Columbus City Schools is warning that a proposed Ohio law could force the district to sell or lease any school building that dips below 60% enrollment, a move leaders say would strip neighborhoods of local control over their own campuses. The Board is already juggling possible school closures and steep budget cuts, and officials worry the bill could fast-track permanent loss of buildings they hope to repurpose for new programs or community use.
As reported by The Columbus Dispatch, district officials say Senate Bill 311 would mandate the sale or lease of any school building operating at less than 60% capacity, prompting the Board to start reviewing which campuses might be closed and how those properties could be disposed of.
What SB 311 Would Change
Senate Bill 311 would revise several sections of Ohio education law to spell out how “unused” or underenrolled school facilities are defined and to tighten the rules that trigger offers to outside operators. The bill text on the Ohio Legislature website shows the measure amends multiple code sections on how districts handle building disposition and adds new reporting requirements for school systems.
Existing Law And The 60% Rule
Under current law, districts must offer buildings that were used for direct instruction less than 60% of the prior school year to community schools and certain other education providers, according to Section 3313.411 of the Ohio Revised Code. SB 311 tightens how that 60% threshold is calculated and links it more directly to enrollment figures rather than looser local interpretations, according to the existing state code language.
Local Impact: Budget Cuts And Closures
Columbus City Schools has already started closing schools and cutting staff to address a significant budget shortfall, the Board recently voted to eliminate nearly 300 positions as part of a budget-saving plan. axes nearly 300 jobs to plug budget hole details the scale of the cuts, while the Ohio Capital Journal quoted superintendents around the state warning that SB 311 creates an artificial threshold that does not reflect the reality of how buildings are actually being used.
Supporters Say It Reclaims Idle Space
Backers of SB 311 argue the bill would pry open underused real estate so charter and other schools can put those campuses back into instructional use, while also giving the public a clearer picture of which buildings are sitting under capacity. Groups such as the Buckeye Institute have testified in favor of the measure, saying it could help turn vacant schools into centers of learning.
What Happens Next
SB 311 is under consideration in the Senate Education Committee and comes with a fiscal note that outlines new reporting deadlines and potential financial impacts for districts that would have to inventory and publicly post facility data. The bill’s fiscal details are laid out in the Legislature’s fiscal materials and will influence how quickly any new requirements would roll out.
For Columbus, the stakes are concrete: if SB 311 becomes law, buildings the district has been eyeing for new academic programs or community services could instead have to be offered for sale or lease to outside operators, shifting control away from local voters and school leaders. District officials, parents, and community advocates say they plan to keep pressing their case at the Statehouse as the bill moves through committee and inches toward a possible floor vote.
