CINCINNATI – “Everything will be fine.”

Shauna Murphy, interim superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools, emphasized this and promised the largest school district in the three states a successful new school year.

Murphy, who took over the top leadership post four months ago following the resignation of former Superintendent Iranetta Wright, discussed changes and expectations in an interview with WCPO.

Wright’s resignation followed a unanimous vote of no confidence from all six CPS unions – something that has never happened in the district’s history. One factor contributing to that vote: the multimillion-dollar deficit in the district’s operating budget.

In January, that amount was about $90 million. When Murphy was appointed interim superintendent, the deficit was reduced to $31.6 million. Murphy was appointed to a special budget task force to address the problem.

Closing the budget gap

“You know you can’t close a $32 million gap by cutting back on paper and school supplies. That’s a very difficult situation,” Murphy said.

CPS’s budget deficit was exacerbated when pandemic relief funds ran out this year. The decision to eliminate yellow bus service for many middle school students helped reduce the deficit by $9 million.

“The good thing is that children have ridden the subway before,” Murphy said.

Nearly 3,000 seventh- and eighth-grade students will ride the Metro buses, up from 1,145 last year, bringing the total number of CPS students to over 9,000.

Murphy assured that most bus riders will have a direct route to school and that only a fraction will have to change buses at Government Square downtown. While around 200 high school students had to take a detour last school year, this year, according to Murphy, there will be at most 40 more seventh and eighth graders.

“It’s going to be a transition,” she said. “I can tell you we’ve worked very hard with Metro to make sure we can address some of those concerns. One of the new things that’s being introduced this year is new software for the bus tickets. Previously, a young person would be given a random bus ticket. This year, each bus ticket is linked to a student – name and number – so we know which student got on which bus at what time and where they went.”

During the first days of school, Metro staff will be available at all transit centers to answer questions. Parents and guardians are also welcome to accompany their students during the first days of school free of charge.

The district found another way to reduce costs over the long term by focusing on a Performance Sustainability Redesigning Growth Plan, Murphy said. The move included reorganizing and consolidating schools and students.

One hundred and twenty students from Riverview East Academy moved to the Mount Washington school, Murphy said. Additionally, all Spencer Center students now study in the former Riverview East Academy building on Kellogg Avenue.

Students who previously attended the Dr. O’dell Owens Center for Learning now go to the former Spencer Center building on Alms Place, while seventh and eighth grade students from Shroder now attend classes in the former Dr. O’dell Owens Center for Learning building.

“When we did the budget review, it became clear to us that we could not continue to do business as before,” Murphy said.

Getting a grip on technological takeover

Kids and social media go hand in hand, but CPS doesn’t want to support that relationship during the school day.

The district has purchased 16,000 Yondr phone cases for the current school year. The cases will be available in every high school and are intended for students in seventh through twelfth grades.

Yondr secures cell phones and prevents students from accessing them without teacher approval. The decision to invest in the storage devices is in line with the district’s updated cell phone policy, which requires school officials to implement uniform, school-wide policies on electronic devices.

Murphy said schools are not required to use these bags, and their use is at the discretion of each individual school principal.

“The kids come to school. They put their phones in a Yondr bag. It’s locked. They keep their phone in their bag all day. At the end of the day, they unlock the bag, turn it back in, keep their phone and come back for another day,” Murphy said.

The district is confident in the Yondr bags based on research, pilot programs and positive feedback from teachers and students, Murphy said.

“If a parent needs to reach a student, we ask that they contact the main office. If a student needs to reach their parent, we ask that they come to the main office for assistance,” Murphy said. “In the event of an actual emergency — perhaps there is a medical situation — staff can and will open the Yondr bags so the student can get in touch with their parent.”

Murphy said the changes in transportation, buildings and technology are just that — changes — and nothing the district can’t handle. With that optimistic outlook in mind, we asked Murphy what her biggest concern was for the school year.

“My biggest concern is to do everything we can to get the message out to our families and our community that Cincinnati Public Schools is here for the kids,” she said. “That means it’s an opportunity for everyone to understand that we’re doing whatever it takes to help young people succeed.”