The Columbus Dispatch

Parents, educators, and concerned citizens filled a room at the Grove City library for a town hall to share concerns about disability education amid uncertainty around state and federal funding for students with disabilities. The Aug. 12 event in a community room at the Southwest Public Libraries Grove City branch was hosted by Parents United for Public Schools, and included groups such as Policy Matters Ohio, Red, Wine and Blue, Ohio Education Association, and Vouchers Hurt Ohio. Nick Tuell, organizer for Parents United for Public Schools, said that the organization was aiming to give parents a seat at the table amid what he said were threats to funding for students, especially those with disabilities. “Quite frankly, we just don’t know what it looks like when it comes to children with disabilities in our public education system,” Tuell said. “But we do know that when parents come together and have a collective voice, we can start to make sure we’re fighting for our kids.” Similar town halls were organized across the state in Dayton, Cincinnati, and Berea, Tuell said, with upcoming ones in New Philadelphia and potentially Toledo.