Cuyahoga Falls board moves to close an elementary school as budget shortfall looms

The Cuyahoga Falls Board of Education voted April 23 to move forward with the closure of an elementary school as part of a series of steps officials say are necessary to address a structural budget shortfall.

The board adopted a resolution saying that “due to the financial forecast” it is moving forward with the closure of an elementary building while staff continue to gather data “to further determine the best course of action on which building.” The vote followed a detailed presentation from district financial staff laying out current and projected deficits, enrollment declines and a menu of cost-cutting options.

The move matters because the district’s five‑year forecast shows persistent gaps between revenues and spending and shrinking cash-on-hand. Treasurer Jody (Chr.) Stowe Chwick told the board that the district’s November forecast showed fiscal 2027 was projected “in the red by almost $4,000,000,” and that cash-on-hand would fall from roughly 44 days today to a negative position by 2027 unless structural changes are made. Stowe Chwick said the district and the state require the board to present a plan that brings the forecast back into balance.

Stowe Chwick and staff outlined four broad options the district has considered: closing a building, selling property, changing open-enrollment practices, and seeking additional levy revenue from voters. The treasurer said a one‑time sale of a building yields a limited, nonrecurring benefit, while the recurring savings from a closure accumulate over time.

The board was presented a per-building average savings analysis. Across six elementary buildings the district calculated roughly $3.1 million in gross annual cost reductions if a building were closed; the district’s forecast…