Public weighs in on student representative, voucher lawsuit

by Sheldon Ocker

Oct. 13 board of education work session

At the request of the Revere Board of Education, Superintendent Dan White solicited community input on two issues: a proposal to name a student representative to the school board and whether the district should join a lawsuit challenging the use of taxpayer money for private school vouchers.

Student representative

More than 20 people participated in person or via Zoom in White’s listening and learning session.

He reported that “all participants agreed that they support a student voice and student leadership. That was unanimous.”

However, participants raised questions about the selection process, the number of students involved and how the board should prepare them to participate in public board proceedings.

“Some thought one representative was appropriate,” White said. “Others thought maybe it should be a group of student representatives.”

In prior discussions, the board was leaning toward naming one senior and one junior, each serving a two-year term.

White said participants also questioned whether the program should begin this school year or next.

Voucher program

The voucher lawsuit reached the 10th District Court of Appeals in Columbus, where a three-judge panel unanimously sided with the plaintiffs, more than 300 school districts, ruling that the voucher program violates the Ohio Constitution.

The state is expected to appeal the decision to the Ohio Supreme Court.

According to White, Revere residents raised several concerns: the financial impact on the district, whether alternative funding could be used instead of district revenue, how joining the lawsuit might affect residents’ access to EdChoice scholarships and how state funding to Revere might be affected.

White said there is no way to determine the effect on state funding until the court case is decided and lawmakers respond.

PTA agenda

Laura Watson, president of the Revere Council of PTAs, informed the board of PTA activities at all four district schools.

Each school has its own parent-teacher organization, and Watson explained that the council’s objective is to unify all four PTAs.

She outlined plans for each school’s PTA and activities sponsored by the council.

At Revere High School, PTA projects include awarding two $750 scholarships, increased from $500 last year. The PTA also collaborates on the Celebration of the Arts project and the national PTA art contest.

The organization helps fund The Promenade, Senior Sunset and Krispy Kreme sales at football games.

At Revere Middle School, the PTA helps organize the Male Mentor Walk, fall and spring dances, the eighth-grade dance, the seventh-grade field trip to Cedar Point and the eighth-grade Legacy Project.

Bath PTA activities include the fall fundraiser, a family outing to a Cleveland Monsters game and Readathon.

At Richfield, the PTA assists with the Mileage Club, mother-son and father-daughter events and the end-of-year carnival.

Watson appealed for volunteers and donations.