school districts in Ohio.

For decades, Ohio has struggled to find equitable ways to fund it's schools.

The state has come up with different plans that would find the right balance without placing too much burden upon the taxpayer.

In 1991, the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding, an alliance of more than 500 school districts, filed a lawsuit on behalf of Nathan DeRolph, a student in the Northern Local School District in Perry County.

The lawsuit claimed the state failed to provide a thorough and efficient educational system and that it relied too heavily on property taxes.

In 1997, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Ohio's school funding system unconstitutional, directing the legislature to overhaul the funding system. 

Also in 1997, The Ohio School Facilities Commission was created and took measures to spread the wealth by using $2.3 billion in tobacco settlement money, commissioned studies to determine how much should be spent on each student and focused more funding for districts with lower property values.

In 1999, for the first time in the states history, they created a separate school budget so educational spending wouldn't be overlooked.

The state tried several times to pass a sales tax for schools, which voters rejected.

The commission has since shifted it's focus to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot , but have yet to get the signatures needed.

On Thursday, Jan 31 the next chapter in the Ohio Schools Funding saga will play-out as Governor Kasich lays-out his finance plan for the state.

Read part two of Dan's report here.