In a series of somber votes, the Columbus City Schools Board of Education approved cutting about 300 teaching and staff positions at a May 19 meeting as it works to trim expenses amid ongoing budget troubles.
Superintendent Angela Chapman proposed the board vote to approve an estimated 299 positions, saving $25.9M. At a press conference before the meeting, Chapman said that the cuts were chosen to have as little impact on students as possible and are “furthest away from the classroom.
“All of these positions matter,” Chapman said. “These are employees and colleagues that have served our district, served our students. These are tough decisions.”
According to the release, 212½ of the position reductions will be faculty roles and 86½ will be staff. All of the position cuts were unanimously approved by the board.
A district spokesperson said 112 of the positions actually have people in the roles, with the rest being eliminated due to vacancies or retirements. To avoid affecting classrooms as much as possible, faculty position cuts are limited to building substitutes and attendance program specialists.
Chapman said that the reductions will mean that the remaining staff will have to pick up the burden of the responsibilities from the cut positions.
“We will have to think about how we can work together to address the needs of our students, the needs of our families with fewer resources and fewer hands to make it happen,” Chapman said. “We will have to call on each other to do that work in support of the students.”
In December 2025, the board approved budget cuts to administration, faculty and staff. Personnel costs, including pay and benefits, make up more than 83% of the district’s budget and are the largest budget expense. The board also voted to cut district programs and close four buildings to patch a $50 million hole in its budget, capping a months-long process.
In total, the approved cuts amounted to roughly $50.4 million.
In February, the CCS board approved dozens of administrator position cuts as it began to address the budget shortfall. The board also voted to freeze the salaries of all administrators through the 2026-2027 school year.
Despite sweeping cuts, The Dispatch reported in February that its financial picture continues to worsen.
At the Feb. 3 CCS board meeting, Treasurer Ryan Cook said the district would be out of money by fiscal year 2030, even factoring in more than $50 million in budget cuts approved by the board in December.
The largest change in the financial projection comes from a $93.4 million health insurance premium increase over the five-year forecast and changes to the state’s property tax law.
CCS Treasurer Ryan Cook said that school districts across Ohio are feeling the pinch from what he said was “legislative disinvestment” from the state of Ohio. He said that the state legislature has an opportunity in the next budget to reprioritize public education.
“It’s absolutely a funding crisis,” Cook said. “This doesn’t just impact Columbus City Schools, it’s a real problem.”
This story will be updated with information from the May 19 board meeting.
Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus City school board cuts nearly 300 jobs amid financial woes
Reporting by Cole Behrens, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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