What we learned about Mentor Schools paying administrators’ retirement share while cutting millions

MetroMentor school officials approved a reduced 3.5-mill operating levy for the Nov. 3 ballot, warning that another defeat could require $14.4 million in additional cuts affecting staffing, class sizes and student services.Molly Walsh, Cleveland.comBy Michael Johnson, cleveland.comcleveland.com Express DeskCLEVELAND, Ohio — Mentor Public Schools is cutting $6.6 million from its 2026-27 budget and asking voters for more operating money, but one administrator benefit remains untouched: The district pays the employee share of administrators’ retirement contributions.Eliminating that benefit would save the general fund in the low $600,000s annually, district Chief Financial Officer Bill Wade told the school board in May. The board rejected eliminating it, 4-1.These are five takeaways from the original article, which examined the retirement benefit, the district’s broader reductions and its latest levy request.1. Mentor pays retirement contributions that administrators otherwise would pay themselvesAdministrators covered by the State Teachers Retirement System normally contribute 14% of compensation. Employees covered by the School Employees Retirement System contribute 10%.Mentor pays those employee contributions for its administrators as a fringe benefit, in addition to the district’s separate required employer contributions.Ending the benefit would not eliminate retirement contributions or reduce administrators’ stated salaries. Administrators instead would begin paying their own employee contribution from their compensation.2. Eliminating the benefit would save more than $600,000 from the general fundBoard member Rose Ioppolo proposed eliminating the retirement pickup during a May 12 meeting and initially estimated savings of about $700,000 annually.Wade said the general-fund savings would be somewhat lower because four administrators are paid through programs outside the general fund. He estimated savings in the low $600,000s.The discussion involved 42 administrators.3. The board kept the benefit while approving cuts elsewhereThe board rejected Ioppolo’s proposal 4-1.At the time, administrators were among employees facing other reductions. The district proposed about $500,000 in administrative-cost cuts and eliminated benefits providing up to $1,000 for certain professional expenses and another $1,000 for some medical costs.The board also reduced administrators’ monthly cellphone supplement from $80 to $35.District officials argued that removing the retirement pickup as well could hurt administrator recruitment and retention. Wade said the savings would help but would not solve Mentor’s broader financial problems.4. The retirement benefit survived a $6.6 million reduction packageMentor ultimately implemented $6.6 million in budget reductions for 2026-27.Those reductions followed voters’ rejection in May of a five-year, 4.9-mill operating levy that would have generated about $13.5 million annually.The cuts included certified and classified positions, overtime reductions, department budget reductions and other changes. Mentor also plans another $3.3 million in reductions for 2027-28, potentially involving school consolidation, additional staffing cuts or both.5. Voters are being asked to approve a smaller levy in NovemberMentor returned with a five-year, 3.5-mill operating levy that the district says would generate about $9.6 million annually — $3.9 million less than the proposal voters rejected in May.The district estimates the new levy would cost property owners about $123 annually for each $100,000 of property value.The Nov. 3 vote therefore comes as Mentor simultaneously reduces spending, considers additional cuts and continues an administrator retirement benefit worth more than $600,000 annually to the general fund.Michael Johnson brings nearly four decades of newspaper experience in reporting, editing, newsroom leadership, page design and digital publishing. He has led daily and weekly newsrooms in Pennsylvania,...