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Ohio Bill Focuses On Use, Funding Of School Features Like AC

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Ohio would have to study which of its schools have air conditioning, safety measures and certain other building features under a state lawmaker’s proposal to direct some school construction money specifically for those purposes.

Republican Rep. Niraj Antani, of Miamisburg, says he hopes his proposal starts a conversation about changing how the state funds school infrastructure. Antani, who’s running for re-election, says every school should have those features but too many don’t.

There’s no state tally on that, so the evidence is anecdotal. Early this school year, for example, a heat wave caused scores of schools around Ohio to close or send students home early.

Antani’s Democratic challenger, Zach Dickerson, says that’s been a known problem for years. He questions why Antani and others didn’t address it sooner.