Superintendent details $9.7 million reduction plan: close one elementary, relocate Wilson Middle and move Miami credit-recovery program

Superintendent Blevins presented a district budget-reduction plan aimed at trimming roughly $9.7 million from next year’s spending, while protecting classroom instruction where possible.

Key elements include closing one elementary school, outsourcing preschool and nursing services to the Butler County Educational Service Center, and reconfiguring the district's building footprint. Blevins proposed relocating Wilson Middle School from 714 Eaton Avenue to the vacant freshman campus at 2260 Northwest Washington, which would add classroom space (an estimated 10 additional classrooms), a larger cafeteria and gym. The Miami School (the district’s credit-recovery/alternative program) would move from 140 Ross Avenue into the current Wilson facility. The Ross Avenue building — purchased with permanent improvement (PI) funds for $699,000 — is valued by the county auditor at about $2,000,000; any sale proceeds would return to the PI fund rather than the general fund.

"We have proactively provided the names of impacted employees to surrounding districts… and the Butler County Educational Service Center, which will be assuming responsibility for preschool and nursing," Blevins said. She added the district has secured guaranteed interviews for affected staff and is working to place displaced employees; union bumping and placement meetings with AFSCME Local 4-68 and clerical/EAs will occur in early February.

Blevins walked the board through the implementation timeline: staff meetings and placement conversations in late January, a February 2–16 window for finalizing placements and recalls, presentation of the list of employees on the RIF list for board approval at the Feb. 24 business meeting, open houses and building visits for staff in March, family open houses in April, and physical building moves during the summer. The superintendent emphasized attempts to limit job loss for union-covered positions, noting that some roles will be displaced but not eliminated.

Board members asked operational questions about moving furniture, library materials and equipment; district staff said resources would be coordinated centrally, with some furniture reassigned to avoid moving assets twice. Blevins said the district intended to maintain the Wilson name at its new address and make the transition seamless for students.

The board did not vote on the reduction plan tonight; Blevins said the formal staff RIF/recall list will be brought to the board for approval on Feb. 24. The district will continue outreach to staff and the community while implementing recall and placement processes.