It's sad to read in the news that partisan politics may torpedo Governor Strickland's education reform proposals. The Ohio Senate is poised to discard the evidence based model the governor has proposed and instead is ready to continue the unfair and inadequate formula for state aid to Ohio's students. As a former school board member for eight years with extensive knowledge about school funding, I know that if this happens, unfunded mandates in current law will continue to harm students.

The most expensive unfunded mandates for most rural schools are special education and transportation costs. Last year these cost the Federal Hocking district $828,912. This is nearly 8 percent of our entire general fund and is money we have to spend to meet state mandates and don't have to spend to educate our district's students.

The budget passed by the Ohio House eliminates the unfunded mandate for special education students and goes a long way towards eliminating the unfunded transportation mandate for rural schools.

The evidence based model promises research based continuous improvement in teaching practices, curriculum and instruction, teacher professional development, and many other aspects of educating students. It also proposes a process for measuring, reporting and improving on the cost effective expenditure of taxpayer money. Discarding these improvements in favor of continuing the status quo would be a grievous mistake.

Many thanks are due Strickland for his political courage in proposing these reforms in tough economic times. Many thanks are also due State Reps. Stephen Dyer (D-Akron), Debbie Phillips (D-Athens) and Jennifer Garrison (D-Marietta) for improving the governor's proposals.

State Sen. Jimmie Stewart has campaigned for office numerous times promising to reform school funding. From what he has said recently it does not appear he will deliver on these promises.

Tom McGuire

Guysville