Parents, educators and concerned citizens filled a room at the Grove City library for a town hall to share concerns about disability education amid uncertainty around state and federal funding for students with disabilities.
The Aug. 12 event in a community room at the Southwest Public Libraries Grove City branch was hosted by Parents United for Public Schools, and was joined by groups like Policy Matters Ohio, Red, Wine and Blue, Ohio Education Association, and Vouchers Hurt Ohio.
Nick Tuell, organizer for Parents United for Public Schools, said that the organization was aiming to give parents a seat at the table amid what he said were threats to funding for students, especially those with disabilities.
"Quite frankly, we just don't know what it looks like when it comes to children with disabilities in our public education system," Tuell said. "But we do know that when parents come together and have a collective voice, we can start to make sure we're fighting for our kids."
Similar town halls were organized across the state in Dayton, Cincinnati and Berea, Tuell said, with upcoming ones in New Philadelphia and potentially Toledo. At the Grove City town hall, parents and concerned community members shared their thoughts and questions about the current state of disability education in the region and nation.
Many public schools, including a number in central Ohio, saw their state funding cut in the state's two-year budget passed in June. Even though the state allocates about $120 million more for public schools each of the next two years, Democrats, school officials and union administrators say the sum is still far short of what children and teachers need.
In July, the Trump administration said it will return more than $5 billion in funding that it previously withheld from public schools for nearly a month, The Dispatch previously reported. The programs under review included funding for English learners, teacher training, and academic enrichment.
Joseph Harris, a South Western City Schools parent of students with disabilities, told The Dispatch that after his family's own frustrations with access to education for disabled students, he created a Facebook page for local dads of kids with autism.
After the November election, Harris said he wants to help build a local community of people concerned about federal support for students.
"Solidarity is sorely lacking in our society," Harris said. "I can't do anything about that nationally, but I can do that in my community."
Susan Cavendish, a panelist and parent of a student with autism in the Columbus City Schools, said she was concerned the "devastating" state budget and uncertainty around federal funding would cripple day-to-day services that students with disabilities receive.
"I'm one of those parents who's spoken directly with legislators here in our state and in D.C. I've met with members of Congress, so they're aware — they just don't seem to care," Cavendish said.
During the town hall, a seat on the panel was "reserved" for Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Carey. Tuell said Carey was invited to the event, but did not respond.
"We just want to know what the future looks like (for children with disabilities) and the votes he was taking," Tuell said. "What's the end goal, because what we have is a lot of uncertainty, we have a lot of cuts, and we as parents are not sure what we're supposed to do."
Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at [email protected] or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Local parents, advocates say future of special education uncertain
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