Columbus puts four schools on the chopping block to cut more than $50.4 million

The Columbus City Schools Board of Education voted on Tuesday to cut more than $50.4 million from the district’s budget, announcing that four schools will be closed and school employees will be fired.

The news comes as Ohio public schools are currently facing $2 billion less in state tax dollars over the next two years, according to 10 WBNS.

Board members approved cuts totaling more than $15 million in administrator and non-personnel positions. They also voted to eliminate transportation for students in grades K-8 who attend schools other than their neighboring schools or 100% lottery schools, which would reduce spending by more than $8.7 million.

The board also cut $25.9 million by firing the school staff. According to Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman, it is not yet clear who exactly will get fired. The final decision must be made by the end of January.

“We know that we are talking about jobs, we are talking about the livelihood of our employees, we are talking about reducing supports to our schools at a time when we know our students need more,” Chapman said, according to reports. “Post-pandemic, our students are coming to us with more needs, more mental health needs, and so we take these decisions very heavily, and they weigh on us.”

Duxberry Park Arts Impact Elementary School, Fairwood Alternative Elementary School, Como Elementary School and the former Everett Middle School, also known as Columbus Gifted Academy, will be closed.

Fairwood Alternative Elementary School will close by the next school year. The other three schools will close by the 2027-2028 school year.

The board also planned to either eliminate busing for high school students entirely or replace it with COTA bus passes. The board vice president, Jennifer Adair, expressed uncertainty about doing so. Hence, the board approved a resolution to create a work group to determine mass transit options for high school students.

“I don’t understand why we’re here and I honestly do not know how to vote on this because we need a reduction. We have to do a reduction, but to me this doesn’t make sense either,” Adair said.

Cleveland is also struggling financially, which led Cleveland Metropolitan School District officials to shut down 18 schools and turn their buildings into apartment complexes.

On Nov. 6, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said that the consolidation presents “a unique opportunity” to reimagine surplus real estate.

“Over the next couple of weeks, you’ll see a plan be announced from my administration, in partnership with CMSD, outlining our vision for those old school sites to make sure they’re integrated into a broader community development strategy,” he said, per News 5 Cleveleand.