Shaker Schools Will Lose $1 Million In State Funding

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH — The Shaker Heights Schools will lose more than $1 million in state funding after Gov. Mike DeWine announced sweeping budget cuts last week. The governor said the cuts were the direct result of revenue loss caused by the new coronavirus.

Shaker Heights Schools officials said in a memo that some of the losses from cuts will be offset by funding from the CARES Act, which means Shaker will only lose $596,000 in funding over the next two months.

"Even with the projected funding cut, the district remains in relatively good financial condition. However, there is concern that these cuts could foreshadow future funding cuts in public education due largely to decreased state revenue from the sales tax and other revenue streams. As a result, the district will continue on the path of being both deliberate and intentional on spending practices," the Shaker Heights Schools said in the memo.

School districts throughout Ohio have echoed Shaker's sentiments, saying they anticipate additional budget cuts. The Avon Schools said they think budget reductions will continue for the next two years.

Last week, DeWine announced nearly $1 billion in budget cuts for Ohio. Much of the cuts targeted Medicaid and public education spending. Here's what the governor said needed to be cut in the next two months:

• K12 Foundation Payment Reduction: $300 million
• Other Education Budget Line Items: $55 million
• Medicaid: $210 million
• Higher Education: $110 million
• All Other Agencies: $100 million

DeWine said he did not want to delay making budget cuts and potentially make future cuts more painful. He also declined to dip into the state's $2.7 billion rainy day fund, saying the state may need those funds in coming years.