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