Kilgour Elementary's open house Aug. 17, is now the only chance for east-side Cincinnati Public Schools families to meet teachers and staff before the first day of school Aug. 19.

Clark Montessori's open house, originally set for Aug. 13, was canceled after severe storms hit the area Aug. 11, as we reported last week. That leaves Kilgour, in Mount Lookout, as the sole remaining east-side open house on the CPS district schedule. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and close at 6:30 p.m.

The school year begins under tighter budgets. At its June 22 meeting, the CPS board cut 111 positions districtwide, including eight counselors, 12 social workers and 10 assistant principals, according to WLWT. Five mandatory unpaid furlough days were also imposed on teachers, counselors and social workers.

The district closed a projected $58 million budget gap and adopted a $634.6 million general-fund budget for 2026-27, but roughly $6.7 million of that relies on one-time revenue that won't be available next year.

A five-year, 7-mill property tax levy is now on the Nov. 3 ballot after the board voted 5-1 on Aug. 3 to place it there. If approved, the levy would generate about $66.3 million annually, with collections starting in January 2027. For a home valued at $100,000, the cost would be approximately $245 per year.

CPS hasn't asked voters for new operating money in a decade. That was 2016.

Board member Eve Bolton, who voted against the levy, warned in late July that failure at the ballot box could force the district to cut an additional $66 million the following year. "You're starting to talk about programs, you're talking about schools, you're talking about transportation. We would be closing schools," Bolton said.

Board president Brandon Craig, who voted yes, said in late July that protecting student-facing positions from further cuts was "not really an option" without new revenue, adding that next year's reductions would be worse if the levy fails.

Superintendent Shauna Murphy said ahead of the district's Aug. 8 Back-to-School Fest that CPS spent the summer preparing for the new year.

Withrow University High School's open house date remains listed as "to be determined" on the CPS schedule. The Nov. 3 general election is the next major date for the levy vote.