EUCLID, Ohio — Euclid City Schools officials announced Tuesday that the district will face drastic cuts next school year after residents voted against renewing a levy in November that has funded the district since it was first passed in 2008.
The $5.6 million operational levy, if it had passed, would not have cost taxpayers any additional money, because it was a renewal. The levy was voted down 8,924 to 8,335, with a difference of less than 600 votes, according to the school district.
Since then, school officials said they have been evaluating how they would manage without the funding.
The district said it has tried to “minimize the cuts on classroom instruction,” but “given the magnitude of the levy failure, additional cuts have to be made.”
The culmination of those cuts has been radical, including a reduction in school staffing and personnel and the elimination of after-school programs, sports and transportation.
As far as employment goes, 10 teaching positions, four and a half admin positions, one human resources position, one IT position, two and a half ground crew positions and four cleaning positions have been eliminated.
The breakdown on programs and staffing that have been affected in the district is as follows:
District-wide
We have realigned and reduced supplementals throughout the District by roughly a quarter million dollars, including after school activities and athletics.
As a result of discussions between the Board and the employee groups, all Euclid Schools employee groups have agreed to accept a freeze in wages for the 2019-2020 school year.
- This includes all bargaining and non-bargaining groups; the Euclid Association of School Administrators, Euclid Teachers Association, Euclid Classified Association, Euclid Schools Secretaries Union, Euclid Technical Employees Association, and Ohio Association of Public School Employees.
- Memorandums of understanding have been ratified by all bargaining units and were approved by the Board.
Transportation services will be decreased to the state minimum.
- Meaning that for the 2019-2020 school year, only students in grades one through eight who live more than two miles from their “home school,” meaning the Euclid City School District School they are assigned to, will receive transportation.
- However, all preschool and Kindergarten students will continue receive transportation.
Early Learning Village/ Elementary Schools
- Reducing five teaching positions (two kindergarten positions, one fifth-grade at Bluestone, one first-grade at Shoreview, and one Elementary Instrumental Music).
- Eliminating elementary instrumental music lessons during normal school hours.
- Eliminating the following after school programs: African American Achievement, Career Awareness, Student Council, among others.
Central Middle School
- Reducing five teaching positions (Technology Coach, Math Enrichment, Fitness/Gym, Math Gifted, and Art).
- Reducing athletics to one team per grade.
- Eliminating the following after school programs: Drill Team, Right Directions, Literary Magazine, African American Achievement Club (girls and boys), Student Council, and School Newspaper, among others.
Euclid High School
- Reducing athletic programs to one eighth-grade team for each sport.
- Eliminating the following athletic programs: tennis (girls and boys), golf, and eighth and ninth-grade cheerleading, among others.
Administration and Non-Teaching Employees
- Reducing four and a half administrative positions, including three Elementary Deans of Students, the budgeted-for Assistant Treasurer role, and requiring our long-time Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds to move to a half-time supervisory position.
- Reducing a Human Resources position and Technology Technician position.
- Reducing two and a half buildings and grounds positions, and four cleaner positions.
According to the district, the above changes are for the 2019-2020 school years.
You can read the district's full press release here.
