SULLIVAN — Six teachers, four paraprofessionals, two food service workers and a custodian had their positions cut May 15 from Black River Schools in an effort to balance the district’s budget.
Employment contracts for all the positions will be suspended June 30, according to two reduction in force resolutions approved at the May 15 board meeting. Another five teachers and an administrator were subject to an involuntary transfer as well.
(Below is a copy of the May 15 board agenda.)
The board approved the two reduction in force resolutions by a unanimous vote of 5-0 on May 15, according to Black River Supt. Chris Clark.
Ashland Source contacted board president Chuck Stiver for comment. Stiver deferred to Clark for comment.
“It’s gonna fall on my shoulders, right, wrong or indifferent,” Clark said.
Ashland Source also reached out to all the staff members whose positions were cut and had emails listed on Black River’s website for comment. One teacher declined to comment. The rest did not respond.
How’d the district decide what to cut?
Clark said the district needed to cut around $850,000 from its budget to balance it, and knew cuts were coming since January.
He added the board was presented with several different options for the reductions. According to Clark, the board told administration to come up with an option they were most comfortable with.
“What I didn’t want to do was take a big bite out of any one apple, and I felt like if we could take small bites out of different (areas)… it could be palatable for everyone,” Clark said.
Clark said the district faces declining enrollment and has several teachers with small class sizes. So, the district’s goal became bringing class sizes to parity. That meant shifting teachers into different positions to fill classes more, and cutting some.
As a result of the cuts, Clark also said eighth grade students will be moved to the high school. Some teachers and principals will also move buildings in the shift.
As for classified staff members cut, Clark said the district assessed if their roles could be covered by others. With the consolidation of classes and changes to the cafeteria’s purchase services, the district could cover losses of some paraprofessionals and food service workers.
He added the district brought on extra custodians during COVID-19, but could absorb the loss post-COVID.
What does the future hold?
Still, Clark said he’s sure the cuts will have an effect on the district.
“I’d be crazy if I were to say I don’t think it’s going to impact operations, but I don’t think I know what the extent is going to be,” Clark said.
But the district hopes with this round of cuts, the budget will remain balanced.
He added several people at the May 15 meeting stood up and suggested the district look at placing a levy on the ballot. The sentiment is one Clark said he appreciated, but feels is a challenging prospect.
Clark said he’s heard levies are a hard sell right now.
In elections from November 2023 and March of this year, some Ashland County schools have passed levy renewals. With levy renewals, since levies are already in place, no additional costs are put onto taxpayers.
But, for new levies, Mapleton Local Schools was the last local district to attempt putting one up for a vote. It’s failed three times at the ballot box. Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools has said it will look at a potential new levy in the coming months as the district pursues funding for a new building.
Further, Clark said since Black River draws in students from Ashland, Lorain and Huron counties, the district would need to select an opportune time in all three counties to place a levy on the ballot.
For now, he hopes the district can prove itself a good steward of taxpayer dollars by operating within its means.