There is a bill moving through the Ohio Assembly right now that would provide vouchers to ALL Ohio parents who make less than $95,000. It would not matter if those parents lived in a city with bad schools or in a suburb with highly effective schools. That measure was sponsored by a Republican from Lima, and it was probably designed to antagonize the teacher unions. Whatever the motivation, if that bill becomes law, it would change the landscape of education in the Mahoning Valley significantly. Ironically, it would have no impact on the African-American kids that are now filling Ursuline. As Youngstown residents, they already qualify for vouchers under the old law. This new law would directly impact numerous Catholic families in the Mahoning Valley who might want to send their children to Mooney, Ursuline, or Kennedy but lack the financial resources. Should this become law, the ramifications for local schools would go well beyond sports.
