CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Metropolitan School District's deficit reduction plan was approved Tuesday night by the Board of Education in a 7-1 vote.
"There are some tough decisions that need to be made with this, but we're doing this in light of our scholars, we're doing it with our community in mind," CMSD Superintendent Dr. Warren Morgan said. "We've been here before, and we will get through it."
Part of the plan to address the expected $143 million deficit for the 2024-2025 school year includes a number of changes the district says will save money over the next two years. Some of those include changes to summer learning programs for $31.9 million, cutting after-school programs not put on by the district (so not including athletics, arts, and other extracurricular programs) for $34.1 million, and cuts to central office staffing to save $5.3 million.
Parents at the meeting voiced their concerns about impacts to after-school programs, and shared how such activities can help with students' socialization, safety, self-esteem, and success.
"No, they're not going to be — the last word — 'successful,'" one parent angrily stated. "They're not going to have any of that, and that's what our children need. That's what our children deserve, and by God, that's what they will have."
The superintendent said previous reports dating back to 2021 showed there would be a deficit this year, and amid the uncertainty, teachers shared their frustrations with the process.
"This should not be a surprise, but had the district been open, transparent, straightforward and inclusive several months ago in regards to the budget, I think a lot of the community concern would have been completely avoided," Shari Obrenski, Cleveland Teachers Union president, said.
During the meeting, some questioned the allocation of $20 million in grant funding from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott after City Councilmembers called for those funds to be returned, as they are being used to help shrink the deficit and not for student opportunities. There were no restrictions on how that money could be spent, but the one board member who voted against the reduction plan cited the use of these funds in his reasoning.
The plan will be presented to the state of Ohio by this Thursday. If it hadn't been approved, CMSD faced the prospect of being taken over by the state.