Springfield, other Ohio schools, get money for Haitian migrants

More federal taxpayer dollars are being funneled through the state of Ohio to help Springfield schools deal with a growing number of Haitian immigrants.

Two other western Ohio communities will receive money to help with similar issues.

Gov. Mike DeWine said the state will send $1.5 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief and American Rescue Plan funds to Springfield, Lima and Findlay schools, and other organizations.

“We want all students across Ohio to have the resources they need to reach their full, God-given potential,” DeWine said. “Schools in Springfield and other communities that have been dealing with sudden increases in their student population have no doubt been strained. These funds will help to relieve some of this pressure and create a better learning environment for all students in these communities.”

Springfield City Schools will receive $1.35 million, the Springfield Preparatory and Fitness Academy $12,000, and the Springfield Sports Academy $12,000.

The money is expected to be used to help with essential learning programs for all students in the community and to provide additional resources to support educational needs, including translation technologies, interpreters, mental health services and other areas.

DeWine said similar educational issues are being seen in both Findlay and Lima due to a growth in the Haitian migrant population. Findlay City Schools will receive $100,000, and Lima City Schools will receive $26,882 to help with translation technologies like interpreter earbuds or mini handheld translators.

“Ohio educators and school leaders continue to pinpoint the learning supports needed for all students in our communities to be successful,” Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen Dackin said. “These funds are part of a larger system of supports to increase literacy achievement, accelerate learning opportunities in reading and mathematics, expand career and workforce experiences, and support student wellness initiatives.”

Haitian immigrants began coming to the community in 2020, and the city’s Republican Mayor Rob Rue estimates there are between 10,000 and 12,000 in the city.

The city’s website also says, “no government entity is responsible for the influx of Haitians into Clark County.”

The city says a "surge in our population over the last several years, primarily due to an influx of legal immigrants," suggesting that Springfield "is an appealing place for many reasons including lower cost of living and available work."

The state has initiated several programs to deal with the growing Haitian population under the Temporary Protected Status program.

The Temporary Protected Status program gives migrants whose home countries are considered unsafe legal status to live and work in America.