Barberton Schools Face Big Money Trouble: What's Next?

Barberton City Schools are in a tough spot. They're looking at a huge $9. 2 million budget shortfall. This news came out during a recent meeting where teachers and the school board had a serious talk about what went wrong and how to fix it. Teachers are worried. They want to know how this happened and what the plan is to make sure it doesn't happen again. Krista McCoy, a teacher and the president of the Barberton Education Association, spoke up. She asked for total transparency and even suggested an independent audit to figure out where the money went. She also hinted that the district's treasurer might need to be replaced. The school board members listened. They thanked the teachers for speaking up and promised to work together to solve the problem. They acknowledged that the whole public education system is under pressure, but they believe they can get through this too. The superintendent, Jason Ondrus, explained that the shortfall was discovered during a state review. The district is now working on a plan to address the deficit and is meeting with the state and employee groups. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between the teachers union, the school board, and the administration. The meeting also covered other topics. The board approved student trips, new appointments, and various staff positions. But the big issue remains the budget shortfall and how it will affect the school district. This is a big deal. The district is a \""people business, \"" meaning most of its budget goes to staff. With a $9. 2 million shortfall, tough decisions will have to be made. The hope is that everyone can work together to find a solution that keeps the focus on the students.