Hundreds of students in the Parma City School District plan to attend a peaceful protest at the Parma Board of Education just hours ahead of a special meeting.
The students are protesting proposed changes that to the district in order to make up for a $15 million budget shortfall. Nearly 300 students have responded to a Facebook group, Peaceful Protest for PSCD students, saying they plan to attend.
The deficit was discovered earlier this year by the the districts relatively-new treasurer. Now school leaders are scrambling to come up with a fiscal recovery plan to meet state requirements.
The proposed cuts include the layoff of 30 teachers and dozens in support staff in all areas over the next three years.
News 5 has learned the cuts also include the consolidation of Normandy and Valley Forge High schools into one super high school to be located at Parma Senior High School on West 54th Street.
The proposal calls for both Normandy and Valley Forge to become middle schools, while also closing five other schools.
The district is currently under fiscal watch by the state of Ohio and must submit a balanced budget plan by Oct. 17.
The student-led protest is scheduled to begin at 2:35 p.m. Students plan to walk to the Parma Board of Education and protest until the beginning of the special meeting at 5:30 p.m.
