LORAIN — Lorain City Schools officials used a Feb. 26 special board meeting at Lorain High School to explain what they described as a rapidly shifting financial situation, outline a district restructuring plan, and preview an 11-mill levy that will appear on the May 5 ballot.
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Graham led much of the presentation, telling board members and attendees the district would walk through how it arrived at its current position, what the community survey revealed, what the proposed plan includes and how the levy factors into the district’s financial outlook.
Why the district says cuts are happening
Graham said the district expected to pursue a smaller levy this spring, but funding projections changed significantly over the summer.
He said the district lost $4.9 million in state funding, later learned of nearly $800,000 in federal funding reductions, and then learned of about $1 million in local revenue losses. Graham said the timing of those changes was critical because staffing and contractual commitments were already underway, leaving limited opportunity to make gradual adjustments.
He said the financial impact carries forward into future years, creating additional pressure on the district’s five-year forecast.
District leaders indicated the proposed reductions include a large teacher reduction as part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at aligning staffing levels with enrollment and available revenue.
Graham told attendees the district could not simply cut its way out of the situation and framed the May levy as central to stabilizing finances long term.
Plan direction and community input
District officials said community feedback influenced the direction of the proposal. Leaders cited survey results showing strong support for maintaining neighborhood schools and said earlier concepts that would have consolidated students more aggressively were adjusted in response.
As presented, the plan includes restructuring designed to reduce costs while maintaining core services. Officials discussed bringing certain programs and services in-house to lower long-term expenses and expanding virtual learning options to retain students within the district.
Levy details and projected impact
District officials said the 11-mill levy on May 5 is projected to generate approximately $10.7 million per year. They said a portion of that revenue would stabilize operations through 2030, with the remainder potentially allowing reinvestment in student services.
Administrators said priorities discussed for reinvestment include additional school counselors, more social workers and expanded preschool programming. They also said if the levy fails, additional reductions would be required.
Public participation highlights personal impact and governance concerns
Public comment reflected both emotional testimony and criticism of district communication and decision-making.
Maria Velasquez, a parent of a special-needs student, told the board she was concerned about how restructuring and staffing changes could affect families like hers. “My son is autistic,” she said, describing the support her child has received from staff.
Other speakers focused on transparency and tone. One speaker referenced a “nepo baby” video and said it felt like “a slap in the face,” while also stating the issue should not be treated as a personal attack on an individual employee.
Aaron Knapp, a parent of a Lorain High School freshman, said he was not there to criticize any individual employee. He said he came to question the integrity of the process, the structure of governance and the completeness of the public record. Knapp asked how the public can independently verify decisions if documentation is not clearly available.
Knapp also raised conflict-of-interest questions, asking what steps were taken if immediate family members of a selected candidate sit on the board, including whether recusals were documented.
Several speakers warned about the potential impact of reductions on student mental health services, arguing that cuts to counseling and social work positions could have long-term consequences for students and staff.
What happens next
District officials described the financial outlook as a snapshot based on current projections, noting that health care costs, enrollment trends and state funding formulas remain variables.
With the May 5 levy approaching, the district said it will publish clearer comparisons outlining what changes follow if the levy passes versus if it fails. The meeting underscored the challenge facing district leadership: stabilizing finances while addressing community concerns about transparency, student support and the future direction of Lorain City Schools.