Marysville board approves contingency resolutions, staff reductions and schedule changes contingent on May levy failure

The Marysville Board of Education on March 20 approved a set of contingency measures that would take effect only if the district's May 6 levy fails, including shortened instructional days for elementary and intermediate schools, an agreement with the teachers' association on planning time, and formal staff reductions.

The resolution to shorten the elementary and Creekview Intermediate instructional day by 30 minutes daily for the 2025–26 school year passed on a voice/roll-call vote. The board also approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Marysville Education Association (MEA) that would move the required 200 minutes of K–6 teacher preparation time to before the student day if the levy fails. Later the board adopted a certified reduction-in-force resolution and a separate resolution to suspend certain classified staff contracts; both actions were described by administrators as contingent on the levy failure and the district's contingency plan.

Why it matters: The district's treasurer warned that Marysville receives substantially less revenue per pupil than the state average and that, under the contingency plan, the district would face deeper operating shortfalls that require staffing and schedule reductions to balance the budget. Administrators said the measures are intended to preserve core instructional services while reducing operating costs if additional local revenue is not approved by voters.

The MOU between the district and the MEA sets K–6 prep time schedules for the 2025–26 school year only in the event the levy does not pass. Under the MOU the Creekview Intermediate tardy bell would be 9:05 a.m. with a 3:15 p.m. dismissal (doors open 8:45 a.m.); elementary schools would have a 9:45 a.m. tardy bell with a 3:55 p.m. dismissal (doors open 9:25 a.m.). The MOU specifies the 200 minutes of preparation time for K–6 certified staff would be scheduled prior to the student day; it does not change planning time for grades 7–12.

Board members and administrators stressed the steps are conditional. Superintendent Dr. Kristen Allen (identified in the meeting) described the actions as the district's implementation of the contingency plan developed after a levy failure in November and reiterated that the changes would occur only if voters reject the May 6 levy.

Certified staff reductions: The board approved a certified reduction in force listing position counts by area that the administration said would be cut if the levy fails. The resolution listed position categories and named some employees who would be reassigned, retired, or affected. Position counts included, as read by administration at the meeting, examples such as: art (4), music (4), physical education (3), intermediate STEM/technology reductions, middle school and high school program reductions (including FabLab, robotics, certain World Language and career/technical areas) and several high school academic/course reductions that the administration said would be guided by enrollment and master-scheduling constraints.

Classified position suspensions: The board also approved a resolution to suspend specified non-teaching (classified) contracts effective May 23, 2025, if the levy does not pass. The administration said the district would make best-effort offers to place impacted classified employees into vacancies when available. The resolution cited Ohio Revised Code language as the statutory basis for the action (referenced in the meeting as "Revised Code 3319.172").

Board discussion emphasized the difficulty of the actions and said they were proposed only as a last-resort cost-saving step. Several board members, calling the votes difficult and regrettable, asked the public to consider the fiscal tradeoffs when they vote. Treasurer Todd Johnson presented district financial slides during the meeting showing Marysville's revenue-per-pupil ranking well below the state average and describing the district's cash-on-hand and projected deficits.

Votes at the meeting: the board approved (by roll call) the instructional-hours resolution, the MEA MOU, the certified reduction-in-force resolution and the classified contract suspension resolution. Board members recorded their votes in the meeting record; the votes as called were affirmative.

What remains unresolved: All actions are expressly contingent on the May 6 levy not passing; if the levy is approved, administrators said the contingency steps would not be implemented and the district would seek to restore impacted courses and positions where feasible.

Ending: The board's actions formalize the contingency plan previously discussed by administrators and staff; administrators said they will provide additional detail to employees and the public as required and will continue to monitor financial projections and negotiations with the MEA.