CPS back-to-school fest draws hundreds to Washington Park

Damien Rushing had never enrolled a child in Cincinnati Public Schools before. On Aug. 8, he walked through Washington Park with his family, stopping at booths to ask about Rising Stars, the district's pre-K program.

"We are new to the CPS environment, so this is good for us to get out and see all the schools — learn about Rising Stars where our kids will be going to pre-K, and we're just excited to get into the CPS system," Rushing said.

He was one of hundreds of parents and children who filled the downtown park for a CPS back-to-school celebration, reported by WLWT, that mixed pep-rally energy with program information 10 days before the first bell rings Aug. 19.

Woodward Career Technical High School principal Dwayne Dubois worked the crowd, greeting incoming students and their families. Parent Monia Carter said her children grabbed snacks and coloring sheets while she talked with teachers. CPS administrator Dr. Dawn Williams called the atmosphere "festive" and said the event reflected what the district's schools look like day to day.

Budget backdrop

The upbeat scene comes as CPS families head into a school year shaped by deep cuts. At a June 22 meeting, the board voted 4-3 to eliminate 111 positions, including 12 social workers, 10 assistant principals and eight counselors. Five mandatory unpaid furlough days were also imposed on staff. Together, those moves helped close a projected $58 million budget gap and produce a balanced $634.6 million general-fund budget for 2026-27.

On Aug. 3, the board voted 6-1 to rescind a previously approved earned-income tax proposal and 5-1 to place a five-year, 7-mill property tax levy on the Nov. 3 ballot, according to the district. If voters approve it, the levy would generate roughly $66.3 million a year starting in January 2027. For the owner of a $100,000 home, the cost would be about $245 annually.

CPS has not passed a new-money operating levy since 2016.

Superintendent Shauna Murphy said in a statement that same day that the district worked to protect educational quality and that further reductions would change what students and families experience in the classroom. The levy, she said, would provide recurring funding to preserve instruction and student support.