Garfield Heights City Schools raises state rating to 3 stars while warning of $9.5 million shortfall

The superintendent of Garfield Heights City Schools said the districtimproved its overall state report card rating from two stars to three stars, a change the district described as meeting state standards, and warned the district faces a projected $9.5 million shortfall for the 2026-27 school year that will require further reductions.

The rating improvement, the superintendent said, reflects gains in student progress and graduation rates driven by a focus on data and instructional practices. "We have met state standards," the superintendent said, and credited teachers, administrators and staff for the progress.

At the same time, the superintendent outlined years of budget cuts and a plan for deeper reductions if the districtcannot close the projected gap. "We have made nearly $8,000,000 in budget reductions to right size our workforce, control costs, and to address enrollment trends," the superintendent said, and said additional measures would be necessary to address the projected shortfall.

The superintendent said over the last three years the district reduced teaching positions by about 20 percent — "the equivalent of closing an entire school without closing a single building" — and reduced administrative staff by about 30 percent. Specific reductions and program changes the superintendent listed included elimination or reduction of six administrative positions, two exempt central-office positions, 35 teaching positions (11 of those through buyouts), cuts to security associate roles, fewer building substitutes, reductions to student school-supply funding, cuts to arts programming, discontinuing social-emotional learning via Satchel Pulse, and instituting pay-to-participate fees for sports and other activities.

The superintendent highlighted efforts to limit the burden on taxpayers by pursuing outside funding: a stadium replacement completed without using general-fund dollars, middle-school window replacement supported through grants, and elementary playgrounds and outdoor classrooms created using additional grants.

To close the projected $9.5 million deficit for the 2026-27 school year, the superintendent said the district is proposing a reduction-in-force of 20 teacher positions and 10 operations positions (including maintenance, custodial, transportation and cleaning staff), possible cuts to the school day, and the closure of the middle school and Elmwood Elementary School buildings. "These decisions are not made lightly," the superintendent said.

The superintendent closed by saying the district will continue to pursue grants and community partnerships and emphasized a commitment to transparency and protecting core instruction. "With every child, every day, together," the superintendent said.