Cleveland Heights Schools to Cut Jobs due to Low Enrollment

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights school district will cut 52 positions before the start of the 2016-2017 school year.

The reason for cutting the positions? Low enrollment.

The school district has seen its enrollment numbers drop from 6,300 to 5,400 since 2007, according to a Friday press release. That’s a loss of 900 students.

Dr. Talisa Dixon, CH-UH Superintendent, said it was a difficult decision but ultimately necessary. The staff cuts will affect administrators, teachers and professional, classified and certified staff. The District will save approximately $3.5 million annually for cutting roughly 9 percent of staff.

“This action will allow us to use our District staff and resources effectively, including ensuring equitable and balanced class sizes,” Dixon said in the release. “Across the District, the average class size will go from 14 to 22, which is in line with peer districts and state averages.”

The District’s Human Resources Department will be meeting with impacted staff, offering available assistance with opportunities at other school districts. The CH-UH Board of Education will also consider proposed teacher and certified staff reductions at its April 5 meeting, while its May 3 meeting will concern administrators, professional and classified staff.

“We simply must bring our staffing in line with our enrollment to continue operating effectively,” Dixon said in the release. “We’ve looked very carefully at the effect this action will have on education and we are confident that our academic programs will not be impacted.”