More than 167 positions could be cut at Lorain City School District through a budget reduction plan the board of education approved Thursday night.
Superintendent Jeff Graham told the board Thursday the state required the district to submit a plan showing deep cuts in order to remain fiscally stable through the coming years. He laid the blame at the feet of state and federal funding cuts along with local property tax relief, which totaled a loss of $6.7 million per year for the district. The reduction plan notes the district already cut 25 positions in the current school year.
Graham said the worst of the cuts could be avoided if voters approve an 11-mill levy that will be on the ballot in May.
"Just to be candid with you, we cut to the bone before we started this process of cutting the $17.6 (million) they made us cut," Graham said. "I have no idea where the rest comes from. I really don't. But we will come out with a list here in the next week or so that says, 'if the levy passes, here's what to do. If the levy fails, here is what we're gonna do.' Because our community deserves to know what our plan is."
In total, the budget reduction plan calls for cutting 106 staff represented by the Lorain teacher's union. Graham said the plan also recommends cutting extracurriculars and some non-core classes including choir in middle and high school and health and Spanish classes in middle school.
During the board meeting, staff, students and community members shared concerns about the impact of the cuts on the district, including increased class sizes and confusion about who exactly will be laid off and who won't. Former Lorain Board Member Barbie Washington said cuts to counseling staff will exacerbate problems students face at school and at home.
"I have my cousin on my shirt who was murdered by her 16-year-old son. And her daughter died of an overdose, and she was a graduate of Lorain High," Washington said. "Our kiddos need help, I mean, I'm preaching to the choir here. But at some point, we have to take responsibility, accountability, all of those things."
Graham said the district is also planning to consolidate buildings to save money, repurposing two schools to become a preschool and a school focused on students with autism. He said the district has about 100 students who could benefit from the autism-focused school and could also draw new students after years of enrollment declining.
Graham said if the levy doesn't pass in May, an additional $4 million to $8 million in cuts might be needed. If the levy passes, the district could restore some counselors and social worker positions and return to a full day of preschool offerings, instead of a half day.
