Proposed House Bill threatens Mason budgets

Aditi Varman | The Chronicle

Recent proposals at the Ohio Statehouse are creating serious concerns for schools across the state, including Mason High School. House Bill 96 threatens Mason’s financial stability by capping school savings and risking an $18.5 million loss

Along with these proposed budget cuts, the Ohio House budget cut would eliminate all elected members of the State Board of Education, leaving only five members appointed by the governor. This shift would further the government’s control over public education and affect the proposed cuts to the Mason budget, weakening local voices in education decisions. 

Dr. Jonathan Cooper, the Superintendent of Mason City Schools, focuses on maintaining the district’s financial stability and academic standards. Cooper works to ensure that Mason continues to provide quality education and serve the community, especially when facing the challenges House Bill 96 brings.

“If Bill 96 is approved, we would be forced to reduce the very staffing, programs and services that define the ‘Mason Quality’ our community overwhelmingly supports,” Cooper said. “This would jeopardize our ability to deliver the quality, stability and stewardship our community expects.”

Mason’s past financial success is no accident. Cooper said it is the result of careful planning and responsible budgeting. But with House Bill 96 threatening to undo the system that Mason has set, the district could face many setbacks as a result. All of Mason’s previous efforts for financial stability could be overturned with this bill. 

“Mason City Schools consistently ranks among the top academic performers in the state, while spending at or below the state average,” Cooper said. “The state’s funding model relies on districts like ours.”

Cooper said Mason now faces penalties for the very things that have made the district successful. He has concerns that districts like Mason are unfairly being disregarded and placed at a disadvantage under the proposed legislation. 

“Communities like Mason, which have invested wisely and saved responsibly, should not have those decisions overridden by rushed and restrictive legislation,” Cooper said. 

Shaun Bevan is the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Mason City Schools, he is responsible for overseeing the potential budget cuts to ensure money is spent responsibly to support students and staff.

“We urge the Ohio Senate to take a different approach,” Bevan said. “To listen to the voices of districts like Mason, which fuel Ohio’s economy by preparing students for success, keeping communities strong and attracting families and businesses to our state.”

As Bevan points out, districts like Mason play a crucial role in Ohio’s overall success. The policies being proposed, however, could undermine this important contribution and put unnecessary strain on the district’s future.

“Mason has done its part by managing limited resources, extending levy cycles and delivering excellent results at a cost below the state average,” Bevan said. “Our students, staff and community should not be penalized for doing things the right way.”

Aditi Garikapati is a sophomore at Mason and a leader of the Economic and Business Committee for the Mason Youth Council. In this role, Garikapati leads initiatives focused on student involvement in business decisions of the government and encourages students to voice their opinions and advocate for change. She said the best approach students can take is to get involved by reaching out to legislators and attempting to stop the cuts before they take effect. 

“Students should be helping to raise awareness,” Garikapati said. “We may not control the budget, but we can definitely speak up, share the facts with our families and even write letters to lawmakers. Right now, the best thing we can do is help stop the cuts before they happen by encouraging our community to contact legislators and ask them to remove the reserve cap from House Bill 96.”

While students may not have major decision-making power over the budget, Garikapati said their ability to inform others is extremely important. Through platforms like the student council, they can turn their concerns into action and progress. 

“Being in student council doesn’t give us direct control over funding, but it gives us a platform to raise awareness and rally support for our school,” Garikapati said.  “Even though we don’t get a vote in the Statehouse, we do have a voice.”

Garikapati said the consequences of the budget cuts go far beyond numbers. The transformation of Mason budget structure carries deeper implications for the entire community.

“This kind of policy shifts the pressure back onto families and makes it harder for the district to plan long-term,” Garikapati said. “It creates uncertainty for everyone.”

Garikapati said she wants to use her leadership position to encourage civic engagement and push for greater awareness. With her own education on the line, she said it is more important than ever for students to understand the widespread effects these budget cuts could have. 

“Budget cuts affect everyone, from the students in AP classes to those in the arts and special education,” Garikapati said. “We can’t just sit back and hope it works out. We need to speak up for each other.”