MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon City Schools is projected to lose roughly $4 million in state funding cuts if the current proposed biannual statehouse budget is passed, according to school officials.

At Monday’s board of education meeting, Mount Vernon superintendent Bill Seder said countywide superintendents met with Knox County statehouse representatives Mark Hiner and Beth Lear, both Republicans, about the proposed cuts for school districts.

Seder championed the meeting as productive, adding it’s important to keep open lines of communication during the budget process.

The district receives funding from the state based on the number of students enrolled. When that number dips, less money goes to the district.

School district leaders have said the statehouse uses 2022 inputs for the state’s calculation of funding, not current 2025 state education cost numbers. The state uses a school funding calculation method called the Fair School Funding Plan, which combines property and income tax valuations.

The cost of education, including special education, continues to rise compared to 2022 numbers, Seder said.

That budget must go through the state’s House of Representatives and Senate for approval. Once passed, it goes into effect July 1, and will remain in effect for two years.

The Statehouse News Bureau reported the budget will cut $103.4 million from traditional public school funding. That’s while vouchers and charter schools will get almost half a billion more.

According to the Ohio Capital Journal, The National Center for Education Statistics sets projections for enrollment and estimates Ohio’s public school student enrollment will go down by 7.6% by 2031, a loss of more than 127,000 students.

Taylor, Brokaw congratulated for state wrestling performance

Also at Monday’s meeting, state wrestling champions Alex Taylor and Ashlynn Brokaw received a proclamation, congratulating them for their successful and historic wrestling achievements.

Mount Vernon wrestling coach Corey Firebaugh said everyone at state wrestling could “feel the community pushing us forward.”