Ohio School Officials Oppose State Bill Limiting Local Control Over Building Sales
Canton superintendent leads coalition opposing state bill that would force school building sales based on enrollment thresholds, calling provisions an attack on local voter control.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — School superintendents and education unions testified against provisions in a proposed state bill that would restrict how local districts can sell or dispose of unused school buildings, arguing the legislation undermines local control and voter input.
Ohio Senate Bill 311, currently under review in the Senate Education Committee, includes multiple education-related changes ranging from anti-cheating measures to truancy enforcement. However, one section addressing school property disposal drew sharp criticism from district leaders this week.
Jeff Talbert, superintendent of Canton City Schools and co-chair of the Ohio 8 Coalition, told committee members the bill creates problematic state mandates over local property decisions. The Ohio 8 Coalition represents superintendents and teacher union presidents from Canton, Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Lorain, Toledo, and Youngstown.
New Requirements for School Building Sales
The legislation would revise current state law by requiring school districts to sell unused facilities at “the appraised fair market value as an educational facility.” Districts would also be mandated to offer these properties to chartered private schools before seeking buyers outside the district.
Perhaps most controversial is a provision that uses enrollment levels of 60% or lower as a trigger to force building closures and sales. Talbert criticized this approach, saying it creates an “artificial threshold” that does not reflect “the reality of how buildings are actually being used.”
“Any building impacted by voter-approved permanent improvement levies and bond issues should be exempt,” Talbert said during his testimony.
Local Control Concerns
The superintendent argued the bill “rejects the stated preferences of local residents and voters that have been asked to decide on the use of and support for school facilities.” His comments highlight ongoing tensions between state oversight and local district autonomy in Ohio education policy.
Major education unions also requested changes to the broader bill during committee proceedings this week, though specific details of their concerns were not immediately available.
Additional Bill Provisions
Beyond property disposition rules, Senate Bill 311 addresses several other education issues. The legislation targets so-called “cheating resources” by cracking down on services or organizations that advertise assistance “with the intention of assisting a learner to cheat” on exams or assignments.
The bill also includes provisions related to truancy enforcement and updates to educator licensure regulations, representing a comprehensive approach to education policy changes.
The Senate Education Committee has not announced when it will vote on the legislation. The bill would need approval from both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly and the governor’s signature to become law.
