Web site explores school funding issue

To solicit residents' ideas on how to fund education and to keep them informed on the issue, Ohio has launched a special World Wide Web site (www.OhioSchoolFunding.org).

"We're not expecting to get a silver bullet cure-all, but we can see how people feel about the ideas that are being tossed around," said Scott Milburn, spokesman for the governor.

The Web site is an extension of Gov. Bob Taft's solicitation for ideas to address two Ohio Supreme Court rulings that are forcing the state to reconsider using property taxes to fund schools.

This May, the court gave the state seven specific areas to address. The Web site provides a brief history of the issue, describing each ruling and the state's response, and asking for input from Ohioans.

After entering their electronic mail address and other information, state residents can respond to each issue spelled out by the Supreme Court. Because of the large number of submissions, individuals do not receive responses to their suggestions, but the site will be updated as information is gathered.

The site also provides information on Taft's "field trips" across the state — in which he will participate in moderated discussions — an explanation of Taft's 12-year program to repair and rebuild the state's public school buildings, and a variety of links for more information on the issue.