The Cleveland Metropolitan School District board met Tuesday night to consider the specific recommendations to close seven schools and lay off employees.
By law, the district must close a projected $47.5 million deficit for the next fiscal year by June 30.
Cleveland Metropolitan School District also voted to layoff 702 Cleveland Teachers Union employees, including 643 classroom teachers. The school board will consider additional layoffs at its April 26th meeting as well.
The schools closing are Captain Arthur Roth, Emile B. deSauze, Giddings, Union and Woodland Hills, the Early Childhood Center at Charles Orr and Genesis School at Margaret Ireland.
The board reinstated two items as a result of the two public hearings that they held last week. As a result, there will be no reduction in the textbook budget or extracurricular activities.
According to CMSD, The staff reductions and the decision to close seven schools were required to offset a projected $74 million deficit over the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years.
The meeting became heated when parents and teachers were given a chance to voice their concerns.
“You are the cause of our school being unsafe for me not to fight and I’m mad that I can’t fight for my school. You know I’m sick and tired of all these meetings and everything that you got going around here when a decision has already been made but you just want to patronize us to satisfy your spirit to say that you done something and you ain’t done nothing,” one parent said, during the meeting.
After the public spoke, the board voted 6-2, passing the motion to close seven schools on the east side at the end of this school year. The board then went into executive session to consider the layoffs.
article courtesy of Newsnet5.com
