Dec 2, 2025 – The Columbus City Schools board schedules a vote on a $50 million budget reduction; Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman outlines plans to cut transportation for some students, close several schools, and eliminate roughly 450 staff positions, while noting West Broad Elementary will close only if a new school can be built on the site and the Columbus Gifted Academy will relocate; parent Susan Cavendish warns “the proposed cuts could adversely affect special‑education services” and adds that “cutting a large number of positions would force many retiring teachers to leave early.” [6]

Dec 3, 2025 – The board votes to shut Duxberry Park Arts Impact Elementary, Fairwood Alternative Elementary, Como Elementary, and the former Everett Middle School (now Columbus Gifted Academy), saving $50 million; Fairwood will close by the 2025‑2026 school year and the other three by 2027‑2028; Superintendent Chapman is tasked with trimming $25.9 million in staff and up to 60 administrative roles; parent Jennifer Crayton worries “schools like CCPSB could be targeted in future cuts,” and union president John Coneglio cautions that “staff reductions should be handled gradually and through attrition rather than abrupt layoffs.” [3]

Dec 3, 2025 – The board approves $50 million in cuts citing a projected $2 billion state‑funding gap and the incomplete rollout of Ohio’s 2021 Fair School Funding Plan; the district ends bus service for many K‑8 students attending non‑neighboring or 100 % lottery schools; the Ohio House notes the biennial budget adds $21 billion for public schools, while Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio suggests temporary state adjustments—such as easing busing restrictions—could help districts before the next budget cycle. [4]

Dec 3, 2025 – The board finalizes cuts exceeding $50.4 million, eliminating $15 million in administrator and non‑personnel positions, $8.7 million in K‑8 transportation, and $25.9 million in staffing; Chapman must decide which roles are cut by the end of January 2026; a debate over high‑school transportation ends without a decision, but a work group forms to study mass‑transit options with recommendations due Jan 2027. [5]

Dec 8, 2025 – The board formally approves over $50 million in reductions, including four school closures, staff cuts, and transportation changes; the district attributes the shortfall to recent state‑funding shifts and frames the moves as the first step in addressing a deficit exceeding $100 million; Chapman says the district will first pursue retirements and resignations before applying reduction‑in‑force rules, and she confirms no levy is planned at this time. [2]

Jan 7, 2026 – Columbus City Schools emails families about upcoming K‑8 busing changes set for the 2026‑2027 school year, following the December board vote to eliminate transportation for non‑100 % lottery students while preserving it for 100 % lottery schools; Chapman frames the cuts as a trade‑off to protect classroom positions and programs, stating “transporting students long distances across the city for lottery choices is uncommon and parents typically assume responsibility for that travel.”; families may request a return to their designated home school; a Stewart Elementary teacher notes that only eight of the school’s more than 300 students list Stewart as their home school, underscoring the policy’s impact. [1]

2026‑2027 school year (upcoming) – Lottery applications open and families can request a return to their home school as the district implements the new transportation policy. [1]

By end of Jan 2026 (planned) – Superintendent Chapman will finalize and announce the specific staff positions eliminated under the $25.9 million staffing cut. [5]

Jan 2027 (planned) – The mass‑transit work group will deliver its recommendations on high‑school transportation alternatives, such as COTA bus passes or shared‑ride options. [5]