Phillips: State budget brings schools closer to constitutional system
State Rep. Debbie Phillips, D-Athens, said Wednesday the state operating budget approved Monday evening comes the closest yet to funding public schools in a sufficient manner.
About Debbie
State Representative Debbie Phillips (D-Athens) is serving her first term representing the 92nd Ohio House District, which includes areas of Athens, Meigs, Morgan and Washington Counties. The 92nd Ohio House District is also home to Ohio University.
Rep. Phillips most recently represented the 4th Ward on Athens City Council. She chaired the Council’s Planning and Development Committee, which oversees proposed developments, subdivisions, and implementation of the Comprehensive Plan in Athens.
A graduate of Ohio University, Rep. Phillips has built a career fighting for educational opportunities for Ohio’s children. She is the founding Executive Director of the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign, which organizes and advocates for quality public education.
Before her work on that campaign, Rep. Phillips worked as Project Coordinator for the Community and School Connection of Rural Action. This project involved helping citizens participate in planning the use of state funds for building projects in their districts, community use of old school buildings, and involvement in school funding issues, which led to the spin-off of the Campaign.
Rep. Phillips is a trained mediator who has provided training in peer mediation and conflict resolution in schools. She has served as a member of the Board of the League of Women Voters of Athens County, and helped produce the Voter's Guide during her service. Rep. Phillips lives in Athens with her husband Jim and their two children, Jeremiah and Pauline.
In the 128th General Assembly Rep. Phillips is a leading voice in the House of Representatives on recent educational reforms. Through the hard work of Rep. Phillips, other members of the legislature and Governor Ted Strickland the education reforms passed by the Ohio House put Ohio on track for a constitutional compliances, and the commitment to provide every student in the state of Ohio with a high quality education.
In addition to her work on education issues Rep. Phillips serves as the Vice Chair of the Alternative Energy Committee and as a member of the Education, Economic Development, Health and Insurance committees in the Ohio House of Representatives.