MARTINS FERRY — As Martins Ferry Board of Education members voted Thursday to make an initial round of staff cuts to offset financial difficulties, they also voted to forgo their own paychecks until those hardships are overcome.

Board members voted unanimously to approve a Reduction in Force of 14 non-teaching staff, administrative staff and at-will employees.

In December, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce notified the board that the district would be required to prepare and implement a financial recovery plan to correct its low fund balance and to eliminate a projected deficit of more than $2.4 million in Fiscal Year 2027.

The board submitted a financial reduction plan to the state department on Feb. 24, which was approved by state officials on Feb. 27.

“Tonight they approved some of the RIFs of our OAPSE (Ohio Association of Public School Employees) positions and some of our administrative positions and some of our at-will employees who are our central office staff,” Superintendent Jim Fogle said. “There were two teaching positions that were RIF’d through attrition and a building administrator whose position was RIF’d due to his retirement through attrition as well.

“Right now in this portion of the Financial Reduction Plan right now, we’re approximately looking at 14 employees,” Fogle said when asked how many employees would be let go during the first phase of the plan.

He added that it is unclear how many additional cuts will be made during the second phase of the plan.

“This has been a long plan that we’ve put together to try to rectify our financial situation. One cut is too many, but we’re in a situation right now that it has to be done,” Fogle said. “We’ll do the best that we can to make sure that our plan has the least effect on our students in the classroom.”

He added that the district plans to continue to provide a quality education for students while navigating financial challenges, which include $11 million that the district had to spend on unforeseen capital improvements which were necessary at the time to ensure the safety of students and staff. The work included infrastructure improvements, two hill slips and roof replacements on each building.

Fogle said that the second and final rounds of cuts will be for the Martins Ferry Education Association, which is the union that represents the teaching staff. He said that it is too early to discuss any details regarding the second round of cuts because the board of education and the union are still working through contractual language. He said once that issue is resolved, the board will be able to move forward.

Meanwhile, board member Jon Nagel made a motion to have the district withhold his payment for his service as a board member. Board members James Agnew, Dave Bruney, Allen Marangoni and Chuck Probst also agreed to forgo their pay, with all members approving the motion in a voice vote.

“I think that it’s a great thing for them to do, to be selfless and give that money back to the district considering the situation that we’re in, but it doesn’t surprise me because everybody on our board of education are here for our students and are here to see our district succeed,” Fogle said.