CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent Iranetta Wright is stepping down, per a statement read by Cincinnati Board of Education President Eve Bolton at a special meeting Wednesday afternoon.
The news comes just days after all six unions within CPS gave Wright a vote of no confidence.
Members of the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, Cincinnati Federation of Office Professionals, Cincinnati Association of Administrators and Supervisors, American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Greater Cincinnati Building Trades and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 20 all expressed that they had lost support in Wright — something that has never happened in the history of the district.
Union leaders expressed frustrations with Wright's lack of communication and collaboration, and said the superintendent had "dismissed" their concerns without truly hearing them.
"We can't afford another year," Julie Sellers, president of the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, said on Monday.
Board member Ben Lindy called Wright's resignation a "terrible, terrible mistake" in a prepared statement Wednesday. He moved to not accept the resignation until the board can talk about it as there is no plan for an interim at this time, but the board voted 5-2 to accept the resignation.
"The board has a responsibility to be adults during the middle of a budget crisis, and have a better plan or a leadership change than what we saw tonight," Lindy said after his motion failed.
Lindy said he was surprised Wright didn't attend the meeting and had significant concerns about the district's ability to pivot into new leadership.
"I just want to be really clear, there is no plan for who the interim is going to be," Lindy said.
Member Ben Lindy just moved to not accept the Wright’s resignation until they can talk about it.
— Sean DeLancey (@SeanDeLanceyTV) May 15, 2024
He’s now going on a long preprepared statement about why he wants Wright to stay. pic.twitter.com/1V1jkaL5Qw
Bolton said there was an infrastructure in place to replace Wright quickly.
"We have a number of folks ready to go," she said.
The board president said 20 people within the district were already licensed to be an interim superintendent and two were on a sort of short list to be named as the new leader even if for a brief period.
She would not name the people she had in mind.
"I think the challenge is so great that both of them will probably have major impact and input and a role to play," Bolton said.
Bolton acknowledged that Wright's resignation would impact ongoing budget cuts to make up for a multi-million dollar budget shortfall caused by the expiration of COVID-era federal funding.
She said additional cuts than originally expected would be needed and "the kind of cuts that are needed probably have to be within the personnel range."
Bolton said the budget plan could be pushed back 90 days behind schedule as a result of the resignation.
Cheryl Ryan with the Ohio School Boards Association said losing a superintendent can have a major impact on ongoing budget conversations.
"Boards are going to rely on superintendents to make recommendations to them about how those cuts should be made," she said.
The delay would leave families and staff in a longer period of uncertainty.
"When it comes to budget and when it comes to money, I can't answer those questions," said Cathy Lanzillotta, a nurse in the district. "I can tell you what it's like when our students are saying, 'Please Nurse Cathy, you have to be here next year.' And I don't have an answer for them. That is what I don't like."
Wright's resignation would take effect Monday, May 20 if the board votes to accept a settlement Wright agreed to take in negotiations.
Bolton would not disclose what that settlement entailed.
She also hoped to be able to announce an interim superintendent following interviews with candidates on Monday.
Wright first arrived in Cincinnati in 2022. She previously served as the deputy superintendent for Detroit Public Schools Community District and worked in several roles within Duval County Public Schools.
The board hired Wright over fellow finalists interim Superintendent Tianay Amat and Middletown City School District's Marlon Styles.
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Wright was not in attendance at Wednesday's special meeting.
