CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Metropolitan School District is facing new obstacles as it tries to fill a budget deficit, the threat of cuts to both state and federal funding.

What You Need To Know

  • The Cleveland Metropolitan School District's latest five-year forecast projects it will be out of money by the end of the 2026-2027 school year

  • One cost-cutting measure being considered is a universal school calendar for every school in the district

  • Cleveland Teachers Union President Shari Obrenski says potential federal and state cuts adding to the budget shortfall could be "catastrophic" 

Shari Obrenski is the President of the Cleveland Teachers Union and said those cuts would lead to the loss of resources for low-income and special education students. 

“If they would eliminate the Department of Education or we would see significant cuts to the Department of Education, that would impact our Title I funds and our IDEA funding,” Obrenski said. “We get a significant portion of resources from that. That would be horrific and catastrophic to our budget.” 

Even without those cuts, the district’s five-year forecast projects it will be out of money by the end of the 2026-2027 school year unless it can facilitate significant money saving measures. 

“Over three years, we shared the finances we have to save, which is between $96 and $150 million,” Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO Dr. Warren G. Morgan said at the latest school board meeting. 

The district is considering moving all schools to a single calendar, which could save more than $9 million dollars per year. Currently, CMSD runs on five different calendars, with extra days in the classroom and professional development days for educators. Obrenski explains how moving to one calendar takes away opportunities.

“That’s one of the promises we’ve made to this community repeatedly as we’ve gone to them for tax dollars, which they have so generously continued to provide. The move to standardize the calendar could jeopardize some of that work.” 

Even a calendar change wouldn’t save anywhere near enough money to avoid being placed in a state of fiscal caution as soon as this fall, meaning the district needs to save $96 million before this November. That signals that more cuts to programs and resources could take place.

“It feels as though we’re often going year to year, budget to budget, without knowing if we have enough resources to get through the next year,” Obrenski said. “We need to be surgical about how we do this and yes, we absolutely need to be responsible with every penny that the district spends because we know that it will be tight but we need to preserve those things that are working and working well.” 

Cleveland schools are not alone. Public schools across Ohio have been struggling since the end of federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act last year, forcing Cleveland schools to cut positions in the central office, cap summer learning and eliminate nearly 100 after-school programs. Schools are also bracing to lose funding due to Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed state budget, which would cut $103 million total for public schools and $4.9 million for Cleveland Schools over the next two years. That, coupled with potential changes to the Department of Education, further illustrates the economic issues public schools districts are facing. 

“Particularly from the federal government, from the state government. If we would see larger hits from either one of those, it could be serious and would negatively impact the work we’re doing,” Obrenski said. 

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District would have to approve any changes to the district’s calendar in the coming school board meetings and they’re required to provide next school year’s calendar by May 1st.