HOWLAND — The Howland Board of Education on Monday approved joining the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy for fair school funding for public schools and is considering joining the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit to declare the use of school vouchers for private schools as unlawful.

The board discussed the funding situation before approving by a 5-0 vote joining the equity and adequacy group at a cost of $4,600 based on the school district’s student population of 2,300 students with each student costing $2.

Superintendent Kevin Spicher said there is a lawsuit centered on how vouchers hurt public schools by taking state money away from public schools and giving it to charter and private schools. The original lawsuit was supposed to be heard Nov. 4 before Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Jaiza N. Page, but the judge decided to postpone the hearing to 2025, thus giving more school districts a chance to sign on.

Spicher said the lawsuit will be heard in front of the Ohio Supreme Court in February.

“The program is diverting funds from public schools. Howland is always struggling with funding. The voucher program is causing problems for many school districts like Howland,” Spicher said.

“Our board stood up for Howland students and taxpayers tonight and I am proud of their demonstration of support for the Howland Local School District and for public education in Ohio,” said Ed Whitaker, president of the Howland Classroom Teachers Association, who attended the meeting.

In other business, Treasurer Julie Sloan said the district is watching its funds and spending, but noted in the 2025-26 school year, the district will be in deficit spending.

She said she and school officials look at each staff member’s retirement to see if there needs to be a replacement for that position in order to save money. Spicher said each retirement is reviewed to make sure no student learning and programs are affected if they are not replaced.

Whitaker informed the board there will be additional retirements in teaching staff in upcoming years, which can help the district financially.