A $59 million reduction in funding for chartered nonpublic schools means less money to go around for textbooks, technology, remedial instructors and other auxiliary services at Catholic schools across Ohio this fall.
More than 70 percent of the students affected by the cuts in the state budget attend Catholic schools, which will see about a 15 percent reduction in funding from both the Auxiliary Services Program (ASP) and the Administrative Cost Reimbursement Program (ACR).
That amounts to about $140 less per student this year, said Jack Altenburger, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Toledo.
Speaking on behalf of Ohio’s Catholic bishops, Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk of Cincinnati sent a letter voicing dismay about the cuts to Governor Ted Strickland and each member of the Ohio General Assembly July 27.
“We recognize the unprecedented economic situation facing Ohio, but we are troubled by the selectivity and harshness of certain cuts and the lack of public input into the conference committee’s recommendations,” the bishops wrote.
State budgets have treated students attending public and chartered nonpublic schools equitably for more than 25 years, the bishops noted, but that was not the case with this budget.
“When the new cuts are added to cuts made during 2008/2009, funding for these programs benefiting students in chartered nonpublic schools will be 17.5 percent less than it was on July 1, 2009, while state support for students in public schools will be reduced by less than 1 percent and then bolstered with federal stimulus money,” the Ohio bishops said in the letter.
“The new budget suggests that Catholic taxpayers and the children we serve will be the last to receive any consideration and the first to be cut,” they added.
The loss of funding will manifest in a variety of ways, depending on how each school used the money.
Mr. Altenburger explained the ASP program pays for secular textbooks, technology and remedial help personnel such as counselors and speech and hearing therapists. Catholic schools contract with public school employees for these services.
“Probably what will happen is some of these therapists and remedial teachers will have hours cut, and we’ll have the same services but fewer hours, which means there’s a direct impact on services we can provide for kids who need the help,” said Mr. Altenburger.
“That’s the saddest thing about it all,” he added. “It has a direct impact on kids, because a lot of these services are one-on-one contact with kids — for example, a speech therapist or counselor helping a student.”
The ASP cuts may also mean schools have to delay the purchase of new textbooks or computers, he said.
Mr. Altenburger said the ACR funding differs from the ASP funding in that it reimburses schools directly for services mandated by the state, such as safety programs. Each Catholic school can then choose how to use that ACR money.
Mr. Altenburger said the 15 percent reduction in ACR funding means schools “have to do one of two things: either find a way to cut expenses, and most of our schools have continually done that, or find new sources of income.”
Since tuition is already set for next year, he said school families should not expect to see a sudden increase. Instead, schools will likely have to appeal to donors to increase revenue.
“So it will be a combination of tightening of belts and putting things off and appealing to parishioners and donors and benefactors for help to maintain the quality,” said Mr. Altenburger.
Carolyn Jurkowitz, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Ohio (CCO), said the cuts affect about 195,000 students attending nonpublic schools chartered by the Ohio Department of Education, including all Catholic schools and many Christian, Jewish, Islamic and secular private schools.
She estimates a typical elementary school of 350 students will see its state-funded assistance reduced by $50,000, and a typical high school of 800 students will see its assistance reduced by $114,000.
In their letter, the Ohio bishops also noted the “reduction in the scholarship amounts for EdChoice and elimination of systematic increases in these amounts will be detrimental to parents and students who desire to benefit from an education in our Catholics schools.”
Even though the budget has passed, Ms. Jurkowitz said people should continue to contact their legislators to express their disappointment.
Mr. Altenburger said school families should ask for “equal treatment” and remind their legislators that chartered nonpublic schools save Ohio taxpayers $2 billion a year.
Catholic schools can also invite their legislators to visit and tour schools, he added.
The CCO, the official representative of the Catholic Church in public matters affecting the church and the general welfare of the citizens of Ohio, will lead a push to get the funding restored when the Ohio General Assembly returns from recess this fall.
“We’re not just going to sit back here by any means,” said Ms. Jurkowitz.
Ms. Jurkowitz said 142,700 students attended 432 Catholic elementary, middle and secondary schools in Ohio during the 2008-2009 school year.
In the Diocese of Toledo, 22,648 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade attended 81 Catholic schools.
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The letter from the Catholic Bishops of Ohio regarding the state budget is available in its entirety at http://www.ohiocathconf.org/I/Budget/BudgetCutLtr.pdf.
To find the state legislator who represents your Catholic school, visit www.ohiocathconf.org.
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