What are your views on Ohio’s expanding EdChoice voucher program and its effect on public school funding? Do you believe it aligns with the Ohio Constitution? If so, how should taxpayer funding be distributed between public and private schools?

TL;DR: I see the uncapped voucher program as a fiscally irresponsible attack on public schools, which are the bedrock of our democracy. I took action by helping our district join the statewide lawsuit to stop it. If private schools take public money, they must be held to the same transparency and accountability standards as public schools.

A strong public education system is the bedrock of our democracy and the best investment a community can make. Today, that foundation is under attack from political interference, harmful state and federal pressures, and fiscally irresponsible schemes designed to drain resources from the schools that serve all children.

The current most significant drain is Ohio’s uncapped EdChoice voucher program, which diverts over a billion dollars in public tax money to private and religious schools while the state’s own bipartisan Fair School Funding Formula remains underfunded. This is fiscally irresponsible, especially when many of these private institutions have selective admissions policies. It is important to note, however, that these uncapped vouchers are distinct from programs like the Jon Peterson Scholarship that support students with special needs.

My philosophy is rooted in action, which is why I have a record of proactively building networks with other districts and legislators to fight back. Believing action was essential, I helped lead our district to join the statewide lawsuit against this flawed voucher program.

My position is simple: there should be no public funding without public accountability. We demand transparency from tax-exempt hospitals, requiring them to prove their community benefit. We must demand the same from private schools that receive nearly $1 billion of our state's money, especially when they are permitted to discriminate in who they admit and what they teach.

Upper Arlington is strong, but we cannot stand alone. To secure a strong future for the 90% of Ohio children in public education, we must work collaboratively with other public schools against these threats. Public money must be for the public good. Period.