Hamilton City superintendent unveils $9.6 million cut plan, including Fairwood closure and outsourced preschool and nursing

Superintendent Andrea Blevins told the Hamilton City School Board on Tuesday that the district faces a structural deficit that could reach about $10.12 million for the 2026–27 school year and presented a $9.6 million package of cuts and reorganizations designed to keep the district solvent without immediate program eliminations.

Blevins, who opened the presentation by saying she delivered the plan "with a heavy heart," said the shortfall stems from reductions in the state foundation funding formula and recent property‑tax reform. Treasurer Jeremy Frazier told the board the district expects to lose an estimated $2 million to $3 million in property‑tax revenue and will present an updated February forecast with more precise figures.

The package combines operational savings and personnel changes. Non‑personnel measures—about $1.3 million in cuts—include modest energy adjustments (changing HVAC setpoints by one degree), a districtwide lights‑off campaign in partnership with HCTA, reduced postage and renegotiated printer contracts. The district also plans technology contract changes with its provider Ford Edge and to move some licensing costs to permanent‑improvement funds.

Major structural recommendations include closing Fairwood Elementary (the district said it is one of the lowest‑enrollment elementary schools) and converting the building into what the administration calls the Hamilton Early Learning Center. Under that plan, Butler County ESC would operate consolidated preschool at no cost to Hamilton families; the district estimates converting preschool operations would save about $1.2 million of preschool expenses while preserving services for Hamilton students.

Blevins said the Fairwood closure would primarily save building overhead—about $1.8 million—and that most Fairwood students and staff could be reassigned to Crawford Woods, Riverview and Bridgeport without a broad boundary redraw; the district will provide transportation under its existing K–12 one‑mile radius policy.

At the secondary level, the administration recommended combining the standalone freshman campus into Hamilton High School to reduce administrative overhead (estimated savings of about $1.2 million) and proposed several position reductions tied to smaller cohort sizes, along with restructuring library services by replacing certified secondary librarians with classified media coordinators while keeping one head librarian at the district level.

On personnel, Blevins said the plan affects roughly 153 personnel decisions across categories and that the number of employees expected to be affected had already changed to 101 by the morning of the meeting as retirements and other changes reduced the initial list. She emphasized the district will follow seniority rules and offer displaced staff choices and recall opportunities; Butler County ESC has agreed to guarantee interviews for displaced preschool employees for openings in their organization.

Blevins listed specific savings examples: buying 12‑passenger vans using permanent‑improvement dollars to replace outsourced transportation (projected to save about $600,000 this calendar year), eliminating an annual $100,000 subscription for the Really Great Reading curriculum where duplicate phonics instruction exists, and a retire‑rehire arrangement for an associate superintendent expected to save about $25,000 annually. She said outsourcing nursing services to a model with one district RN and LPNs in buildings—already used in several surrounding districts—would save roughly $500,000.

Board members voiced support and frustration about the root causes. One board member said the situation was "not poor fiscal management by the Hamilton City School District" and blamed elected officials in Columbus for funding decisions. Blevins and several board members urged community advocacy on school funding once the immediate changes are implemented.

Blevins stressed the plan would not take effect immediately: no changes would occur during the 2025–26 school year, and proposed reductions would take effect in August 2026 to give staff four to five months' notice. The district will post the presentation and a community letter at 5:00 p.m. the same day; Fairwood families were scheduled to receive a targeted letter at 5:15 p.m. and the board was told RIF (reduction‑in‑force) names will be presented at the Feb. 24 board meeting along with the contract with Butler County ESC.

After the presentation the board moved into executive session to consult with legal counsel about pending or imminent litigation; the motion passed by roll call. The board indicated no additional business would follow the executive session aside from adjournment.

The administration said it was trying to preserve safety, core programming and extracurricular opportunities while using internal savings and external partnerships to avoid immediate requests for additional local levies. Blevins also said the $9.6 million package is not a permanent fix and that the district will continue to pursue long‑term revenue options and community engagement to rebuild financial stability.

Next steps: the administration will meet personally with impacted staff and finalize the RIF list for the Feb. 24 board meeting, when the Butler County ESC contract will also be on the agenda for board approval.