REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WCMH) — The future of Reynoldsburg City Schools is still uncertain after the board of education voted to cut $8.3 million from its operating budget, less than the $8.5 million it needs to cut. 

Parents at Tuesday’s board meeting were not happy, and a fifth-grade student said she was scared of what is to come. They understand that cuts need to be made, but parents wish the board would look elsewhere. 

“I’m pretty upset,” French Run Elementary parent Michelle Rios said. “You know, it was going great, you know. Board member Whitman, you know, went along with it. Option A was not an option that was not feasible.”

At the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Tracy Reed went over a financial presentation after 55 percent of voters rejected a five-year, 6.65 mill levy in November. The district needed to find a way to cut $8.5 million with Reed offering up three scenarios. 

The recommended option (option A) would have cut the amount needed with those cuts coming in the form of a reduction of social workers and elementary school assistant principals, restoring pay-to-play athletic fees for junior high and high school students, and more. That option failed with only one board member voting in favor of it. 

“I do not believe that any of the choices we make will make you happy,” School Board President Angela Abram said. “We have to make the cuts; we have to get to 8.5.” 

After a lengthy discussion between board members, scenario B passed in a 4-1 vote, but only saving the district $8.3 million. 

“Well I feel that this option doesn’t get us to the 8.5 that we need,” board member Kendra McKay said. “It obviously gets us closer, and we hope that with additional cuts we can get to the 8.5 number.”

“We have to figure this out,” Abram said. “We need your input. We need your support for a levy.” 

Currently, the district has 12 social workers and nine elementary school assistant principals. With scenario ‘B’ passing, it means those numbers would be reduced to seven social workers and four assistant principals.  

“These social workers and assistant principals, we absolutely need them,” French Run Elementary student Liliana Rios said. “We cannot go without them and teachers and other staff cannot take that over.” 

Parents said they’re worried about the future of not only the district but for their children as well.  

“We just redistricted, we just shuffled all the kids around to different schools, so kids are having trouble dealing with that emotionally,” French Run Elementary parent Becky Taylor said. “And that’s where the social workers and the assistant principals really come into play. We’ve made so many changes and then to take away the support systems that allow those kids to function, it just doesn’t make sense to me.”

Residents also voiced their concerns about the school board unanimously approving a contract extension and pay raise for Reed, feeling that now was not the right time to do that given the spending cuts that need to be made.