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School board discusses new Cincinnati Public School Foundation, approves preschool board appointment
Summary
The Cincinnati Board of Education heard updates on the MOU creating a renamed foundation to replace ABC, discussed fundraising priorities and governance, and approved the district's recommended representative to the Cincinnati Preschool Promise board.
The Cincinnati Board of Education on Aug. 25 heard a detailed update on the transition of the district's longtime ABC Foundation into a newly branded Cincinnati Public School Foundation and approved the superintendent's recommendation to appoint Jennifer Elmira as the district's representative to the Cincinnati Preschool Promise board.
The foundation's leaders told the board the entity will focus on fundraising tied to district goals and will operate with a measure of independence from CPS. Superintendent Murphy and Board Member Crossett, who serves as the board's liaison to the foundation, said the first-year fundraising target is $2 million and that CPS will cover administrative support this year by providing $1.1 million in district funding. Foundation leaders have told the board the organization hopes to grow annual fundraising to about $5 million within five years.
Board members asked how the foundation will balance independence with accountability. Board Member Weinberg and Vice President Bolton emphasized the board's desire for transparency because CPS is providing public dollars. Superintendent Murphy and staff pointed to the MOU's reporting provisions and said the executive director is contractually required to maintain complete and accurate financial records and make them available to the superintendent or designee. Several trustees asked for clearer statement of board priorities and said they want stronger early input from the board on the foundation's strategic priorities.
Foundation leaders and board members described a process of soliciting donor and community input and narrowing initial work into four broad focus areas: academic excellence, whole-student wellness, workforce development and 'the wider world' (global awareness and related experiences). Staff said the foundation had conducted outreach to donors and planned a soft launch to avoid interfering with a concurrent levy campaign. The foundation has designated three ex officio CPS seats on its board: the superintendent, the assistant treasurer and the board liaison; CPS may recommend two additional community members.
Trustees also discussed a legacy relationship with ABC: several long-standing contracts and vendor relationships remain in place during the transition so programming is not disrupted. Board and administration staff said some former ABC functions (for example, athletic security contracts and resource coordinators at schools) continue under existing agreements while the foundation launches.
Board members asked that foundation representatives and CPS finalize a clearer schedule for quarterly reporting and board-to-board engagement. Trustees agreed to hold a fuller conversation about strategic priorities at an October retreat and to invite the foundation's executive director and some foundation board members to meet with the school board that month.
Votes at the meeting included approval of the superintendent's appointment recommendation for Jennifer Elmira to the Preschool Promise board; that vote was taken by roll call and passed unanimously.
Why this matters: The MOU and governance structure will determine how donors' money is raised and used, how CPS influences priorities, and how public funds and district goals are aligned with philanthropy.
Sources: Presentation and board discussion during the Aug. 25 CPS Board meeting; superintendent and board liaison remarks; foundation fundraising targets shared with the board.
