Elyria Schools completes staffing reduction

Elyria Schools has completed the staff reduction portion of its $9 million budget cutting plan approved by the Board of Education last month. Superintendent Ann Schloss announced at a board meeting Wednesday that all of the more than 70 employees the district would have to lay off as a part of the reduction plan had been informed. The budget cuts come as the result of two failed emergency operating levies last year combined with increasing costs for the district and declines in state funding. The district is losing 50 teachers in the reduction, 14 of whom are retiring and the remaining 36 were laid off. Elyria Education Association President Linda Aguinaga said that 25 of those who were reduced were "brand new hires." "It is hard news, obviously, and I think it was handled as well as it could have been handled," Aguinaga said. "It was difficult to try and make sure there was the least amount of stress and anxiety around it as possible, so they decided to do it all at once." Prior to the reduction, Aguinaga had repeatedly warned of the detrimental impact losing so many teachers would have on students. But, she said on Wednesday, watching the district's deepest cuts in over a decade actually take place was devastating. "When you know all their stories, who is expecting a baby, all of the human aspects of it when it is actually happening, it is hard to watch," she said. The district and the EEA are holding "discussion labs" to answer questions from teachers about pay, reduction dates, health care and other benefits following reduction. The cuts have been announced but will not actually take effect until the terminations are approved by the board next month. Teachers who were reduced but are in classroom settings with students will finish the school year. While the reductions are finished, Schloss said that some teachers may still go through what are called displacements. Displacements are when educators are moved between classes, subject areas or even school buildings during a reduction. Schloss said that she hoped the displacement process would be complete shortly after the district's spring break. Both Schloss and Aguinaga said that the budget shortfall that led to the reductions was not the fault of the district, but of a systematic failure at the state level to fund Ohio schools. Similar cuts are affecting schools across Lorain County and the state. Aguinaga said her union and other groups representing educators will push harder than ever for reform in Columbus following cuts. "Feel your feelings, but it is going to feel better if you take action," she said. "That is what we are trying to do now as an organization." Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.