The Forest Hills School District has joined a growing lawsuit that challenges Ohio’s approach to school funding. On Wednesday night, the school board voted to become one of more than 300 public school districts suing the state over its voucher program. Only one board member, Sara Jonas, voted against the move.
Many parents in the district, including Kimberly Olthoff and Sara Sudkamp, believe the state’s EdChoice Expansion voucher program is damaging their public schools.
“It’s in the process of decimating public schools,” said Olthoff.
Their concerns have grown since state lawmakers removed income limits for voucher eligibility. This change allows families of any income level to use taxpayer money to help pay for private school tuition.
“Just because someone takes EdChoice money doesn’t mean they couldn’t already afford private school,” Sudkamp said. “A lot of those families were already sending their kids to private school.”
Dr. Jason Simmons, a Forest Hills Board of Education member, said public schools are losing state funding because of the voucher program.
“Public tax dollars shouldn’t be going to private schools,” Simmons said. “Those schools get to choose who they enroll. They don’t have to report their financials or meet the same education standards as public schools.”
Forest Hills has now officially joined the lawsuit filed in January 2022 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. The suit names the State of Ohio, the Ohio Department of Education, and officials including former acting superintendent Stephanie Siddens and current director Steve Dackin.
Supporters of school vouchers say the program gives parents more control. Greg Lawson from the Buckeye Institute told statehouse reporter Morgan Trau earlier this year that vouchers are about fairness.
“I spend a lot of tax money,” Lawson said. “I want a little of that back so I can put my student where I think is best.”
Some Republican lawmakers argue that failing school districts may not be spending their money wisely. But Simmons said that districts can’t spend wisely if they don’t have enough funds in the first place.
“I think the majority of the board understands that we’re in a fight—not just to protect our district’s finances, but to defend public education as a whole,” Simmons said.
He added that the lawsuit matters for everyone, even for those without children in public schools.
“If you don’t want local tax levies, then you should be demanding more state funding,” he said. “But vouchers are cutting into state funds, and that means we’ll get even less money.”
