The cuts include four middle school teaching positions, more than five high school teaching positions and 24 other classroom jobs.
In Cleveland, the Nordonia Hills City School District has decided to lay off a number of employees, with nine teachers among those affected, due to financial constraints following the rejection of the district’s levy last autumn.
The cuts involve the elimination of four teaching positions in the middle school, over five teaching positions in the high school, and 24 other roles in classrooms. In addition, the district has offered a buyout option to all staff members, with the outcome expected to be decided by the conclusion of February. Further reductions in staff are deemed necessary, as per the district.
Further changes include the discontinuation of various programs such as German language classes, in-school suspension for high school students, and a social-emotional learning curriculum for middle and high schoolers. Moreover, there will be reductions in custodial and student supervisor roles. To compensate for the financial shortfall, fees for middle and high school sports, as well as extracurricular activities like band and choir, will see a rise.
The downsizing comes after only 35% of voters in Macedonia, Northfield Village, Northfield Center Township, Sagamore Hills, and parts of Boston Heights cast ballots in favor of Issue 30 in November 2024. The proposed tax increase combining a 4-millage operating levy and a 1-millage permanent improvement levy would have generated approximately $7.35 million per year for the district. The Nordonia school district has not passed a levy since 2019.
“We know these decisions will affect our students, families, and staff in profound ways. These cuts are not what any of us want, but they are necessary given our current financial reality. If the May 2025 levy does not pass, even deeper reductions will be required,” Nordonia Superintendent Casey G. Wright wrote in a message to families.
Here is a list of all the moves the Board of Education approved, as announced by the Nordonia Hills City School District:Â
- Elimination of 4 middle school teaching positions—one each in Math, Science, English, and Social Studies. This will result in larger class sizes and the elimination of the team planning period.
- Elimination of 5.5 high school teaching positions over the next two years, affecting staff in Art, Math, Spanish, English, Social Studies, and German. This will increase class sizes and reduce elective options, including the elimination of German as a language offering in 2026-27.
- Elimination of 11 paraprofessional positions, reducing student support in classrooms, particularly for special education services. Some positions may be reinstated based on student needs over the summer.
- Elimination of 13 dedicated building substitutes, requiring teachers to cover more absences.
- Elimination of the high school in-school suspension program, requiring the high school to handle suspensions internally.
- Reduction of custodial and student supervisor positions, which will lead to longer cleaning rotations and require principals and teachers to assist with lunch and recess monitoring.
- Elimination of the social-emotional learning curriculum (7 Mindsets) at the middle and high school levels, shifting the responsibility for SEL instruction onto teachers.
- High school athletics fees will increase from $280 to $308 per sport.
- Middle school athletics fees will increase from $140 to $154 per sport.
- Fees for band, choir, and other extracurricular activities will increase by 10%.
The Nordonia Hills Board of Education is also considering two potential options that would drastically reduce its busing and transportation services. The district will either eliminate high school busing or reduce busing for all students to the state minimum, which would eliminate transportation for all high school students as well as K-8 students who live within two miles of school. The second option would save more money, the district said, but would “pose significant challenges for families.” Both options would cause the district to lose out on state funding.
The superintendent pointed to one program that survived the round of cuts: clinical counseling for K-6 students.Â
“Counseling services for our youngest students will remain in place, ensuring continued support for their mental health needs,” the Wright wrote. “While this is positive news, the reductions that have been approved will still have a significant impact on our district.”
“Despite these challenges, our commitment to students remains unchanged,” Wright continued. “We will continue working to provide the best possible education under these difficult circumstances.”
