REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio -- After voters defeated a levy for Reynoldsburg City Schools earlier this month, the district has been forced to cut millions from an already tight budget.
Academics were hit hard, and staffers are losing their jobs.
District leaders said cutting nine positions will save the district $470,000.
Many have questioned if the right staff members are being shown the door?
NBC 4 GOT ANSWERS on who is being given pink slips in an effort to balance the budget.
A technology secretary and a board of education receptionist are laid off effective immediately.
The director of technology and six custodians are to be let go in January.
"I don't like it at all. I think things like that are important in a school. Uh, the custodian, cleaning the schools, the secretaries. They all play a vital part in keeping everything together, and they have important jobs," parent Jennifer Simcox said.
Assistant Superintendent Dan Hoffman said without the cuts, the district would have had five days of operating funds at the end of the school year. The district prefers to have 60 to 90 days of funds available.
"Everything's on the table," one board member said about cuts.
Hoffman said the district will have to look at a second round of cuts before a new fiscal year begins July 1. That round will total $3.5 million.
Assistant principal positions could be affected. Hoffman said the district is considering having principals share buildings.
He said this is the worst budget he's seen since 1976.
He said he feels Reynoldsburg City Schools now are almost operating at state minimum standards and he doesn't feel that's good for students.
Here's the text from an official district release.
District leaders have identified $470,000 in mid-year personnel reductions necessary to maintain adequate funds to operate the Reynoldsburg’s 11 schools through the end of the fiscal year. A second round of reductions totaling $3.5 million is expected prior to next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Additional cost savings will be achieved the remainder of this year. A spending freeze has been ordered on all school accounts. Only emergency purchases approved by the superintendent will be allowed. Utility costs will be reduced by turning down heat in all buildings, and outside contracts for grounds maintenance and snow removal have been eliminated.
“We received direction from voters on Nov. 3,” Reynoldsburg Superintendent Stephen D. Dackin said. “We must continue to reduce expenditures in order to make ends meet. Unfortunately, that means we’ll lose valuable employees who care deeply for our students, and the opportunities we can provide to our children will be further limited.”
The mid-year personnel reductions include:
- Director of Technology and Professional Development, effective in January.
- Technology Secretary, effective immediately
- Board Office Receptionist, effective immediately
- Six custodians, effective in January
Based on prior revenue and expenditure projections, the district treasurer had forecasted a $732,247 general fund balance at the end of this fiscal year – enough to operate for five days. The state typically recommends a fund balance representing 60 days worth of expenditures, Treasurer Tammira Miller said.
“Making mid-year personnel reductions is not something we would do unless absolutely necessary, because it is so disruptive,” she said. “We are in such a precarious financial position, and this savings will give us some cushion in case our revenues do not meet projections or unanticipated costs arise.”
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