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Board reviews potential junior-high restructuring and other cuts if revenue shortfall persists
Summary
Trustees were shown a menu of potential program and staffing cuts — from eliminating junior-high teaming and shrinking the period day to removing summer school, B teams and certain transportation services — with staff stressing special education and school safety would be protected.
At a special work session, Pickerington Local School District leaders walked trustees through specific program and structural options the district could take if additional revenue is not secured.
The superintendent said the district is prioritizing elementary and mandated services and is focusing potential reductions on secondary electives and non-core programs. "We are choosing between bad, worse, and worst," he said, arguing elementary programs and special education services must be preserved because early intervention and legally mandated services are critical.
Staff listed specific junior-high changes that could produce about $1.054 million in one year: eliminating "teaming" structures for seventh- and eighth-grade teams, converting from a nine-period day to an eight-period day (which would reduce electives to only physical education, art and music at the two junior highs, while preserving choir, band and orchestra), and other schedule changes that decrease staffing needs. The treasurer and administrators also described phase-one reductions already included in the FY27 forecast: not replacing certain central-office and building positions, replacing two secondary librarians with media aides, cutting some field trips, increasing paid-participation fees, eliminating B teams at high school, ending summer school and applying 25% building/department budget reductions.
Board members repeatedly emphasized that special education services and IEP/504 obligations are not discretionary. A trustee noted, "We have students in this district who cost well over $100,000 a year to educate," and the superintendent urged advocacy for stronger federal reimbursement.
The district also discussed transportation adjustments: eliminating return transportation from away events and considering radius or routing changes, but consultants told the district the net savings from some transportation changes are smaller than historically assumed because state reimbursement rates have shifted.
What’s next: Administrators said phase-one cuts are already being implemented for FY27 and that deeper junior-high structural changes would be planned for implementation in summer 2027 if needed. The board asked staff to publish FAQs and clearer descriptions of what specific cuts mean for students, families and staff.
Source attribution: Direct quotes and cost estimates were supplied on the record by the superintendent and Treasurer John Walsh during the work session.
