This Resolution was read at the State House in Columbus on November 13, 2002. It is endorsed by the Ohio School Board Association, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators and the Ohio Association of School Business Officials. It was passed by the Fairview Park Board of Education on December 9, 2002.
We, the educational leaders of Ohio, elected and appointed such by the citizens of every community in the state, proclaim the need and the right of every child in Ohio to an education which prepares him/her to fully participate in the life of the nation and the world in the 21st century.
We proclaim that each child has this inherent right, independent of the wealth of his/her parents, the affluence of the community in which he/she lives, and independent of his/her race, religion or social circumstance.
We proclaim that the Constitution of the State of Ohio recognized this right when it obligated the Legislature to create and sustain a system of common schools to provide an education to the children of Ohio which is both thorough and efficient.
We proclaim that the children of Ohio are not now all receiving a thorough and efficient education which prepares every child to fully participate in the life of the nation and the world in the 21st century.
We proclaim that there is no more important responsibility facing the Legislature of the State of Ohio than the education of all of Ohio's children. This responsibility affects every family, every community and every person in the state.
We proclaim that the economic, commercial, artistic, scientific, technological, social, and personal future of every Ohioan is intimately tied to the Legislature's response to its constitutional responsibility.
We proclaim that the present taxing and fiscal resource distribution structure in Ohio does not enable school districts to provide every child in Ohio with an education which prepares him/her to fully participate in the life of the nation and the world in the 21st century.
We proclaim that the reliance on property tax as a primary source of revenue is inherently inequitable.
We proclaim that our voice is the voice of the children who are calling on the members of the Ohio General Assembly to provide a world class education for them without regard for political party, or special interests or any other consideration which would turn the members' attention from providing for their future.
We proclaim that legislators of vision, courage, compassion and commitment can form a taxing and fiscal resource distribution structure which will provide every child in Ohio with an education which prepares him/her to fully participate in the life of the nation and the world in the 21st century.
We proclaim our loyalty and assistance in our communities to visionary, courageous, compassionate, and committed legislators who bring about the change needed for our children. And therefore
We implore the members of the General Assembly to make the education of children of Ohio their first priority by revising the taxing structure and the fiscal resource distribution structure so that every child in Ohio will receive an education which prepares him/her to fully participate in the life of the nation and the world in the 21st century.