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CPS faces budgetary challenges and pushback over school merger proposal

Walnut Hills Area Council President Mona Jenkins addresses the media
Zack Carreon
/
WVXU
Walnut Hills Area Council President Mona Jenkins addresses the media.

Local school districts are facing budgetary challenges now that COVID-era funds are drying up. That led to a long school board meeting and some intense criticism by the community in the Cincinnati Public School district last week over a proposal to consolidate several schools to balance the budget.

The plan would merge Frederick Douglass Elementary School in Walnut Hills with Evanston Academy and South Avondale Elementary with Rockdale Academy, along with the closure of Riverview East Academy.

Parents, community members and staff voiced opposition during a board meeting last Monday. The board noted that there were community engagement sessions and surveys about the recommendations in which 50% of respondents supported the consolidation.

CPS leaders are now discussing more options to balance the budget, and the board will meet again Wednesday night.

On Cincinnati Edition, we discuss the budgetary challenges the district faces and the concerns community members have expressed over the proposed consolidations.

Guests:

  • Eve Bolton, president, Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education
  • Mona Jenkins, president, Walnut Hills Area Council
  • Zack Carreon, education reporter, WVXU

Ways to listen to this show:

  • Tune in live at noon ET M-F. Call 513-419-7100 or email talk@wvxu.org to have your voice heard on today’s topic.
  • Catch the replay on 91.7 WVXU and 88.5 WMUB at 8 p.m. ET M-F.
  • Listen on-demand. Audio for this segment will be uploaded to this page by 4 p.m. ET., or subscribe to our podcast.
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