3/22/2011 10:00:00 PMCMSD Interim CEO proposes nearly $74 million in budget cuts

Cleveland, Ohio— Recommendations to eliminate deficits for the next two school years were presented Tuesday night to the Board of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District by Interim CEO Peter Raskind.

Raskind and the District’s leadership recommended nearly $74 million in cuts for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.

Their proposal included laying off 835 employees at the District’s schools (among them 650 teachers) ; closing seven schools; cutting $2.5 million from the central office budget through pay, benefit and staff reductions; and selling unneeded school buildings.

Raskind said new revenue is needed and the District will continue to evaluate whether to ask Cleveland voters to approve an operating levy later this year. The proposed cuts, however, are designed to balance the budget without a levy since any additional tax approved will not be paid by voters until at least next year.

The earliest the Board will act on these recommendations is April 5. Next week, on March 29 at East Tech High School and on March 30 at Lincoln West High School, the District will hold community meetings to discuss the district’s financial situation.

“There are no easy answers to the District’s budget woes,” Raskind said. ”We have only to look at the deficit conditions in Ohio, in states throughout the nation, and at the federal government to know we must make tough choices at the local level, if we are to overcome our current and future fiscal challenges.

“We fully appreciate the serious impact of these decisions on people’s lives and on their livelihoods, but such difficult decisions are necessary for putting the Cleveland Metropolitan School District on a sustainable financial course,” he said.

For more information, please contact:
Angela Buford Payne--216.858.6994
Charisse Ausbrook--216.574.8143

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