Monroe schools table fiscal emergency, look for other budget cutting plans

MONROE, Ohio - The Monroe School Board voted against declaring a fiscal emergency, after the state rejected the board's budget cutting plan.

The board vowed to figure out a way to cut its $4 million deficit in order to prevent the state from taking over the district.

Dozens of parents, teachers and staff member attended a board meeting Monday night to discuss the district's decision.

School board president Brett Guido says he's willing to work with the community to develop a plan.

"It's not likely that we are going to be able to meet that plan. But we are going to go down with a fight. We're going to try to do what we can to get the community and the staff together, and get the board together to really rally together and find an answer for us," said Guido.

School administrators are waiting to hear the results of an audit to figure out exactly where the district stands. The state auditor is giving Monroe schools until early April to come up with more reductions to close its budget gap.

Previously, the district blamed its budget shortfall on legacy debts from a bond retirement fund as well as accounting errors. Officials said some invoices were going unpaid while other bills were paid from restricted accounts.



It's already projected schools will have to lay off 17 employees by this summer to cut costs in the next school year. School bus routes have already been cut from 23 to 15, which will go into effect this August.