The governor started his second round of forums on education with a telecast from the WOSU@COSI studios on Thursday night. Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland says the economy could make it difficult to provide an overall increase in funding for schools under his upcoming education plan.
Strickland also says it's likely his plan will be part of the two-year budget he'll present to lawmakers early next year as opposed to a separate piece of legislation. Strickland says his plan will include classroom changes and a fix of the state's current school-funding system.
He says he'll take the proposal to the ballot if lawmakers don't approve it. Strickland says he's hoping his long-awaited proposal will provide a net increase in money for schools but says the current economy will make that hard. The Ohio Supreme Court has found the state's school-funding system unconstitutional four times.