April 29, 2010                             

Representative Grossman Works to Preserve Franklin County School Districts Through Win-Win

COLUMBUS—State Representative Cheryl Grossman (R – Grove City) today announced her plans to help keep the integrity of the Franklin County School Districts intact.  The Win-Win agreement that has dictated the school district boundaries for Franklin County School Districts is being analyzed as to whether it should be renewed or not.

“I am introducing legislation that would protect the students in Franklin County’s suburban school districts by giving each district a say in the matter, as opposed to being at the mercy of Columbus City Schools,” Grossman said.

This legislation would give suburban school districts parity in the matter by requiring each suburban school district to vote on the Win-Win agreement.  If one of the school districts voted to keep the Win-Win agreement intact, Columbus City Schools would be required to honor the agreement as it currently stands.  If a suburban school district voted to not renew the Win-Win agreement, then Columbus City Schools would not be obligated to honor the Win-Win agreement with that specific school district.

Currently, the Columbus City School Board is analyzing whether or not the $6.3 million that nine suburban school districts are collectively paying them is still a good deal.  While the State Board of Education would have the ultimate say in any attempt to change school-district boundaries, the Columbus City School Board could decide not to renew the agreement.

“54,000 single-family homes are located in the Win-Win areas that could be affected by changes to the agreement,” Grossman added.  “These homes, valued at over $9 billion dollars, pay taxes to the suburban school districts that their children attend, and a possible change in the Win-Win agreement could place a tremendous economic burden on the districts.”

The Win-Win agreement is a legal agreement implemented in 1986 that settled school boundaries in Franklin County.  The agreement is being evaluated by the Columbus City School Board as to whether it should be renewed for another six years.