The county is propping up a universal pre-K program for the rest of the school year, but commissioners cautioned that the one-time money is a “Band-Aid” for the funding challenges imperiling HOPE Toledo.
The $100,000 economic development grant, approved by the Lucas County commissioners Wednesday, will allow HOPE Toledo to begin disbursing overdue payments to their pre-K providers and continue the program until graduation.
After that, commissioners say the organization will not be able to rely on the county for help.
“This is it. We cannot continue to fund a program that is not self-sufficient and not being supported by the business community and the state,” Commissioner Anita Lopez said.
Commissioner Pete Gerken, who sits on HOPE Toledo’s board, said the missed payments go as far back as January. He said he is “disappointed” the organization ended up in the current situation.
“Let’s not get this wrong: This does not save the program, and it does not move the program into next year,” Mr. Gerken said. “This is way too important of a program for us to have, as a community, put into this situation.”
Shawna Woody, vice president of HOPE Toledo, told commissioners they are already preparing providers for the worst. Ms. Woody spoke at the meeting in place of the organization’s president and CEO, John Jones, who she said was in Columbus speaking with legislators.
“We’ve had the conversations with our providers, and what they do know is that after graduation, we will not be taking on any more children at all,” Ms. Woody said.
HOPE Toledo’s pre-K program, which began in 2021, subsidizes tuition on an income-based sliding scale, aiming to provide “high-quality, full-day, affordable preschool education” through 20 community providers, according to its website.
According to Commissioner Lisa Sobecki, the county gives $2.6 million of funding each year to HOPE Toledo, which intends to be a public-private partnership. Ms. Sobecki said businesses have talked about the benefits of universal pre-K programs, but the money has not followed.
“I will put my money where my mouth is, but I will say: We need others at that table to start walking that walk that they have been talking about. Now is the time that they step up or shut up,” Ms. Sobecki said when motioning to approve the funds.
Toledo City Council is also preparing to vote on nearly $1.2 million of funds for youth engagement programming, which includes $100,000 for HOPE Toledo. If approved, HOPE Toledo would receive the largest single award out of the 87 community organizations. It would be one of three organizations receiving funds that did not apply for funds. The other two are Connecting Kids to Meals and the local chapter of the NAACP.
HOPE Toledo is lobbying state legislators to provide more funding for preschool education across the state, either dedicating its own funding to preschool education or changing legislation to allow a levy to fund universal pre-K.
“It’s time for legislators to step up to this need throughout not just Lucas County, but the need across the state,” Ms. Sobecki said. “It should be funding preschools, but if not, then allow the legislation to change so Lucas County residents can make a decision.”
Ms. Woody told the commissioners that the organization remains optimistic that businesses will step up in support of the program and that they will be allowed to continue providing pre-K education next school year.
“We do have hope — it’s in our name, and it’s what we do, and it’s the passion that we have every day: to center the children.”
HOPE Toledo did not respond to requests for further comment.
First Published March 12, 2025, 9:13 p.m.
