Mansfield Times

State Representative Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park) has expressed her support for a lawsuit filed by seven members of the State Board of Education in Ohio. The lawsuit alleges that the K-12 education overhaul, which was pushed through the state operating budget in June, violates the Ohio Constitution. The DeWine administration has been temporarily blocked from implementing the new Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) or appointing a director for the agency, as ordered by Judge Karen Phipps of Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

Rep. Miranda, who previously served as a school board president, has firsthand experience of how the state government treats public education. She believes that the overhaul should not have been slipped into the budget without sufficient hearings, discussions, and input from those who would be most affected. In her own words, she states, "There should have been an opportunity for those who will be most affected by this change to share their view." Rep. Miranda emphasizes the importance of the public education system, as well as the significance of local school districts and local control. She firmly believes that local school districts know what is best for their students and communities.

Regarding the lawsuit, Rep. Miranda expresses her full support and hopes that resolving the matter in court will underscore the importance of the public education system and the need to preserve local school district autonomy. She states, "I fully support this lawsuit and hope battling this out in court shows everyone the importance of our public education system and the importance of local school districts as well as the importance of local control because local school districts know what is best for their students and their communities."

The lawsuit, which is filed against the state and Republican Governor Mike DeWine, argues that the education overhaul strips the state board of its responsibilities and grants unnecessary power to the governor. The plaintiffs, represented by the Democracy Forward Foundation and Ulmer & Berne LLP, are seeking a temporary order to prevent the changes from taking effect and ultimately invalidate the changes entirely.

The seven members who have filed the lawsuit are Christina Collins, Teresa Fedor, Katie Hofmann, Tom Jackson, Meryl Johnson, Antoinette Miranda, and Michelle Newman.

For more information on the lawsuit, please visit the provided link.

To find out more, go to this link: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/darrell-kick/news/rep-miranda-supports-lawsuit-against-unconstitutional-school-board-takeover-116901