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Cincinnati Public Schools board approves memorandum of understanding to form districtwide foundation
Summary
The Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education voted to adopt a memorandum of understanding with ABC (the long-time partner organization) to create a districtwide CPS Foundation, resolving key governance and operational questions and allowing renegotiation year-to-year.
The Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously March 17 to adopt a memorandum of understanding with ABC to create a districtwide CPS Foundation, enabling the longtime partner organization to formally begin fundraising for district priorities.
The agreement, recommended by General Counsel Dan Hoyne and the administration, spells out a multi-year arrangement intended to give ABC funding stability while preserving the board’s ability to revisit administrative fees and governance each year. "I have sent to the board what I believe to be a recommended final draft of an agreement," General Counsel Dan Hoyne told the board, adding that administration and ABC had negotiated the remaining issues.
Why it matters: the foundation is intended to centralize private fundraising and lower administrative costs for donors who want to support CPS programs beyond classroom operations. Board members repeatedly pressed for clear protections on district voice and limits on use of district staff and space to make sure public resources are tracked and accountable.
Board members asked for explicit safeguards. Board Member Mapp pressed for stronger voting representation by CPS on the ABC foundation board; Hoyne said the MOU now includes a term that if CPS-appointed representation on the foundation drops below 25 percent, the CPS board may appoint an additional member. Board Member Weinberg asked for clearer language in section 6 about use of CPS personnel and office space; Hoyne said the agreement would require tracking any CPS employee time used on fundraising and that space provisions (for example, use of Rawson) would be governed by a separately negotiated lease.
Several members sought comfort that the agreement could be renegotiated. Hoyne and the administration highlighted two mechanisms to preserve flexibility: first, either party may propose different administrative fee levels or goals annually as experience mounts; second, either party may trigger renegotiation for a contract year by December 31, while the contract would remain in place through June 30 to provide stability for ABC’s work.
Board Member Lindy moved to adopt the version of the MOU that staff distributed to trustees the prior week; the motion was seconded and amended to reflect the changes discussed at tonight’s meeting. The board then voted, with all members present voting "yes," to adopt the MOU as revised and recommended by administration.
What comes next: administration and ABC will implement the MOU terms, put any required leases or operating details in separate agreements, and present follow-up items or reports to the board as fundraising begins. Board members signaled they expect future discussion about the foundation’s program priorities and additional community engagement on what the foundation should fund.
Board members congratulated ABC and the superintendent on reaching an agreement after months of negotiation. The vote authorizes administration to proceed under the adopted MOU; any major changes or renegotiations the board triggers by December 31 in a future year will return to the board for action.
