Amherst Schools to make drastic cuts, place levy on ballot

AMHERST — Amherst Schools will cut 48 staff positions and place a levy on the May ballot to balance its budget. During a board meeting Monday evening, members unanimously approved a plan to cut $13.2 million over fiscal years 2026 to 2029 to remove it from fiscal precaution. The district currently faces a looming $8.5 million deficit projected for fiscal year 2028 (the 2027-28 school year) which triggered the state-required plan. Through a mix of retirements, resignations and reductions in force, Amherst Schools will slash $10.3 million from its staffing costs and about $3 million from its supplies, contracts and software to balance its general fund budget moving forward. "There's not one staff member or position in the district that we overspend (on) or is above and beyond what we need," Superintendent Mike Molnar said. "Everyone is vital … it is unfortunate we have to make these reductions." Those cuts include an end to busing at the high school and out-of-season athletic trips, as well as contracts for a social worker through the Educational Service Center of Lorain County, alongside gifted and English language learner services purchased through the ESC. The positions cut are throughout the district — from teachers to bus drivers, secretaries, a mechanic, a special education coordinator, intervention specialists and literacy coaches. Molnar noted the positions eliminated are not indicative of specific individuals losing jobs, as the district must go through the reduction-in-force processes outlined in union contracts and will see vacancies through retirements and resignations go unfilled. He plans to work with the Amherst Teachers Association and Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 208 over the next two months to make the district's plan a reality. Even with the plan in place, Treasurer Amelia Gioffredo still predicts a $5.2 million general fund deficit by fiscal year 2029. Fiscal precaution requires the district to eliminate its cash deficit for fiscal year 2028, and with the plan, it will have $358,000 cash on-hand at the end of that year. Combined with the drastic cuts, voters will also see a five-year, 0.75-percent earned income tax levy on the May ballot in the hope of staving off another round of reductions. The 0.75-percent earned income tax would generate about $5.3 million each year, half of what the failed November income tax levy proposed. If the 0.75-percent earned income tax levy passes, it would be effective Jan. 1, 2027, and take about 18 months for the district to see full collection, the treasurer said. Board President Rex Engle noted if the new levy fails, or if it does not pass until November, Amherst could see itself facing more budget cuts. "If a levy is not (passed), we will be in the same situation next year," he said. "So what has been presented this evening will be duplicated with different reductions along the way … No one is bluffing, no one is doing this because we have too much. We are one of the leanest-run school districts in the state." Molnar echoed Engle's sentiments, adding that EdChoice vouchers cost Ohioans $1 billion in fiscal year 2025 — just 1 percent of that would save the district from its financial woes. "We're talking about the levy on the ballot but if we were funded appropriately by the state, we wouldn't have to go to the community," he said, and implored residents to advocate for funding public education at the state level. Board members also honored outgoing member Morgan Wachholz, who did not seek reelection and finish her term at the end of the month. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.