TAKE ACTION
Demand FAIR Maps for Ohio Education
On Feb. 1, 2022, Governor Mike DeWine released a new set of district lines for the State Board of Education . The new districts, based on the second set state Senate districts since invalidated by the Ohio Supreme Court, appeared to be an attempt to gerrymander public education and silence State Board members who want an honest high-quality education for every Ohio student. More important, his plan would suppress the voices of urban and suburban families and significantly reduce the opportunity for Black, brown, Latin X, Asian, and Indigenous families to elect education leaders who represent their needs and concerns.
Governor DeWine will have another chance to redraw the State Board map when the
Ohio Redistricting Commission passes Constitutional state legislative maps.
Tell our governor to draw FAIR MAPS for the State Board of Education and
STOP weaponizing public education!
Ohio Redistricting Commission passes Constitutional state legislative maps.
Tell our governor to draw FAIR MAPS for the State Board of Education and
STOP weaponizing public education!
Why is Governor DeWine Gerrymandering the State Board of Education?
Political Retribution.
Why is Governor DeWine Gerrymandering the State Board of Education?
Political Retribution.
Governor DeWine's new redistricting plan is a continued effort to push out State Board members who champion an honest high-quality education for every student and those who voted against repealing the Board’s 2020 Resolution to Condemn Racism and Advance Equity last fall. The 10-7 vote to repeal the resolution sent a devastating message to Ohio’s Black, Latin X, Brown, Asian, and Indigenous students, young people regularly targeted, dehumanized, and traumatized.
Immediately after the repeal, Governor DeWine pressured two appointed members to resign, including the State Board president who helped draft the resolution in 2020.
Now, he is targeting four elected members who voted against the repeal last fall: Dr. Christina Collins , Meryl Johnson, Dr. Antoinette Miranda, and Michelle Newman.
Immediately after the repeal, Governor DeWine pressured two appointed members to resign, including the State Board president who helped draft the resolution in 2020.
Now, he is targeting four elected members who voted against the repeal last fall: Dr. Christina Collins , Meryl Johnson, Dr. Antoinette Miranda, and Michelle Newman.
THE IMPACT
Under his plan, urban and suburban areas would lose significant representation at the State Board and the needs of Ohio's Black, LatinX, Brown, Asian and Indigenous children would be lost.
Changes to Johnson’s and Miranda’s districts in Cleveland and Columbus would significantly reduce the opportunity for Black and urban voices on the State Board. Both changes dilute urban voter representation by forcing overwhelmingly large rural counties into those districts:
- Dr. Christina Collins (District 7, previously District 5), previously representing a Medina-centered district, lost her home county of Medina and now covers a new territory and district.
- Michelle Newman (District 8, previously District 9) shifted from a compact district in east central Ohio to a sprawling wishbone-shaped territory spreading along the Ohio River and violating compactness requirements.
Changes to Johnson’s and Miranda’s districts in Cleveland and Columbus would significantly reduce the opportunity for Black and urban voices on the State Board. Both changes dilute urban voter representation by forcing overwhelmingly large rural counties into those districts:
- Meryl Johnson (District 11) was elected to represent an urban-centered district in Cleveland, but DeWine’s plan shifts a majority of her district to rural areas in Medina, Wayne and Richland counties.
- Dr. Antoinette Miranda (District 6) represented an urban-suburban district centered on Franklin and Delaware counties in Central Ohio that now twists south to include five largely rural counties.
These changes matter because elected members of the State Board are duty bound to represent the Ohioans who elected them so they can shape the state’s public education system according to the needs of the children and families they serve.
We Must Demand Fair Maps For The State Board Of Education and
Stop the Weaponization of Public Education for Political Gain!
About Ohio Redistricting and the State Board
Redistricting
Every ten years, after the release of the US Census data, Ohio is charged with drawing fair district maps for the state legislature and U.S. Congress. In 2015 and 2018, Ohio voters passed two constitutional reforms to combat gerrymandering and ensure fair district maps across Ohio. The 2021 redistricting process is still playing out in Ohio as the Ohio Supreme Court has invalidated multiple attempts of the Ohio Redistricting Commission to pass state and congressional maps. Learn more about the current redistricting efforts HERE
What many do not know is that the governor is also charged with setting new districts for the State Board of Education at this time, if the redistricting body fails to do so. This must be done by January 31st, the following year.
Per Ohio state law, each State Board of Education district must:
Every ten years, after the release of the US Census data, Ohio is charged with drawing fair district maps for the state legislature and U.S. Congress. In 2015 and 2018, Ohio voters passed two constitutional reforms to combat gerrymandering and ensure fair district maps across Ohio. The 2021 redistricting process is still playing out in Ohio as the Ohio Supreme Court has invalidated multiple attempts of the Ohio Redistricting Commission to pass state and congressional maps. Learn more about the current redistricting efforts HERE
What many do not know is that the governor is also charged with setting new districts for the State Board of Education at this time, if the redistricting body fails to do so. This must be done by January 31st, the following year.
Per Ohio state law, each State Board of Education district must:
- Contain three contiguous state Senate districts
- Be as compact as practicable
- Consist of districts centered in urban areas and rural areas, where practicable
The State Board of Education
The State Board of Education is composed of 19 members
- 11 elected
- 8 appointed by the Ohio governor and confirmed by the Senate
2022 Elections: John Hagan, Kirsten Hill, Dr. Jenny Kilgore, President Charlotte McGuire, Tim Miller
Learn More About the State Board