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Columbus Schools Willing To Make New Win-Win Deals With Suburbs

The Columbus City Schools have taken the first step to change some of the terms of a 30-year old compact with suburban school districts.  Alison Holm reports.

The win-Win agreement that sends some Columbus students to suburban districts is up for renewal.  and Groveport Madison has been the first district to ask for a reduction in the payments it makes to Columbus, that keep the accord in place.  Groveport Madison argued that it is disproportionately affected by the payments, and Monday the Columbus school board voted to reduce Groveport Madison's payment to the district by 60%.  But there may more more changes ahead for the 30-year old agreement.

 
Win-Win was crafted in 1986, when Columbus City and the suburban districts were battling over who would educate students in the fast growing fringes of the city. Under the terms of the agreement, any property in the city of the Columbus that was being served by a suburban district in 1986 would remain there.  In exchange, the suburban districts would pay Columbus 1% of the tax growth from new construction on commercial and industrial property in those areas. 
 
The agreement is up for renewal every six years, and the other school districts involved have until the end of the month to withdraw or renegotiate as Groveport Madison has.  Dublin City Schools reportedly began talking with Columbus last week about a modification to their terms.  Other districts that were part of the original pact are Canal Winchester.

A native of Chicago, naturalized citizen of Cincinnati and resident of Columbus, Alison attended Earlham College and the Ohio State University. She has equal passion for Midwest history, hockey and Slavic poetry.
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