Lorain City Schools began issuing layoff notices this week to more than 100 teachers, marking a significant step in previously announced districtwide staffing cuts tied to ongoing budget challenges.
According to union leadership, a total of 167 positions are being eliminated across the district, including 106 teaching positions. The majority of affected teachers received their termination notices the same day they were distributed, with only limited exceptions for staff who were not present.
Julie Garcia, president of the Lorain Education Association, said the layoffs followed the district’s collective bargaining agreement, which prioritizes seniority and certification.
“Our collective bargaining agreement basically says ‘last in, first out,’ based on seniority, and then certification is also taken into consideration,” Garcia said. “We did have some first-year teachers who are intervention specialists that will retain their jobs because we are in such dire need for intervention specialists.”
Garcia confirmed that teachers impacted by the layoffs will retain recall rights, meaning they could be brought back if positions reopen in the future.
“If there’s a position that would come open that they’re certified to teach, they would be called back in order of seniority,” she said.
The process of delivering the notices was described as difficult across the district. Garcia said she personally assisted in distributing layoff notices at multiple schools to ensure staff were notified at the same time.
“I figured everybody should get their notices on the same day. We shouldn’t have any holdovers until Monday and people are waiting anxiously to find out if they’re one of them,” Garcia said.
School board member Courtney Nazario described the day as emotional for both staff and students.
“It was just a sad day for Lorain—for our staff and for our kids,” Nazario said.
District officials and union leaders say the cuts will directly impact classroom conditions moving forward, particularly when it comes to class sizes.
“With fewer teachers, the kids have to be somewhere, so there will be bigger class sizes,” Nazario said.
Garcia provided additional context on current and expected classroom loads, noting that some teachers are already exceeding recommended limits.
“Our K–2 teachers can have up to 25 students. Grades 3–5 can have up to 28,” Garcia said. “Right now, our freshman high school teachers already have 170, 180 kids. They’re way over what they’re supposed to have.”
Beyond class sizes, Garcia raised concerns about reduced support systems within schools, including the loss of administrative staff and student services.
“With the loss of assistant principals, there won’t be as much support for the principals and the teachers. Wraparound services are being cut,” she said. “When you put that many kids in the classroom, you’re really cramped for space.”
Despite the cuts, Nazario expressed confidence in the district’s educators and the quality of education students will continue to receive.
“Do I think our teachers are going to give our kids a great education? Yeah, I’ll stand behind our teachers every day,” she said, pointing to her own children’s success in the district.
The layoffs come as the district looks ahead to a proposed school levy, which officials say will play a critical role in determining whether additional cuts are necessary.
“If the levy does not pass, we will have to make more cuts before the end of the year,” Nazario said. “This is not just a Lorain issue—it’s happening all over the state of Ohio.”
What happens next for the district remains uncertain, with both educators and officials pointing to the levy outcome as a key factor in shaping the future of staffing, classroom sizes, and student support.
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