The Columbus City school board has voted to cut $50 million annually from its budget to deal with a growing financial crisis, with additional school closures and staffing cuts a possibility.
At an Aug. 13 special meeting, a joint committee of board members and committee members approved a recommendation to cut the $50 million , moving the recommendation to the school board. For 2026, the district has a $1.8-billion budget.
On Aug. 19, the board voted to approve making the cuts and directed the superintendent to present a plan by the end of November for what the cuts should look like. Board President Michael Cole said that the cuts will be challenging, but added that "first and foremost," they will be in "the best interests of our children."
"It's not a comfortable conversation, it's n