Composite story

Cleveland students return as CMSD consolidation plan takes effect

The district opened 2026-27 with 29 fewer schools. Leaders tout $30 million in savings and more course offerings; parents and the union still flag layoffs, safety, and a remaining budget hole.

Cleveland Metropolitan School District students began the 2026-27 year under Building Brighter Futures, a consolidation that leaves 29 fewer schools (88 to 59), merges about 39 programs, and is billed as saving about $30 million a year against a larger budget gap. News 5 and Ideastream report a remaining ~$50 million cash shortfall by 2030 and about 4,300 fewer students over the next decade. Spectrum, News 5 and Fox 8 say many of the teacher layoffs were walked back or recalled after union talks; Cleveland 19’s parent interviews emphasize crowded buildings, safety screening, and talk of still more cuts. CEO Warren Morgan says every high school now has college and career pathways and that cost-cutting is ongoing work.

Shared facts

Jeannette Rose said her daughters were anxious to come back to school.

More cuts could be coming for CMSD even after school closings and staff layoffs.

The district is still projected to face a $50 million cash shortfall by 2030.

The Building Brighter Futures consolidation plan is now in effect.

The district went from 88 schools to 59.

The plan is also proceeding with significant layoffs.

A new four-year forecast discussed Aug. 11 showed improvement but remaining work.

A report projects enrollment declining by 4,300 students over the next decade.

Thirty-nine schools merged.

Building Brighter Futures is expected to save at least $30 million a year.

Savage said all about 150 laid-off teachers were offered a chance to return.

The layoffs sparked tears and protests.

Some were offered full-time teaching jobs; others, one-year building-substitute contracts.

Disputed facts

Cleveland 19 said budget cuts forced the district to close 29 buildings.

Shared opinions

Morgan said cost-cutting takes constant work, comparing it to working out.

Spectrum News 1

Building Brighter Futures officially implemented as Cleveland students head back to class

Siobhan Harms

24 Aug 2026

Facts

Mary B. Martin’s principal said everyone was impacted by Building Brighter Futures.

“Everyone was impacted by Building Brighter Futures,” Sommer Edwards-Fountain, CMSD Principal at Mary B. Martin Girl’s Leadership Academy, said. “Of course, we’ve had some enrollment; we’ve had some additions joining us with students and staff. And, I am also here, brand new to this building as the principal this year.”

attribution · Sommer Edwards-Fountain

The principal said the school has added students and staff.

“Everyone was impacted by Building Brighter Futures,” Sommer Edwards-Fountain, CMSD Principal at Mary B. Martin Girl’s Leadership Academy, said. “Of course, we’ve had some enrollment; we’ve had some additions joining us with students and staff. And, I am also here, brand new to this building as the principal this year.”

attribution · Sommer Edwards-Fountain

The plan was initially poorly received.

Opinion

Spectrum called the plan historic and cost-cutting.

Board chair Sara Elaqad listed benefits of the plan for students in a Sunday social-media post.

In a social media post Sunday, Sara Elaqad, who is the chair of the district’s board of education, listed some of the benefits of the plan for students.

“Accelerating student achievement. Advancing educational excellence,” she wrote. “Promoting equity and making decisions that put our scholars first.”

attribution · Sara Elaqad

Mayor Justin Bibb said the city should keep working so every student has support and opportunity.

Bibb encouraged parents to get students to school on time and ready to learn.

Fox 8 Cleveland WJW

Cleveland Metropolitan School District begins year with less staff, fewer buildings

Stacey Frey

24 Aug 2026

Facts

Rising costs and dropping enrollment forced cuts to teachers, staff and administrators.

The district was forced to trim $50 million from the budget.

CMSD is about half the size it was 20 years ago, with roughly 34,000 students.

Right-sizing the district has been a top priority.

Warren Morgan said CMSD had no choice.

Savage said grant money would pay for other recalled teachers.

Retirements and resignations helped reduce layoffs as well.

Opinion

Fox 8 said fewer teachers and different classrooms mean a lot of stress this year.

Cleveland 19 News

Cleveland Metropolitan School District families brace for changes as classes resume

Vasi Prokos

20 Aug 2026

Facts

The district held a Thursday-night meet-and-greet for families to prepare and meet teachers.

Pinsky said her family is in the same school and nothing has changed for them.

“I know that the district is facing so many issues and I’m feeling for parents everywhere right now. This is such a difficult time. We feel so strongly to stay in public school system. We’re so happy to be here at Campus International School,” Pinsky said. “We feel really fortunate. We’re in the same school. Nothing has changed for us, and we’re very lucky.”

attribution · Jessica Pinsky

Consolidation has raised safety questions about entry logistics.

Karr said public records show some CMSD K-8 schools had mace riots and one school had guns last year.

“This district has a lot of problems in K to 8 schools that you’d be surprised to find out. Not my school, our school’s (Campus International School) great, I do public record searches. There are schools in our district that have mace riots. One school last year had guns in the school. I am now concerned that you’re putting a whole bunch of new kids filling the buildings. Are you going to get through the metal detectors? Are you going to be able to really search all the backpacks that you have to search?” Karr said. “It’s an onerous task, and I don’t know that we have enough safety and security. We did get two new security guards (at Campus International School) in addition to the two we had. It’s still a tough job, and I’m nervous.”

attribution · Polly Karr

Karr said Campus International got two new security guards in addition to two it already had.

“This district has a lot of problems in K to 8 schools that you’d be surprised to find out. Not my school, our school’s (Campus International School) great, I do public record searches. There are schools in our district that have mace riots. One school last year had guns in the school. I am now concerned that you’re putting a whole bunch of new kids filling the buildings. Are you going to get through the metal detectors? Are you going to be able to really search all the backpacks that you have to search?” Karr said. “It’s an onerous task, and I don’t know that we have enough safety and security. We did get two new security guards (at Campus International School) in addition to the two we had. It’s still a tough job, and I’m nervous.”

attribution · Polly Karr

Karr said many families left the district because of the changes.

“We’ve had a lot of families leave the district because of the changes. So, they’ve had to rework their schedules. I think that the families that got into here had to change their schedules too, because maybe they went to a school with different hours, which is why we have before care and after care,” Karr said.

attribution · Polly Karr

District leaders said the closures and cuts were necessary and will not compromise safety or learning.

Karr said the changes have affected family schedules across the district.

Karr said the changes have affected scheduling for families throughout the district.

“We’ve had a lot of families leave the district because of the changes. So, they’ve had to rework their schedules. I think that the families that got into here had to change their schedules too, because maybe they went to a school with different hours, which is why we have before care and after care,” Karr said.

attribution · Polly Karr

Opinion

Parent Jessica Pinsky said her family feels strongly about staying in the public school system.

“I know that the district is facing so many issues and I’m feeling for parents everywhere right now. This is such a difficult time. We feel so strongly to stay in public school system. We’re so happy to be here at Campus International School,” Pinsky said. “We feel really fortunate. We’re in the same school. Nothing has changed for us, and we’re very lucky.”

attribution · Jessica Pinsky

Parent-organization president Polly Karr said she is not happy about the changes.

For parent and parent organization president, Polly Karr her students are safe but she’s not happy about the changes.

“Easing the mind is not going to happen this year. It’s just not, not the first week, not the first month. It’s not,” said Karr, “I got to meet a bunch of wonderful parents’ tonight who were lucky to get their kids into our school and I’m so happy for them. Little nervous about how we’re all going to fit in this building and how we’re still going to manage with the dismissal times with a significant number of increased enrollment.”

attribution · Polly Karr

Karr said she would leave the district if she had the opportunity.

Karr questioned whether fuller buildings can get everyone through metal detectors and backpack searches.

“This district has a lot of problems in K to 8 schools that you’d be surprised to find out. Not my school, our school’s (Campus International School) great, I do public record searches. There are schools in our district that have mace riots. One school last year had guns in the school. I am now concerned that you’re putting a whole bunch of new kids filling the buildings. Are you going to get through the metal detectors? Are you going to be able to really search all the backpacks that you have to search?” Karr said. “It’s an onerous task, and I don’t know that we have enough safety and security. We did get two new security guards (at Campus International School) in addition to the two we had. It’s still a tough job, and I’m nervous.”

attribution · Polly Karr

Parent Amir Salim said the district should find money for teachers rather than cut them.

“I got mixed feelings about consolidating the district and them laying off all those teachers. They need to find the money for the teachers and get them what they need because they’re educating our children and there’s no reason. I don’t see any reason why they should cut back teachers. We cut back somewhere else in the city,” said Amir Salim, a CMSD parent.

attribution · Amir Salim

Families whose schools avoided closure felt relief but still felt the surrounding changes.

For families whose schools avoided closure, there is relief, though they said they still feel the weight of the changes surrounding them.

“I’m just happy my daughter’s school is still open. They’re still able to come. I mean, they have a great time here at their school,” said Mari Nalls, a CMSD parent. “I was worried. I was a little scared, but I’m just glad that their school stayed open.”

fact

Ideastream Public Media

Cleveland schools predicting more hard decisions on the way, even after consolidation

Conor Morris

11 Aug 2026

Facts

CFO Kevin Stockdale said rising health-care costs and flat state funding are challenges ahead.

Stockdale said Building Brighter Futures produced significant budget savings.

Stockdale said the cuts reduced this year’s projected deficit spending by about $60 million.

Board Chair Sara Elaqad said tough decisions put CMSD on a path toward financial stability.

Stockdale said health-insurance costs may rise up to 10% a year, about $10 million in one year.

Stockdale said the forecast does not bake in wage increases, calling that an unknown.

The current forecast approved by the board Tuesday does not include wage increases for staff "baked in" to its expenses, Stockdale said, calling it an "unknown" at this point.

The district will be negotiating a new contract with employees in 2027.

attribution · Kevin Stockdale

Kogan’s data, cited by CMSD, say almost 20% of Ohio public schools project negative cash by 2029.

Schools are funded per student, so enrollment loss means further funding pressure.

The state hired a firm for an enrollment study as part of an OFCC construction closeout.

Ohio pre-K–12 enrollment is projected to drop about 7% by 2031-32.

Opinion

Elaqad said CMSD has shepherded public dollars responsibly.

"I think that CMSD is demonstrating that we've shepherded our public dollars really responsibly, and we have that duty," she said. "I know I've heard from my colleagues across the nation that they've seen what we've done, and that they said things like, 'we needed to do that, but we were afraid to weather the criticism.'"

attribution · Sara Elaqad

Stockdale said the state has shifted the school-funding burden onto local taxpayers.

Elaqad said peers elsewhere said they needed similar cuts but feared the criticism.

"I think that CMSD is demonstrating that we've shepherded our public dollars really responsibly, and we have that duty," she said. "I know I've heard from my colleagues across the nation that they've seen what we've done, and that they said things like, 'we needed to do that, but we were afraid to weather the criticism.'"

attribution · Sara Elaqad

Stockdale said districts must seek operating levies more often and make painful cuts.

News 5 Cleveland

The test begins: Will CMSD's consolidation plan work?

Damon Maloney

24 Aug 2026

Facts

The board voted on the plan in December 2025.

Mary B. Martin is a new school after a name change and consolidation.

Morgan said this is the first year all CMSD high schools have college and career readiness.

"This is the first year through Building Brighter Futures that all of our high schools have college and career readiness. We were just talking to the principal here (and) for the first time in a long time-- offering honors classes here,” Morgan said. “There’s Advanced Placement African American Studies — something we’ve never had here before. And then the career pathways — we have that now in all of our high schools.”

attribution · Warren Morgan

Morgan said Glenville now offers AP African American Studies, which it had never had before.

"This is the first year through Building Brighter Futures that all of our high schools have college and career readiness. We were just talking to the principal here (and) for the first time in a long time-- offering honors classes here,” Morgan said. “There’s Advanced Placement African American Studies — something we’ve never had here before. And then the career pathways — we have that now in all of our high schools.”

attribution · Warren Morgan

Morgan said all elementary schools now have expanded enrichment such as algebra, languages and band.

S.H.E. volunteers lined the sidewalk to welcome Mary B. Martin students.

Morgan said the district saw huge recent gains in graduation rates, early literacy and K-8 math.

"It’s real exciting to see how many of our scholars now have more opportunities,” Morgan said. “That’s one way we’re measuring success, and then we continue to measure success based on the impact our scholars are making. We saw some amazing gains this past year- huge gains in graduation rates … huge gains as well in early literacy and K-8 math."

attribution · Warren Morgan

CEO Warren Morgan was outside Glenville High School on the city’s east side.

I also caught up with Dr. Warren Morgan, the CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, outside Glenville High School on the city’s east side.

The school is now home to students from the former Collinwood High School, which recently closed as part of BFF.

Part of Morgan’s morning was spent inside Glenville High School, walking the halls and talking to students and staff about their futures and any concerns.

"How do you foster keeping that tradition alive — Glenville … the Collinwood students moving over and trying to find a place of belonging?” I asked Morgan.

fact

Savage said every paraprofessional was offered a CMSD job, not necessarily the same job.

Savage said some teachers could not return because they had signed with other districts.

He was still working to recall remaining members, including LPNs.

Opinion

S.H.E. founder Patricia Gray said it was important to show up with messages of support.

Patricia Gray, founder of S.H.E., said the first day of school is always special and that it was important for her group to show up with messages of support.

"We see so much negativity about the schools and different things like that, but to be here to empower them, inspire them, encourage them, and let them know that the community does see them and that we’re here to support them,” Gray said.

attribution · Patricia Gray

Rose said her biggest concern is that kids are learning what they should.

Morgan said it is exciting that more scholars now have more opportunities.

"It’s real exciting to see how many of our scholars now have more opportunities,” Morgan said. “That’s one way we’re measuring success, and then we continue to measure success based on the impact our scholars are making. We saw some amazing gains this past year- huge gains in graduation rates … huge gains as well in early literacy and K-8 math."

attribution · Warren Morgan

Morgan said Glenville staff have already worked to bring the communities together and honor legacy.

"Just listening here in the school community and listening to the work that the principal has done and the teachers have done, they’ve already done an amazing job of really thinking about the communities coming together,” Morgan said. “But once again it’s constant work. It’s something you have to constantly work at. You have to listen to the community to say, 'how do you honor the legacy while also forging a path forward?'"

attribution · Warren Morgan

Savage said Ohio’s school-funding system is inherently unfair, especially to urban children.

"Unfortunately, we have a system of school funding that’s inherently unfair to children, and it’s especially unfair to children in urban areas,” Savage said. “We have a state legislature that’s chosen to not fix or implement a system of fair school funding now going on 30 years. We have a state legislature that’s not concerned about urban children and a state legislature that I don’t think will care about fair school funding until it affects their own children.”

attribution · Errol Savage

Union president Errol Savage said he had a simple message for teachers as the year began.

Errol Savage, president of the Cleveland Teachers’ Union, said he had a simple message for teachers and staff as the new school year began.

"I’m asking our teachers to do what they always do — which is what they do best — and that’s teach the children of Cleveland,” Savage said. “We’re asking the students to rise to the occasion in going to new schools and our teachers are going to be ready to educate them as soon as they walk in those doors.”

attribution · Errol Savage

Savage said the legislature has gone about 30 years without implementing fair school funding.

"Unfortunately, we have a system of school funding that’s inherently unfair to children, and it’s especially unfair to children in urban areas,” Savage said. “We have a state legislature that’s chosen to not fix or implement a system of fair school funding now going on 30 years. We have a state legislature that’s not concerned about urban children and a state legislature that I don’t think will care about fair school funding until it affects their own children.”

attribution · Errol Savage

Savage is optimistic Building Brighter Futures can help strengthen the district.

Rose said she needs everybody to do their part and their job.

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