Statehouse News Bureau

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Speaker Not Pleased With Move Of Wraparound Services Money

By Karen Kasler

Published June 12, 2019 at 10:26 PM EDT

Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) [Karen Kasler / Statehouse News Bureau] — Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford)

The Speaker of the House isn’t pleased that the Senate has diverted some money his chamber had put toward services for lower-income students into other educational priorities.

Gov. Mike DeWine’s budget had put $550 million into a fund for lower-income districts to provide counselors, after school programs and other wraparound services. The House added $125 million to that.

Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) said that extra money was moved into the voucher program and to supplement funding for fast-growing school districts.

Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) noticed.

“I know there was money that went to some of the wealthier schools, the ‘capped’ schools, and I kind of thought that’s where it went – sort of a ‘rob from the poor, give to the rich’ kind of a thing," Householder said.

Some fast-growing districts that have had their increases in state funding limited or "capped" have threatened a lawsuit, but Senators say the money move isn't a response to that.