Community members raise concerns over CPS changes to English Language Learning positions

CINCINNATI (WXIX) - Cincinnati Public Schools held its final board meeting before the start of the new school year Monday night, where community members raised concerns about changes to English Language Learning social worker positions.

Bilingual social workers reassigned

ELL social workers primarily serve CPS’s bilingual student population, which is heavily focused on immigrant and refugee families. Many community members said they are uncomfortable with these positions being eliminated or reassigned due to budget cuts. They brought those concerns before Superintendent Murphy and the board Monday night.

“Just last Thursday we learned our schools bilingual social worker would no longer be at West High. Leaving our students with no bilingual staff who are specifically trained to support and care for them in times of crisis,” one speaker said.

Cincinnati Public Schools returns to the classroom Wednesday for the new school year with 111 fewer positions filled than the prior academic year. Twelve of those positions cut were social workers.

At Monday night’s board meeting, the community addressed the importance of English Language Learning social workers in serving the entire district, not just individual schools.

“I fear that there may have been an oversight last week when our positions were redesigned to be building focused and locked in on one building instead of serving our ELL students district-wide,” one speaker said.

Past incidents cited

Speakers referenced past encounters where ELL social workers’ work was described as vital to the bilingual student population.

“I would be remiss to not use this time to remind everyone of the fact of the terrifying situation in April when Gratis County police entered West High to verify immigrant student information on behalf of ICE. We turned ICE away, but when it came to the emotional distress this caused our students, our ELL social workers’ support afterward to our students was critical,” one speaker said.

The district currently employs four ELL social workers. The English as a Second Language Manager position was eliminated as part of a $58.6 million budget deficit. Social workers who spoke Monday said they cannot afford any more changes in this department.

“High need areas like Price Hill stand to lose vital lifelines,” one speaker said.

The district did not discuss the concerns raised during Monday night’s board meeting following the public speaking section. FOX19 NOW has reached out to the district for clarification on these positions and its plans for the coming school year. This story will be updated when a response is received.

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