Faber points to improvements in education

ST. MARYS - Ohio Senate President Keith Faber, R-Celina, touted educational improvements as a major state government accomplishment over the past few years.

Faber on Wednesday updated St. Marys Rotary Club members about state legislators' work. The state challenged officials at two- and four-year colleges and universities to cut tuition and fees.

"The challenge was simple; we wanted them to reduce the cost of a student degree ... by at least 5 percent. I didn't say 'tuition freeze,' I said 'reduce the cost of a degree,' " Faber said.

The senate did not tell the institutions how to cut costs, he said.

"They overachieved. On average it's about 11.5 percent across the board for our colleges and universities," he said. "The community colleges were about 8 precent. The four-years were close to 14."

Many of the four-year institutions had bachelor's degrees requiring almost 150 credit hours and they reduced that to 120 credit hours. Credit hours for associate degrees at some institutions dropped from 80 to 60, Faber said.

The reduced credit hours helped some institutions save money, he said.

Clark State Community College in Springfield opted to give a 10 percent rebate off the next semester's tuition fee to every student who completes 15 semester hours, he said.

"Not my idea, theirs," Faber said.

Wright State University is giving students a check after their final semester. The money could be used to help pay for rent so students wouldn't need to move back in with parents, he said.

State officials are working to let higher-education institutions use open-source textbooks rather than requiring a contract with a textbook company, he said.

"Rhodes State found that a textbook for a yearlong remedial math course was $800. By using open-source and other textbook options, they were able to reduce that to $140," Faber said. "If you're the student paying the $800, that's your money."

The goal is to make higher education more affordable, opening the door to more people, he said.

Faber also wants improvements in grades K-12 on a local level through Senate Bill 3 for education deregulation.

"We think that your superintendents, your principals, your teachers and your moms and dads are going to make far better decisions on K-12 education matters than education bureaucrats," he said.

The bill would return power to school boards and administrators to improve education.

The state capital budget this year has community projects to help quality-of-life matters on the local level.

"Grand Lake St. Marys has been a large beneficiary in that and will be again in this next cycle," he said.

One item is a $2.5 million treatment train. Another dredge on the lake also is being considered.

He said about $5 million-$6 million will be spent on the lake in the upcoming budget. Improvements must be pursued long-term to create positive results, he said.

Faber also has spent time on the campaign trail for Gov. John Kasich, who is running for president.

"It's been a crazy experience to be on a national campaign trail. It runs everything from being in an audience with protesters to finding little old ladies who, frankly, know more about politics than I do. It's really been a wonderful experience to get to know a lot of people across the country," he said.

A highlight he shared was being a surrogate representative for Kasich at the Iowa caucus.

Faber has been a state senator since 2007 and was a state representative from 2001-2006. His term expires in December, and he is ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits. He is running to replace the retiring Jim Buchy, R-Greenville, in the Ohio House's 84th District.