What east-side CPS families need to know before Aug. 19

Cincinnati Public Schools opens its doors Aug. 19, for K-12 students across the east side, but the first week will look different this year. Budget cuts totaling nearly $58 million, five mandatory furlough days and 111 eliminated positions are reshaping what families at Kilgour Elementary, Clark Montessori and Withrow University High School will encounter when the bell rings.

The district's first furlough day falls Aug. 12, closing all CPS buildings and canceling all activities. Four more unpaid days remain on the calendar this school year, saving an estimated $7.5 million. The furlough schedule applies to every employee group with no exceptions, according to a district-wide clarification reported by Local 12.

Cincinnati Federation of Teachers President Julie Sellers told Local 12 on Aug. 5 that the union has opposed the furloughs from the start. "For teachers, it's 2.6% of their salary, which for the average teacher, it is probably anywhere from $60 to $100 a paycheck," Sellers said.

Open houses and key dates

Clark Montessori holds its open house Aug. 13, from 4–6 p.m. Kilgour's is Aug. 17, from 4:30–6:30 p.m. Withrow's open house date had not been announced as of Aug. 6.

The district calendar shows a teacher classroom workday Aug. 13, professional development Aug. 14 and Aug. 17–18, and a district-wide open house and supply drop-off on Aug. 18. Preschool students start Aug. 24.

Transit and meals

Students in grades 7–12 at Clark Montessori and Withrow will ride Metro buses this year, not yellow school buses. Grades K–6 at Kilgour keep their yellow bus routes. Parents and guardians can ride Metro free with their student during the first week, Aug. 19. through Aug. 26, according to the CPS back-to-school FAQ.

Kilgour families face one extra step: students there must submit a separate application for free lunch. Most other CPS schools qualify automatically.

The budget picture

The board adopted a $634.6 million general-fund budget on Aug. 4, built on nearly $58 million in cuts. Those cuts, approved at a June 22 meeting, eliminated 81 central office positions, 12 social workers, 10 assistant principals and eight counselors. State funding covers just 27% of CPS revenue this year, according to State Sen. Bill Blessing, who cited the figure at an Aug. 3 board meeting.

That same Aug. 4 meeting, the board voted 5-1-1 to place a five-year, 7-mill property tax levy on the Nov. 3 ballot. Board member Kendra Mapp voted no; Vice President Kareem Moncree-Moffett abstained. If voters approve it, the levy would generate roughly $66.3 million a year starting in January 2027 and cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $245 annually. CPS has not passed a new-money operating levy since 2008.

As we reported Aug. 6, the board rescinded a previously approved 0.75% earned-income tax in favor of the property tax approach.