Cleveland school board adopts $71.13 million budget, approves bus-patrol contract and teacher bonuses

The Cleveland City Schools Board of Education on Tuesday adopted a $71,130,225 general fund budget for fiscal 2025–26, approved a contract to launch a bus‑patrol citation program starting this fall, and voted to submit a resolution to the state to receive one‑time teacher bonuses under the Education Freedom Act of 2025.

The budget vote came after a presentation by Director of Schools Dr. Elliott, who described the district's four main funds, reviewed revenue assumptions and state funding estimates, and outlined priorities the board asked staff to emphasize: pay raises, classroom/support growth positions and additional cleaning/contract increases. "These are the priorities for our budget," Dr. Elliott said, adding that planned raises total $2,079,864; planned classroom and support growth positions total $569,340; and an increase to cover cleaning services was estimated at $714,263.

Board members voted unanimously to approve the budget. Miss Wheeler read the roll call: Matt…