[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6232276,"mediaKeyId","3426260-c2e314ed61a2c263b1b9ab7e0f4129ba","parentId",3426260,"title","Parents, educators and students urge board not to cut social workers or Montessori paraprofessionals","audioSeconds",2917,"startMs",4458000,"endMs",7375000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426260-c2e314ed61a2c263b1b9ab7e0f4129ba&start=4458&end=7375","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426260-c2e314ed61a2c263b1b9ab7e0f4129ba/thumbnail_4458000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6232276/Ohio/Parents-educators-and-students-urge-board-not-to-cut-social-workers-or-Montessori-paraprofessionals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232276-6698f3880511e9c13dd18c7ec5856029/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198668&Signature=Q69xFipJXHdshemIcQtUiw2e0hZiNjq-vjgHdmRmsGzgUySGAxqWi77KYsJCt4NrnIrOlcj2XTwEXzSghh4XN8wcpZx8R24L9xNyXZrn-WbdntbScoWkB5aLiZ11A4sygcFz84ksLDi-K4AGOcqGtV4kku48nzn7cxk5Uw0MtCb0NzSvmYFfUTiInFZfDigY2XrQvqcduNm~noTeP2WgK6fnjxMdkx0UZ6NDHAHtWNwUZhzqvmqudZZqZqqf0CLxZVvujEgV5TKtydipbd093vtkV0X4Vx4-wb125um6f5dF7TQHdaXbjAdnLI7WBI7P2YxZbKUEKbbFMsGH1qHvKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cincinnati Public Schools","date","2025-05-21T16:56:57.17Z","article","Dozens of parents, educators, students and union representatives addressed the Cincinnati Board of Education on May 19 to oppose proposed cuts to school social workers and Montessori paraprofessionals.

Speakers included classroom social workers, parents from Montessori school communities and students who described the direct impact of social workers and paraprofessionals on attendance, behavior and emotional support. Several public speakers supplied petitions and letters: a parent said a petition opposing the proposed half-time shift for Montessori paraprofessionals had gathered more than 300 signatures by early afternoon.

Sandy Hartman, a school social worker, described daily student use of a designated break space at her school and said social workers provided hundreds of student supports; she said cutting school social-worker positions would \"not be worth the cost to our students' mental health.\" A district social worker who works with multilingual learners said a cut would remove supports for children carrying complex trauma, calling social workers \"keepers of so many silent fears, worries and grief.\"

Multiple Montessori parents and local Montessori leaders said reducing paraprofessionals from full time to half time would \"fundamentally disrupt\" the Montessori model, which depends on a second adult to support multi-age, hands-on instruction. Clayton Adams, a parent at Dater Montessori, told the board the changes \"would negatively impact students and teachers,\" and several parents described paraprofessionals' roles in small-group instruction, behavior support and supporting students with 504 plans.

Union leaders and school staff told the board these positions are central to day-to-day operations. CFT President Julie Sellers warned that cutting paraprofessionals and school social workers would undermine services the district relies on to reduce chronic absenteeism and support students in crisis. A union representative suggested the district first reexamine outside contracts and off-site events for potential savings before laying off district employees.

Board members listened and thanked speakers for coming; no formal board action was taken in response during the meeting. The board and administration said they would continue budget deliberations and return with additional proposals, and several board members asked administration for detailed cost and contract analyses in June.

Speakers and organizations that addressed the board included school social workers, Montessori parents and leaders, Student Government representatives, and the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers; many asked the board to preserve full-time paraprofessionals in Montessori classrooms and to avoid cuts to school social workers that staff and families say are already overstretched.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CPS Board Business Meeting May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment the board heard multiple speakers urge the district to preserve full-time school social workers and full-time paraprofessionals in Montessori classrooms, warning proposed cuts would harm student supports and Montessori fidelity.","taxTitle","Cincinnati Public Schools, School Districts, Ohio","taxId",13483,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6232281,"Kilgore Girl Scouts urge Cincinnati school board to cut cafeteria waste, reduce plastic and extend lunch time",730,3684000,4414000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426260-c2e314ed61a2c263b1b9ab7e0f4129ba&start=3684&end=4414","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426260-c2e314ed61a2c263b1b9ab7e0f4129ba/thumbnail_3684000.jpg","/articles/6232281/Ohio/Kilgore-Girl-Scouts-urge-Cincinnati-school-board-to-cut-cafeteria-waste-reduce-plastic-and-extend-lunch-time","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232281-79942282ce410aa066dfc8e23aab37b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198668&Signature=Co258XJLKMParxAnHE2eEuG5jteKOr5Me5KN4tgulkGb4kEXTveFfsHfokBkx1jHq9Se53qnB8~XjyBLJisrx2gIlmGRteeqqKgGqH4DzGSjBmYLAP3fz8zy2gHbRsZZclT5PwWZD7nD9XQa9E6Cb7Rxf2LhXiq5tbzcd9stfI6XHDAKxSXmUWu75yOaGfGW6hdZ8F0jo1DB1r7x1cPuEAMOcxR5KLkX-z-P~lOcZ6l2r6q-NcxB8bSR1BthBR45pZvmUDcV7-DWwk0nMtRfOqgLEjh2N9sKwDv0YQeWYqLj~xqUu7Ee5oAoOQRWH2rMIJg3xQbeE56kzmSeYOphEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A troop of Kilgore Elementary fifth graders told the Cincinnati Board of Education on May 19 that food waste and plastic packaging in school cafeterias is harming the environment and offered a set of student-generated recommendations to reduce waste.

Several members of Girl Scout Troop 4161 presented their findings and ideas during the meeting's public-comment period, describing a troop project that earned a food-waste badge. The students said their research and classroom experience found common issues across schools: fruit and other items wrapped in single-use plastic, inconsistent use of reusable trays and utensils, short lunch periods that leave some students with only five to 10 minutes to eat, lack of recycling or compost bins in cafeterias, and the elimination or loss of \"share tables\" where unopened items could be made available to other students.

Claire, a troop speaker, urged the district to stop routinely packaging apples and pears in plastic and to return to reusable trays rather than Styrofoam. Several speakers recommended the district reinstate or expand share tables and collection of unopened milk and prepackaged items for distribution to other students. Students asked the district to provide composting bins for food scraps and to add recycling bins in cafeterias and gym spaces.

\"We only have 15 to devour our lunch,\" one student told the board, urging that lunch periods be lengthened or that service be made faster so students have time to finish meals instead of throwing food away. Another student suggested that staff reintroduce cafeteria collection of unopened food items for redistribution, saying the school used to do that and it reduced wasted food.

Board members thanked the students for their presentations and invited them to work with staff on implementation ideas. President Moffitt praised the troop and asked staff to follow up on operational possibilities.

No board action was taken at the meeting; students said they hoped the district would review cafeteria procedures, packaging choices and lunch scheduling in response to their suggestions.","A troop of fifth graders from Kilgore School told the Cincinnati Board of Education they completed a food-waste badge and recommended the district reduce plastic wrapping, restore share tables/collection of unopened food, add compost and recycling bins and lengthen lunch periods.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6232285,"Board approves initial budget steps: in-house nursing plan, transport changes and pause to Taft Montessori start",2263,9656000,11919000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426260-c2e314ed61a2c263b1b9ab7e0f4129ba&start=9656&end=11919","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426260-c2e314ed61a2c263b1b9ab7e0f4129ba/thumbnail_9656000.jpg","/articles/6232285/Ohio/Board-approves-initial-budget-steps-in-house-nursing-plan-transport-changes-and-pause-to-Taft-Montessori-start","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232285-7f16bfb3722cf74fcae4e744d74e1a3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198668&Signature=N-NF1Jt1zguX9UxnPtA-1d2tl9R5D5ozkgEVZ2dpjnYeczNWukb3OX08xVGvFv8vnF9B5fgWu4zgK3OOiXDFM9FZw4t~n3wRp~0d2zVMN4L5xYcjmfqWmwe4ACy2LZcjp7oS2~uiwVo7KcsUJ9KQcHoXsgpnaNBaUP7uAlkKBKPeViwkZCLkruQwgboNjZUWydtiGXDMJAq2y~ot2F3e~-1vaYSnoh2y9I1cxzIzIpoiRzWa~TevROXacEeXwo76EIgNvg18YyQmVtO2SD2j8DfFuBdHU9E0~DSOLqE8h2-eqzlrw3R2Q3Bnff-OtfPalYNs5R77Wqg2WiqDSqfmSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cincinnati Board of Education on May 19 approved a set of initial budget actions recommended by the superintendent to reduce projected costs and address timing-sensitive contracts. The board voted to allow the administration to pursue these steps while delaying a broader reduction-in-force decision.

The approved items included: authorization to negotiate and secure an athletic-trainer contract (administration said it needs to confirm terms with the prospective provider); a plan to shift nursing services to district employees (RNs/LPNs/SHA staff) rather than a contracted partner, projected by administration to reduce nursing-contract costs; a proposal to move all seventh- and eighth-grade students on district-assigned routes to Metro transit and to realign start times at nine schools to improve transportation efficiency; a pause of the planned William Howard Taft elementary 3'6 Montessori classroom startup that was part of the growth plan; and approval to proceed with a foundation contract at the originally posted amount.

Vice President Bolton and other board members described the actions as time-sensitive: Bolton said the athletic-trainer contract requires an early commitment if the district hopes to secure qualified staff through the proposed partner. The superintendent asked for board direction so staff could finalize partner arrangements and timing.

Board members stressed the measures were only an initial package, not a full budget solution. Several members said they were not yet prepared to authorize any formal reduction-in-force. Board member Lindy said the board needed to continue planning for potential personnel reductions but did not approve a RIF motion at this meeting.

The vote on the motion to authorize the superintendent to pursue the listed actions passed unanimously by roll call: Mr. Craig, yes; Mr. Crossett, yes; Mr. Lindy, yes; Miss Mapp, yes; Mrs. Weinberg, yes; Vice President Bolton, yes; President Moffitt, yes.

What the actions mean: Administration told the board the nursing change would replace a contracted partner and that district-hired nurses would perform the services, which staff said would both maintain coverage and lower contract costs. The transportation change would consolidate routes by using Metro transit for older students and by adjusting bell times at selected schools, which staff said could yield multi-year savings if fully implemented. Superintendent Murphy said staff would return with implementation plans and specific savings estimates as the work proceeds. The board also asked staff for additional contract and department-level details in follow-up briefings.

No layoffs were finalized at the meeting; the board and staff emphasized further review and additional budget steps would follow in June.","After a lengthy budget discussion, the Cincinnati Board approved a package of nearterm actions including moving nursing services in-house, negotiating an athletic-trainer contract, changing transportation for 7'12 students, altering start times for nine schools and pausing a planned Montessori classroom startup.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6232289,"Board approves May update to five-year financial forecast; treasurer warns revenue uncertainty",2063,9863000,11926000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426260-c2e314ed61a2c263b1b9ab7e0f4129ba&start=9863&end=11926","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426260-c2e314ed61a2c263b1b9ab7e0f4129ba/thumbnail_9863000.jpg","/articles/6232289/Ohio/Board-approves-May-update-to-five-year-financial-forecast-treasurer-warns-revenue-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232289-2d7c6109358d2788a192c69d1585d88c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198668&Signature=EXVUwzlO78UIkrX8q8OX6ouFRo5-Z0g67doFuqWJKiNMW~TQO2Fsx30SGDUXdMw-Y1s~t-NTrwWIdGctAZHV~~m0za~rxVNmtQTmrjHpcM~FVtfZvnT4LwsQvcYs7XmJKVhUamzFGxPgwrbRr9hNlvOUnDeMvp9xASudBxgT2CJG5zigSt~YloxYEbNF8iBvwyvhlWllYJwspd4Iu6jBoMLRlVfK~AqprjveeQgT5zW-DzCaODl3gq06UcJ4ubPxsg8K7JOcwuCfPuSSSSOG~Tjh35zYL5w7xcUftDUyZBgc4dxlKE0woQFvXffUeQhj~mvg-WCMssVAHowFJUM9Yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cincinnati Board of Education voted May 19 to adopt the May update to the district's five-year forecast, a required filing with the Ohio Department of Education. Treasurer's office staff and district budget directors briefed the board on assumptions, risk factors and scenarios before the roll-call vote.

Assistant Treasurer Guston and Director of Financial Transparency and Reporting Kevin Ashley told the board the May forecast increased revenue estimates for fiscal 2026 compared with the November forecast based on updated enrollment and tax receipts. The May filing uses current statewide assumptions that mirror much of the House budget language at the time of the presentation; staff cautioned that the state budget process was not finalized and that changes could materially affect district revenue.

Key figures presented by staff included an FY26 revenue estimate of about $628.6 million (roughly $4 million higher than the November projection) and a projected deficit for the current fiscal year (FY25) of about $12.3 million when books are closed. Staff told the board the forecast includes the planned renewal of the district's fixed-sum emergency levy; the model shows the levy's half-year and full-year collections in later forecast years. The forecast also estimates an ending cash balance for fiscal 2029 of about $65.7 million and an unencumbered cash amount of about $47.4 million after estimated encumbrances.

Budget staff emphasized multiple risks: passages or changes in the state budget (including proposals to cap district carryover or alter the 20-mill floor), potential federal funding changes and the uncertainty that remains until appropriations are finalized. Kevin Ashley told the board that the forecast requires judgment calls across a multi-year horizon and that the treasurer's office had modeled several scenarios, including a more conservative case that would require earlier new revenue or deeper reductions.

The board voted to adopt the May version of the five-year forecast, including the supporting notes. The roll-call vote recorded: Mr. Craig, yes; Mr. Crossett, yes; Mr. Lindy, yes; Miss Mapp, yes; Mrs. Weinberg, yes; Vice President Bolton, yes; President Moffitt, yes. Assistant Treasurer Guston and Kevin Ashley said the forecast will be filed with the Ohio Department of Education on schedule.

What the board heard: staff and board members discussed the relationship between steady local tax revenue (which accounts for a majority of the district's general-fund revenue) and state and federal funding, and board members asked for follow-up reporting. Board members requested more school-level detail and analysis correlating partner programs and resource coordinators with student outcomes and asked staff to provide additional breakout data by department and contract category for upcoming meetings.

Next steps: the forecast is filed with state education officials as required; administration staff said they will return with additional detail in the budget process and proposed actions to close the remaining budget gaps for fiscal 2026.","The Cincinnati Board of Education voted to adopt the May revision of the district's five-year forecast; staff said the projection uses current state budget assumptions, shows a modest increase in projected revenue for FY26 and warns of remaining deficits and federal/state funding uncertainty.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6232295,"Cincinnati Board adopts new mental health and wellness policy after debate over funding language",315,1482000,1797000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426260-c2e314ed61a2c263b1b9ab7e0f4129ba&start=1482&end=1797","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426260-c2e314ed61a2c263b1b9ab7e0f4129ba/thumbnail_1482000.jpg","/articles/6232295/Ohio/Cincinnati-Board-adopts-new-mental-health-and-wellness-policy-after-debate-over-funding-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232295-6544323e042480a7bcfb6a589a91d272/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198668&Signature=bNipJqmSqEonAHV6SwYlhj18YS81URPtqQcjmQ5q9bJGIuyOIqtyQ1BX~MbIf5nKfkKJdrQsCoPjeLXUA0vlZJjxQCr2Cmpb42WSBQ2bIqsoRAOMjQG03reEAIZhUbd-h2wG9LmEfyBeHG0cKJ3NTxUM6~-ZZCJViBTw9tiIJLsLJiTdprVvALz25mqSrWsZlcWUHTzSTL8vKdZ96H6B1oP5d9ubFjmyer~eZ5acAlhxmlWHJ~diVFPfGa8BdOV1TIlRHOSxbH3hf9~63vavmab8xcz6IB8glcoh94563m2IY0puK9P6Ci56UkLMA7a17-Q6m7Rc5nAOoenPpm7c8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cincinnati Board of Education on May 19 adopted a new district Mental Health and Wellness Policy, board policy 85-16, after a period of discussion about whether to qualify the policy's goals with an \"as finances allow\" phrase.

The policy was presented to the board by a member of the policy committee and staff and then offered for adoption; after a motion to approve and a short discussion, the board voted to adopt the policy. Vice President Bolton voted no while the other voting members voted yes.

The policy aims to clarify roles and supports across school-based educational staff and licensed mental-health professionals, and adds provisions on school-based telehealth, crisis response ownership, and public education about Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Board member Matt, who led the presentation, said the committee revised language to reduce duplication of roles and to ensure \"each professional [can] collaborate to provide optimal services for students within each school and within the district.\" Board member Matt moved to submit the policy as written.

During discussion Vice President Bolton urged the committee to add a phrase — \"as finances allow\" — to the eight listed goals to make clear implementation depends on available funding. Bolton said, \"I would like if it's possible, for the 8 goals that are listed, where appropriate ... as finances allow.\" The motion to amend was not accepted by the policy presenters, who said the committee had prioritized aligning work with district guardrails and needs-driven allocation rather than tying goals explicitly to future funding.

The policy adds or clarifies several operational details. It spells out that school-based telehealth services are a supplemental modality and \"adhere to the same board policies, professional ethical standards, and legal obligations\" as in-person services. The policy also specifies service-entry requirements for telehealth: \"Students must have a referral, a signed informed consent, and have completed the clinical intake process by the partnering organization.\" Presenters also said the district's crisis response team will be the \"owners\" of critical-incident response procedures until a formal district crisis-response policy is adopted.

Board discussion also referenced other related board policies, including board policy 2257 on hate speech, which staff said they inserted early in the code to align equity- and conduct-related policies. After discussion the roll-call vote on adoption produced these recorded votes: Mr. Craig, yes; Mr. Crossett, yes; Mr. Lindy, yes; Miss Mapp, yes; Mrs. Weinberg, yes; Vice President Bolton, no; President Moffitt, yes. The motion carried and the board adopted policy 85-16.

Superintendent Murphy and staff thanked committee members and a list of staff who contributed to the policy writing and implementation planning. Staff said the policy's updates were intended to make district roles clearer and to expand community education about PBIS work so that families and school communities better understand supports and prevention strategies.

What happens next: staff said the policy will be posted and the district will continue planning implementation steps, including printed and electronic access for staff, families and community members and additional outreach about school-based telehealth procedures and consent requirements.","The Cincinnati Board of Education voted to adopt new board policy 85-16 — the district's Mental Health and Wellness Policy — after debate over whether to add language tying goals to available funding; Vice President Bolton voted no.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents, educators and students urge board not to cut social workers or Montessori paraprofessionals

Kilgore Girl Scouts urge Cincinnati school board to cut cafeteria waste, reduce plastic and extend lunch time

Board approves initial budget steps: in-house nursing plan, transport changes and pause to Taft Montessori start

Board approves May update to five-year financial forecast; treasurer warns revenue uncertainty

Cincinnati Board adopts new mental health and wellness policy after debate over funding language