001Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> I need a motion to come out of executive session from our first meeting. So moved. Support. Uh roll call. Mr. Ballard. Yes. Dr. Ballard. Yes. Mrs. Nazario. >> Yes. Mrs. Rosario. >> Yes. Mr. Sturgeon. Yes. And can I have a way to adjourn this meeting? So moved. Second. Uh roll call. Dr. Ballard. Yes. Mr. Ballard. >> Yes. Mrs. Nazario. Yes. Mrs. Rosario. >> Yes. Mr. Sturgeon. Yes. And just uh before we start just a brief public uh service announcement, uh Waleska do you have to us? If you are a Spanish speaking uh person and we prefer to have headphones and have translations, please uh reach out to Waleska. And in addition, we have a Zoom call uh planned for March 3rd at 4:30 uh for our Spanish speaking families.
002Um we will have translations, everything available. The information will go out to all of those families who we know are Spanish speaking, but it'll also be on our social media. So please uh Maria will speak the field with it. So please find the link and we'll looking forward to talking to you on March 3rd. Thank you. I would like to call the February 26th board meeting to order. Roll call. Mrs. Nazario. Yes. Mrs. Rosario. Yes. Dr. Ballard. Yes. Mr. Ballard. Yes. Mr. Sturgeon. Yes. And pledge of allegiance, we have Layla from Tony Morrison and she's the only one that came today. So I'm going to say it with her over here. I shall follow. I pledge to >> I'm not sure the mic is not on. I'm not sure that's on. And what grade are
003you in? Fourth. And what do you like to do at school? I like to do math and science. Math and science, very good. What's your favorite subject? Math. Very good. Thank you so much for Two things you're allowed to know. Give it up for Layla. Real quick, Layla. >> [applause] >> First of all, you rock it, appreciate you. We all get a picture with you, is that all right? If we all come up here and you kind of hang out with us, so we can brag to our friends that we know you. Excellent. Oh no, oh yeah, we have two families in. Do you sit next to them? Or you you're building by yourself today? >> [applause] >> And Layla did say she's going to take her grandpa's spot when she gets older on the
004school board. She already runs the show, I've seen it in action. >> Yes, she does. Um recognition of visitors. We have a lot of visitors today, and I love that we have a have a lot of people at board meetings. I've always hoped we would, and I hope that you continue coming. Um to come and share the positives, too. Come and share what's happening in your classroom that's positive. If you want to bring your students, bring them. We would love it. That's the best part of a board meeting is the positive thing. So, please continue coming. I have hoped for people to come to board meetings. So, I hope that this continues, and we can share some positive things, too. Thank you. First hearing of the public. Please remember to sign your name, phone number,
005and state your name clearly so we have it for the record. Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot. We're changing things up. We're going to do the presentation first. I'm sorry. No, no, no, that's fine. But again, we had the request to do this first, so that way there are more opportunities for the public to speak uh before the board votes. So, I appreciate the board's flexibility, and we're going to kind of team up on this, if that's all right. And I can't see behind me, and I don't want to turn my back to you, so give me [clears throat] 1 second to grab a microphone, and Ross is going to kind of walk us through it. And for There we go. And And again, to everybody, community-wise, staff-wise, student-wise, >> hang on 1 second. We need
006to do a motion to suspend the order. >> right? Yeah. Can I have a motion to suspend the order, please? >> So moved. Second the motion. I'll roll call. Mrs. Sergent. Yes. Dr. Ballard. Yes. Mrs. Rosario. Yes. Mrs. Rosario. Yes. Dr. Ballard. Yes. Thank you. Sorry. >> No, no, thank you very much. And again, what I want to apologize for is the fact that I know there's been a lot of stress, a lot of drama, um a lot of It is not just at so many levels. There comes the the fact that because of where we are and how we got here, there's a lot of things that we used to be able to provide our children and our families that moving forward, we're going to struggle with. Um I also know that on a
007personal level, as I as I've shared many times, uh for the folks who work in the district, this is how you feed your families, this is how you uh provide health care. And so, I understand all the levels of stress, and I apologize for the fact that first of all, we had to go through it. Second of all, that it's been um more stressful, I I I think than um than it needed to be based on timing of when we got information. Uh but again, appreciate your patience, and our goal is to share where we are today. Right? So, Ross Google, please. Okay, first of all, how do we get here? Uh what we'll talk about tonight is how we got here, some survey results, our proposed plan, and our levy information. Okay, first of
008all, how do we get here? And we shared this before, but I think it's important to emphasize. Uh we thought we were in great shape financially. We knew that we had to put up a levy in the spring. We were anticipating five or six mills to allow us to continue to do the good work that our folks do, and uh continue on the positive trajectory that we're on. Uh however, over the summer, from what we were told to expect to what reality was, things changed dramatically. Uh we lost 4.9 million from the state. Uh we and we found that out in June. We found out in August that we lost almost $800,000 in federal funds. And then we found out as late as October that we lost a million dollars locally. So, when you add
009that stuff together, it's $6.7 million, which is a lot of money. But at least as importantly as when we found out. We had no time to plan to make any meaningful changes for this year. So, as a result, uh we had to make sure that cuz our contracts were signed, our people were hired. So, as a result, we lose 6.7 million this year that we can't account for because we found out too late. And we lose that money moving forward, so we have to cut much more as a result of the compounding effect of the cuts that have taken place. Um we, as I mentioned many times, we did um survey our community, and folks asked where the survey was and why they couldn't find it. Um what we did was we um engaged a
010consulting firm who's recommended and we agreed uh that to do a random sample of our community to make sure that we got everybody had an equal opportunity to have a voice. And those survey results, if they're not online yet, are they online yet? Okay, we just got them in yesterday. We'll put them on our website, no secrets. It's it's all out there. We'll share some things with you. It's a phone based survey, bilingual where options were available. And it started Friday, ended yesterday. They gave us the results and I can Oh, I'm sorry, website by tomorrow. One of the biggest things that we heard and I'm not surprised based on all the other feedback that we've received from the beginning of this process is the fact that our community 77% said don't get away with
011neighborhood schools. And keep in mind when we talk about our community only about 20% of any community and ours is no different has any connections whatsoever to the schools. Whether they work here, they have children here, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, only 20% of the community does. 80% has no connection to the schools. And what everybody is saying whether you're a staff member, we've heard loud and clear, whether you're a parent, guardian, grandparent, and now in the survey is yeah, neighborhood schools are important. And that's big for us because and again what took a little bit of time on this is the fact that we started the process off by looking at what we call partner schools and sister schools. Meaning we're going to have repurpose a school to be a a preschool and then we'd
012have one school that was K through two. It would have partnered with another school that was grades three through five. So again, the whole partner school concept and we focused on that because candidly it saved us by far the most money. But everybody was pretty loud and clear and said no, that's not for us. Figure out another way to do it. So of course that's what we did. Okay, now one of the things that we're looking to do for a lot of reasons is and I kind of alluded to it a couple seconds ago. Right now we have too many students I'm sorry our the capacity of our elementary schools is about 3,800 and right now we have about 3,077 students in our elementary schools, which means we have a lot of space left over.
013And what that means is when you spread students out all over the district that we're not very efficient in how we schedule. So it's pretty common for us to have classes of 30 or 28 in some elementary schools, but it's also more common to have classes of 12, 14, and 16. So the more students you have in a school, the more likely we are to get to an ideal number, which is 20 to 25 students depending on grade level and we can schedule much more efficiently. So that was the target of our plan. So our goal was to repurpose one school to be a preschool and another school to be a school for autism. Students with not just autism, but whose needs are so extreme that we cannot meet them in a traditional school. And
014right now we have over 100 students who fit that description and we send some of them to Spectrum. We send some to Sandusky. We send some to Westlake, Cleveland. We actually had a student this year signed up to go to um Mentor. But we have our students who are the most vulnerable and handle change the least we put them on a bus for an hour one way to get schooling, which is of course not acceptable. So what we're going to do because we have the space, we're going to convert one of our elementary schools to a school to serve students with autism because it's a need that we have for the students that we serve. But it's also a way for us to save money and candidly generate revenue down the road. Right now for
015those 100 students, they cost us a little over about six actually about six and a half million dollars to educate per year. Um about 1.5 million of that is just transportation. We had one student and this was last year who was $1,000 a day to transport because of the needs the student had that we were required to meet. Uh so, completely appropriate. We're obligated, and we do it. But, if we could provide that same level of education just down the street, um and again, I think we owe it to our community to do that. So, that's what we're looking to do. And as we we purpose those two elementary schools, that of course increases the number of students in the other eight remaining elementary schools, which allows us to be much more efficient, let me
016say. But again, folks, we're supportive of in our community of the school for autism. Uh support services, uh when it comes to school counselors, when it comes to social workers, when it comes to wrap-around services, uh third-party support staff, uh food, medical, health, all those wrap-around services, our community not only is in favor, uh it's an expectation. And this is what they ranked in terms of most important to keep. And to highlight a couple of things there, um you see preschool being at the bottom. And one of the things there, too, that I think we have to be careful of, and uh you'll see in the next slide. If you do the next slide, too. Uh when you look at least important to keep, number two is unsure. A- Again, a lot of folks in
017our community, if I don't have a child in the school or a grandchild or a cousin or niece or nephew, I don't work there, I don't understand education. They may not completely understand and the needs that our children come to school with uh when they're three, four, five years old. So, um preschool, I understand what our community said, but I think with some education, I think that might might change in terms of uh level of expectation of us to serve our children. And again, the school configuration, we looked at a lot of different options. Uh we knew that we needed to have more students in each of our elementary schools because again, designed for 3,800, we have less than 3,100, so we're not very efficient in terms of our scheduling. So, we are going to
018repurpose two schools, increase enrollment, and we tried to do um and I we pushed pretty hard to try to do a nine elementary schools and have them be pre-K 5, but it was cost prohibitive. So, where we landed, we knew that um again, the cheapest way to do it was partner schools. Everybody made it clear that's not an option. So, neighborhood schools, this costs us about 1.2 million dollars a year more to do, but our everybody made it clear, this is what we expect from you, so this is what we'll do. Uh we couldn't do pre-Ks because that added almost another million dollars uh based on staffing and encore pieces and have an odd number of schools. Uh so, again, we're going to repurpose a school. Uh we need one for 350 students, to be
019determined. Uh that's for preschool. We need one for students with autism, which is a capacity of 450 students. We currently Well, we have three of those in our district, uh Lark, Morrison, Tule and Washington. Um Lark Morrison because of geography, um can't use that one. We're looking at Washington and Jacinto. And as I've shared many times, we put Washington out there because when we looked at we haven't looked at Excuse me, all of the scenarios yet uh because I interrupted it with the um the pre-K 5 model for nine schools. Uh but right now we have again, it comes down to transportation, EMIS and our power school. Trying to determine where every student lives, tweaking streets to make sure we were properly balanced, and then we determine what makes the most sense in terms of
020schools. And it takes a lot It takes a while to do each each scenario. Uh they did Washington and Garfield. They're doing Hawthorne and Jacinto, and we'll have that worked out here in the next week or so. But again, what we plan to do because we're more efficient, uh we can decrease the number of general ed teachers. We're also going to change in terms of our encore and offer the following and discontinue what you see um on the board. Okay, in middle school, uh right now, and again, the plan there, too, is to restructure to increase efficiencies and uh to reduce electives. And again, the savings comes from reducing um not so much the same as elementary schools, we're putting more students in, but our core teachers will teach more classes, which means we need
021fewer core teachers, and because we're teaching more classes, fewer elective teachers. And the outcome will will look like this. Now, the questions that have been asked, um why why did you choose one elective over another? Uh we based it on um anecdotal information from the principals, we based it on student interest, we based that because, especially in middle school, they have they they uh try to get into these courses, um and the courses that were required to provide. Okay, the high school and Success Academy, actually, we did the efficiency portion of of that formula um last year and restructured their schedule to make them more efficient, so a lot of their decreases in positions and efficiency were increased last year. Um we and that's what we did in terms of where we landed. Okay, we
022uh eliminated some software programs that um actually are purchased services. They provide a lot of resources and supports to our teachers, but the reality is, it came down to soft uh I'm sorry, software and supports versus people, and we value our people more. Our field trips, unless they're grant-funded or fund-raised, uh will be eliminated for next year. And again, uh the transportation savings alone, I think, was $280,000. Uh professional development, uh right now when we do uh our PD sessions, we take our staff members out of the situations they're assigned and bring in subs. And the sub cost is high. It's expensive. It's cheaper than doing it after school, but again, we have to figure out a way to um engage our staff in what they need from us in a way that is uh
023more cost-effective. Uh we were Actually, this is something that we were looking at anyway. It was uh Brian Corey's brainchild years ago, and candidly uh at least with football, he was right and I was wrong. Um we did it for numbers. And what we did was instead of having three football teams at our three middle schools, because they had trouble um getting enough kids to come out uh uh fill an entire team. So, we have one team, we bust the kids together and have one team. And the backstory to that was, and this was Brian's philosophy, and and it turned out to be again accurate. Um it's not just the numbers to get on the team, but we obviously in our district have uh squabbles uh between different portions of our community and other portions
024of our community. So, for our students on the west side, the south side, the east side to all get together in middle school to realize they're not that bad. I know that guy. I I play football that guy. He's all right. So, we think that that's alleviated a lot of tension and stress as the kids come to high school, and there's evidence to support that. But we plan to do that with um a majority if not all of our middle school sports. And I think the total savings, not counting transportation, is about $80,000 a year. Overall, the personnel and and again, all this stuff will be online with much more detail um in terms of what we're going on. In terms of over the two-year period when we started making these cuts, um percentage-wise, this
025is where folks landed. And again, most of this is done with efficiencies, not all of it. Some of it is just programs that we used to be able to offer um that we can't offer anymore or that we used to offer to a higher level than we can offer um to continue offer. And what are those examples? Candace preschool. Uh right now we're still looking at the preschool model as being what we're required to offer um which is students with disabilities and a and a a comparable number of students their non-disabled peers in the same course. Um our kids need more than um so we're what we're trying to do is figure out ways to make that happen. Uh but as of right now that's not um in the agenda. Additional reductions uh we're looking
026at you know, the question is other than people what are you getting rid of? Um we're getting rid of a lot of capital projects, uh purchase services uh that we had uh an Auxilio contract termination. Those of you who don't know, we have privatized uh transportation in this district um gates and what uh we decided to bring it in house, we could do as well as they can. If they're making money on it and obviously it's money we'd save. And right now we transport all of our students who attend our schools and the group of the the yeah the uh the vendor that we partnered with 3 years ago uh transports our students who attend charter schools and non-pubs that we're also responsible to transport. But by bringing those back in house or uh we
027save I think $620,000 just next year. Not to mention the money we've already saved from bringing in transportation. And again kind of a breakdown of where we are. And you heard me say a couple of different numbers already but again part of that's based on the fact that a and TS says it all the time uh that a forecast is a snapshot in time. Originally ODEW said we had to cut 18 million. And then right before our town hall, they said, "No, no, you can get away with 16.6 million." We have the email to prove it. They said it. Um but now do you look, we're cutting 17.6 million. That's because things change all the time and we're forced to react to those. Uh what changed this time is health care cost um were much
028higher than we projected. Uh we were anticipating a million dollar savings and we're not realizing that. Um overall revenue decreased because we had some students move in and out and as a result uh the state adjusts our numbers. So, again, the purpose There's two things happening tonight. One is the board is going to um vote on anyway. I don't know if they're supporting or not supporting, but vote on a forecast. And the Ohio Department of Education requires us to have a budget that allows us to operate in the positives uh for a couple years in the future. And that's what the board's going to vote on. But even what the the board's voting on is two or three days old and some things have changed. Um just like we always do with our five-year forecast,
029we'll continue to listen, we'll continue to learn, we'll continue to do the best we can with what we have. Uh but but as a result, sometimes numbers change. And the example I gave earlier is if uh the roof blew off this building, all of this goes away because we have to figure out a way to pay for it. So, sometimes we have to react to um situations just like we had to react to um our state, federal, and local government taking 6.7 million from us. Okay, the new opportunities and I mentioned the school for autism earlier and again, it's not any student with autism, but a student with autism whose needs are so extreme that their needs cannot be met in traditional schools. We need to provide a space for them. But I also mentioned
030So, the rationale and the same thing with Digital Academy um or Titan Virtual, we had as of December 15th, 85 students withdraw this year to leave our district to go to a virtual school. And when you look at the number of students who have done that over the course of the past few years, we currently have 450 students who left our district to go to a virtual school. Those 450 kids represent about 3 and 1/2 million dollars a year. So, two things with our school for autism and the Titan virtual. Number one, first and foremost, there's a need. There's a niche that we're missing that we're obligated to meet. Right? Now, first and foremost, right? Our kids have a need, we need to make sure we meet that need. Our families have a need, we
031need to make sure we meet that need. The second thing though is on these, we can defend it and justify it because we'll make money doing it. We'll save money and make money. Uh right now, our Titan Virtual Academy has 31, 35 students, whatever the number is, uh but you're looking at about $250,000 a year already. And some of those students are students that um were our students and went into the Virtual Academy. So, it's a savings of $8,200 that we would have lost had they gone somewhere else. Some are students who weren't and they're coming in, and for us, that's an increase of $8,200 per student. So, again, the the defense of and how we can support these programs is the fact that it is a cost saver and candidly a revenue generator. Same
032thing with our school for autism. Uh we have a number of families that we've already reached out to that are willing to come back. We've got about I'm going to put you on the spot, about eight classrooms already that our family said, "Yep, we want to come back here and we want you to serve our kids." So, we have eight classrooms already taken. Um every one of those saves us money because we can educate them less expensively and candidly, arrogance on my part, we can do a better job than the other folks that are where our our kids are going now. And we also save money on transportation. So, again, these things are not only money savers, but revenue generators, but on our plan, you won't see either one of those because we're not doing
033them yet. So, for the forecast, the only thing I'm pointing to you, the only thing we can claim are savings uh to what we're doing and costs to what we're doing. Since these things officially kick in next year, uh Titanic uh virtual has started already, but it's like a pilot program. Next year, right now it's high school credit recovery. Next year it'll be for students grades 5 through 12. Because when you look at our data, the the students most likely to pursue a virtual experience are sixth graders and ninth graders. Which shouldn't be a surprise because those are transition years, and transitions are hard. So, again, those are things that again down the road, I think we'll demonstrate um and I think we'll uh help our district incredibly financially, but again, more and most importantly,
034it provides a niche and meets the needs of the children we're here to serve. Okay, our levy. Uh we have an 11-mil levy on the ballot uh on May 5th. And right now we're looking at a few different things. Um it generates $10.7 million a year. About 7.7 mils of those levy uh of those dollars just get us through to 2030 if we do nothing different. So, that gives us about $3 million a year that we can reinvest. And candidly, what we're what we want to reinvest in uh is uh more uh school counselors, more uh social workers. Uh we know we need them. Our community knows we need them. Um and that's a high priority for us and also all-day preschool. So, if we can pass this levy, those are things we'll focus on
035bringing back. Um but the reality is, if our levy fails, uh we have to cut in addition to this um well, $17.7 million now. In addition to this, we have to come up with another four to eight million dollars worth of cuts. Again, ODE will tell us what that is. So, if we pass the levy, we bring things back. If not, we cut more. And just to be candid with you, I we cut to the bone before we started this process of cutting the 16.6 they made us cut. I have no idea where the rest comes from. I really don't. Um but we will come out with the list here in the next week or so that says if the levy passes, here's what we're going to do. If the levy fails, here's what we're
036going to do because our community deserves to know what our plan is. You deserve to know what our plan is. So if on May 6th, the levy passes, we know what to do. If on May 6th, the levy fails, we all know where we stand. So again, no secrets. We're not drawing things out. Uh we're doing the best we can to get to you the information we have. And I apologize and the word uh transparency has been thrown out a lot. Again, my definition is a little different than others. My definition of transparency is you will know exactly what I'm thinking while I'm thinking it. That doesn't mean that's where we land, but here's what we're looking at right now and sometimes things change based on feedback that we get, uh based on realities that
037we we acknowledge. Um but the best we can do right now is figure out a way uh to pass this levy because we can't cut our way out of this and nobody is going to come and save us. >> [clears throat] >> Is it? All right. So again, the purpose of that was to share information. I know we have uh open mic night here coming in a couple minutes, uh but I just want to make sure that we you had all the information that we have uh before uh the board votes and if you've got to come in and share your thoughts. Thank you. And now we have first hearing of the public. Again, remember to state your name and fill out your name, address on the form so that we can um have it
038for the record. >> I tried I tried to print this out before I left, but unfortunately my printer died. No more ink. So my name's Aaron Nabb and I have a prepared statements. I don't expect, you know, direct answers now, obviously. Um My daughter goes to this school. She's a freshman. I'm not here to ask about any individual employee. I'm here to ask about the integrity of the process, the structure of governance, and the completeness of the public record. The district informed the board, this board, that the selected candidate for director of communications and community relations scored the highest in the first round of and the second round and described the decision as one of the biggest no-brainers, quote, um that a statement of objective process, one that implies measurable criteria, consistent evaluation, and documentation
039that supports the outcome. At the time, a board member asked, "Is there an offset for adding this position?" Which is a question about public funds, priorities, and justification. That is not a minor detail. That is a core governance responsibility. The record also reflects that at a later point administration and board members were attempting to locate recommendation email for this hire and could not find it. Additionally, there was the discussion about holding an executive session prior to a vote on the position. Taken together, those raised facts or those facts raise a simple but critical question. Is the district or if the district is relying on a scored process of funding and justification and a board level review, how can the public independently verify that this decision was made fairly, consistently, and transparently if key documentation is
040missing or not available for the record. Second part is governance and conflict safeguards. I also have a second question regarding governance safeguards. If immediate family members of the selected candidate sit on this board, what steps were taken to address conflicts of interest throughout the entire process, not just at the final vote? Specifically, what recusals occurred during discussions, access to candidate information, and decision-making stages? Throughout those recusals were documented in the record. Chain of command, I'm asking for clarification on the record on the command of this position. Um this is a role that existed previously, and policy and practice treated that the board as the supervising authority over the communications director, right? That That was That was what you did for Aaron Graham. So, if you never changed that, then is your communications director not now
041directly reporting to her father and brother? And I will close this up with my final question, which is does the district maintain complete documentation on the hiring process, including the scoring and evaluation criteria, and funding justification, and what safeguards are in place to ensure that the public business related to these positions is preserved in a way that allows independent review under Ohio law? It's not about who was hired, it's about whether the public can see how the decision was made. And my biggest concern is within that email structure, many of you were seen discussing basically not talking about things in email, potentially hiding public records from the public, and that concerns me greatly. I had a lot of concerns before I read those emails that I requested, but I got some very concerning emails. You
042guys should really be careful, honestly, about what you are putting in email. Thank you for your time, and I have fun with your kids. >> [applause] >> Uh we have the Barbie Washington um Uh I have concerns uh regarding the preschool um not being in the building with the other kiddos and our families having access. Um also, we know uh last I heard the number was about 90% of our kiddos are uh behind when they come to school and if we don't help them get ready, what are we going to do? Um if it is the final decision that we are cutting um are we going to help our families um access some other form of quality education? Um I know currently we work with preschools um and helping them uh help our kiddos. So,
043um I know Dr. Grammig year one that says all of the kiddos in Lorain are ours regardless of what school they go to. So, um that's a question. Um I know we have to cut and uh you know, everybody has their um their most important. Um I will uh say the social workers um well, we just had four at the high school. Um I think that was uh barely enough. And then we went to five for the whole district. And I thought that was I'm looking at Ms. Tia. I thought that was insane. Um and now that we have three, I think what the you know, but I'm not going to say that word. And um to cut that further is really scary to me. So, um I have my uh cousin on my shirt
044who was uh murdered by her 16-year-old son, and her daughter died um of a overdose, and she was a graduate um of Lorain High. Um our kiddos need help. I mean, I'm preaching to the choir here, but um at some point we have to, you know, take responsibility, accountability, all of those things. And if if for some reason we can't provide those services, um I know Dr. Sturgill and Ms. AJ work really hard at getting other agencies in, but I know that it's not enough. Um is there a plan uh there? Um the other uh question was or concern um is the website for the Board of Education, and I never remember the um the committees, so I had went to look, and there is this um process of how to address the board, and
045they are OSBA policies that are listed, and that's very concerning um that uh whoever um I'm not saying it it was whoever uh a certain individual, but whoever did that, it's really concerning to me that they don't even know what policies or what group of policies that we're using um the they're even, you know, um not quoted, but cited. The sources are our uh OSBA policies. Um if um if that was uh I'm I'm to say your name, Mariah. If that was Mariah, I also have had concerns about onboarding and um helping our people out that come on. Are we doing um and for the board too, I've shared that. Are we doing our part um I I'm not a hour, but your are you doing your part to make sure that they know what
046they need to know so they could best serve our kiddos and our families. Um I think that's it for now. Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, I just Yeah, everybody tried not to not to say your name with the onboarding I've had a lot of questions The onboarding I've had a lot of questions and concerns about. So, I hope they are um they're doing right by you and and showing you around and things. So, you're welcome. I do need help putting this back, please. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Hi, my name is Mark Verbancic. I am a teacher at Longfellow Middle School, also parent of a senior in the district. Um we have some amazing staff both administration um support staff, teaching staff. So, I want to note that start this conversation. Um my
047biggest concern right now is the rise of mental health issues, anxiety, depression, self-harm in our students and unfortunately I'm seeing a rise in our staff as well. I can't count how many staff members have come to me in the last month or so crying. Um not just at my building, but district-wide. Uh that is a major concern to me uh and hopefully should be a major concern to everybody here. Uh there's been a lot of discussion about the elementary changes. As a middle school teacher, I also wanted to add some middle school conversation to this. Uh the cuts that are currently being proposed is a 50% cut or not sorry, 33% cut in staff in 7th grade and 8th grade, which adds 50% students to the workload. So, at elementary, we put on the slides
048that the class average went from 22 to 24. In the middle school, that class class average is going to go from 22 to 32. Speaking with that, anxiety, depression, mental health, self-harm, out of my 90 kids, I've had five kids with major self-harm issues just this year alone. Adding 10 kids per class in every class is only going to add to that. That is a huge concern. Um, also with the itinerants being cut, cutting from nine down to five at the middle school, those students that are band students that we have every convocation, we welcome them. They're amazing students. They will not have any opportunity for any of the other itinerants. Band is a full year itinerant. So, by cutting the itinerants in half, they will not have access to PE, art, um, project lead
049the way, Spanish. They will not have any opportunity for any of that. Um, it was great when we added the extra itinerant for them to have those opportunities, but it is sad to see that go. So, I just want to make sure that that is well known. Thank you for letting me speak. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Hi. Um, I'm Bailey Wallen. I'm the counselor at Washington. Um, uh, Dr. Graham, you met with us today and the social workers, and I just was confused because you had said that, um, four of us of the elementary counselors were going to be cut, but that was not in the program or in the presentation. I apologize for whatever is not the uh, presentation. Actually, the plan is to have actually total of elementary to be well depending
050on where your senior advice positions cut. Six elementary for counselors and six for assistant principals. We would have four assistant principals and four school counselors partnering to take care of the eight elementary schools. That's correct. Right. Yes, but I was just confused why that wasn't in the presentation. Yeah. It just feels like And that's okay. I just feel like everyone should know everything that's being cut if that makes sense. So, thank you. >> [applause] >> Hi, my name is Kaylee Finley. I'm the school counselor at Hunt Center East. I was going to come up with Bailey and really just wanted to clarify. I know we met today. You did say that people would be informed if they were going to be impacted before it's presented to the public. But I don't think that we are
051being that transparent concept where being as transparent. There are six of us that will be gone. Those people in the buildings. So, I'd like if we'd be able to share potentially a little bit more with the public about what that impact will look like especially when we've already had some sharing about the mental health impact on students and staff that we solely help support. Um I spoke to the board just over a year ago. Um I presented to many of you. I know Mr. Ballard that you were very interested in what we had to say as counselors. We were able to share the impact that we have every single day in the building. Um so again, I would we weren't included in those initial screens when we had the last community halls about, you know,
052this is our current, this is what we're proposing, this is what might happen. And so just really making sure we're communicating that again, it is my livelihood, but it's the right it's the access that's going to be removed. I know we speak often of third-party mental health supports. I just also would like that to be clarified that a lot of those are clinical mental health therapy that we might not have access to through parent consent. We might not have access to with insurance and there are steps you can take, but these are things that aren't for all. And while they are very necessary for our students with higher tier needs, it is not access for all in the in the moment when you're going through something. So, if we we can talk about what that
053might look like or what that will be because it it's not being included. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Hi. My name is Kyle Zatt. I have been a part of Lorain City Schools since I was in preschool. I attended Lake View before it was torn down when I was in fourth grade and I transitioned over to Admiral King until I was in sixth grade. Then I went to Longfellow and then I went to high school here. I make this statement because this is my life. This is where I'm from. And I'm watching you guys actively destroy that because you're not listening to the community. It is here at this building that I was a part of the graphic design course. I loved that course. That course was everything to me and it still is because
054I went to Kent State for 4 years and got my BFA in graphic design and visual communication design. So, I would like to sit here and tell you from a designer's perspective why this is stupid. Why you're not listening to the data, why you're not designing your plan the right way, and you need to be thinking about that correctly. You have all of this data, all of the statistics from the community of what we want, what we need, what we have. Yet, 141 teachers, the 35 paras and the 100 and six LEA members cut, and what? 12 admin? Have you guys ever mowed a lawn before? Do you just put the blade into the ground? Why aren't we cutting from the top? That doesn't make any sense, and I'm directing this to you, Jeff. I
055stood not in this spot, but in this position in our library protesting Hardy when he was cutting our teachers. I was there for that. And we're doing that again. I'm going back to the comment that was made about the mental health of our staff. I can tell in my building we're not doing well. I didn't mention I'm a uh paraprofessional at Washington. We're not doing well because of all the unanswered questions, all of the BS that's going on that's not being answered. We don't know where we're going to be next year. Hell, I don't plan on being in Lorraine at this point with what's going on. That's not It's not fair to us. And I can only go back to that moment when I stood here and I told everybody at that board meeting that
056Hardy is not a titan. Because one, I think everybody up here can agree he didn't even show up to that meeting. But right now it really doesn't feel like who is in front of me is acting that way either. Titans are strong. Titans are supposed to invoke some sort of strength, some fear and in you. We're supposed to prevail, but right now it just looks like we're just dismantling from the bottom. And so, I want to take that designer's perspective and talk about the onboarding process that's been happening for the communications member that has been mentioned. I studied PR for fun because to be a good designer, you need to know your target audience. And it really doesn't seem like this person knows the target audience because as I'm going through Lorraine's socials and I'm
057going through the stories, I'm getting a weird corporate vibe. Do we look corporate? Are these people corporate? Are we just numbers on a board? Why are we marketing ourselves like the next Tik Tok influencer? Why do we have to look so sterile online? What is the community that you are looking for? Cuz that's not us. That's not Lorraine. So, why did we bring in somebody that is just turning us into a bland sandwich? Because from the community's perspective, there's no outreach. That one mom that was here at the last meeting, she doesn't see you guys. She doesn't know you guys. You guys aren't in the community. And I want to also take a moment to also go to how you defended the need for two assistant superintendents. I don't see a need for two superintendents.
058I don't see them in my building. I don't see them helping. I don't see what they're doing cuz they're not there. You're not in our community. You don't know what you're doing. I'm sure everybody out here could say something like, "Oh, it would be nice if you were here. It would be nice to talk to you." But it shouldn't just be a random scheduled lunch that nobody's able to attend. It shouldn't just be a nice little wave in the hallway. You don't know how to talk to our kids cuz you don't see them. There was one day one of my students was experiencing a very severe behavior and Michael Scott came to help. We turned his help away because he doesn't know this child. He doesn't know what he goes through. He doesn't know what's
059going on inside his mind. He cannot help because he's not there. Ross May I've seen walk in the hallway once and he's talked to me once because I took one sigh, one breath of relief cuz I was outside of my classroom and he asked me if I was okay and I was appreciative of that. I still am. But that doesn't mean anything to me in the grand scheme of things cuz you guys aren't in our buildings. And I understand that this district has a ton going on, but where are you? So, I'm just wondering, why aren't we cutting from the top? Why do we look so bad online? Because the community's perception is terrible. Nobody cares. I couldn't care less and I have a communications degree. I couldn't care less if we had communication at
060the end of this meeting or not because it doesn't mean anything. And with that, I would like to play one little clip that was sent to me. The strange posting on a private, not private cuz it's public, about nepo babies. And you know, people think that our careers are significantly like easier because of our parents and who they are. How do you feel about the whole nepotism and the how and what people call us that. >> Um, well, I love it. People call me a nepo baby all the time. And is it what about it? I will scream it to the from the rooftops. I love you, YOU NEPO BABY. SO, hiring a communications person to do our PR, to make us look like a bland sandwich online, to then post that on their personal
061Facebook that is public. Why if they're checking all the boxes, checking all the boxes, it kind of seems like there was some sort of insider thing going on. And that's not fair to us. That's not fair to the community. It's weird. It's strange. >> [applause] >> It's not representative of Lorraine. There needs to be some sort of fix in pay, some sort of fix in what's being posted, whatever format is going on, it needs to stop. Cuz it's weird. And it's not Lorraine, it's not us, it's not the community. Because the community has clearly spoken. We have the statistics. Know your target audience. And right now, over all of these different meetings, the target audience has not been listened to. Because we're still walking away with we don't have all the answers. We don't know
062what's going on. You have to know what's going on cuz you have to submit these plans tomorrow. Right? I'm looking for a yes to the mic. We do have to submit that tomorrow, yes. Thank you. So, I I'm after a speech, I'm speechless. You know that feeling? Cuz this I feel like these words are exhausting. So, whatever. >> [applause] >> Jessica Farsetti, I have three kids in the district. And I guess someone hold this. Um, so I don't want to sound condescending. This is just how I talk. I'm going to start up with with a compliment, which is I'm really glad you guys listened to the community about paired schools. That was very, very important to me and everybody I spoke with. Um, I know you guys have to make hard decisions. It's you know,
063it's the world we live in with the with education being dismantled, public education. I want to give you guys um I guess a a little tip. If you want the levy to pass and I want it to, too, cuz I don't want to see any more cuts. You have to connect with the community better. We have to get the parents more engaged. One of the things is we need to have parents understanding how to get into PowerSchool because I can't do it. I've tried. I got in I I kicked out. Um, we need to be able to have some kind of little workshop. You know, you got the movie thing going on coming up. Have somebody there. You can't get into PowerSchool, let me show you how to do that. Um, also final forms. We
064need that to be up to date, but nobody understands it. You have some parents, grandparents, guardians that are just not able to understand the complexity of that. You know, I get in it and sometimes I get kicked out. I try to change email, that's not working. And um, so we need somebody there guiding our community in that respect. We need I to piggyback on the other gentleman's statement. Um, we need the communication to best reflect the community. Like I'd spoke about um, you know, neuro spicy parents, um, Spanish-speaking parents, um, we need to see videos of of things because there are probably some parents that don't read very well. Most of the parents in this community or guardians have been educationally neglected. We grew up in a in a system that said, "You're lazy." But
065you had a reading issue. Um, you're not motivated, but I don't understand the material because it's not presented to me in a way I can understand. So, we have very intelligent people that just weren't given the tools to do this. So, when the gentleman's saying a bland sandwich, that's the way it seems because I got to tell you, I'm a very busy person and I don't want to read a two-page email because I don't have the time and or the focus to do that. Um, and um, you know, after we talked about transparency, I've seen some really great things about, you know, we're going to have questions answered and you know, there's videos posted and I was excited. Yes, they're listening to us. They respect us. And then I saw the nepo baby video. And
066I felt, "Wow, that was just a slap in the face." Now, I don't know you, Ms. Valer, and I I'm I understand I was your age. And what everybody's talking about is not a personal attack on you, okay? I don't know you. You look like a very wonderful person, you know. It it's not about that. It's about a lot of people in our community weren't allowed to do the things that some people are able to do. So, we want to see that the people that are using our money, our hard-earned money, are worthy of that position, respectful of that position, and will continue to respect the community and part of that is understanding it. We can't do better because we weren't allowed to do better. The two places that employed most of Lorraine are gone.
067So, we can't provide for our kids to get the tutoring, you know, we can't start a business like we want to. We can't do all those things so that we can give our kids a leg up. We want to do those things, but it's it's about privilege. And this city, this community has not been privileged for a long time. So, we don't want to see we don't want to see a clap back as Ballard. We want to see I understand and I'm going to show you that I'm worthy of this position. Okay? That's what we want. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Good evening. My name is Maribelis Velasquez. And I might get a little emotional, understandably so. My hormones are all over the place. But, I feel like it's justified. Um specially learning that one
068of my son's favorite staff members is going to be out of a job. One of those staff members that was helping him with transitions in the mornings. Getting in and out of the school, which made him so full of anxiety. You see, my son is a special needs child. My son is autistic and for years since he started in Helen Steiner, he has been given the utmost first, respect, second, treatment, third, services. The staff in that building have been phenomenal with my child and with me, leading me to proper resources where I can get him extra help if needed. And I feel like what you all are doing is unjust and is a disservice to parents like me who are fully invested and involved in their child's education. >> [applause] >> And I do understand,
069you know, that you guys sitting there are the ones crunching the numbers and doing the math and all that. I just would have liked to see another option. One that would guarantee that my son's education won't suffer, that he won't fall through the cracks, that he won't become another statistic, that he won't be labeled a difficult child because he no longer will have that person that can help him regulate those emotions. You guys really have to just think about the overall big picture of what this actually will mean because I feel like the majority of Lorraine City schools are dealing with already in their small classroom settings a great number of difficult high need kids without any support. The beginning of the year, it's always the same heartbreaking text, "How can I help him, Mom?
070Do you have any pointers? What can I do? What are his favorite things?" The IEP is in place and they follow it to a T. But how are they going to be able to do that in the upcoming years when you guys are continuing to cut and cut and cut away the things that can benefit my child receiving the proper education. In the last meeting I was not able to attend, my hands are full. But I was watching it live and I heard it said that legally what is written in the IEP would still be provided. Well, you already lied about that. So, I want to make sure that something will be done, thought about, brainstormed about to be able to think about the kids who do need these services. Thank you. >> [applause] >>
071Um good evening. My name is Rachel Meaney Love. I'm the English language learner teacher at Washington Elementary School. Um you asked for something positive, and I'm going to share something really quick. I also teach adult English classes. Lorraine City Schools offers free adult English classes, and I have three students here from our adult English class. We're having this is an EL Civics lesson. >> Oh, that's exciting. >> have notes. We got a worksheet they're filling out. >> That's amazing. One request is speak a little slower, but other than that, it's I think they're having a great time, and they're being very You're they're impressed by all the community and staff here. Thank you. Um and now I'm going to speak as a parent for those parents who don't have a voice, who they could have
072come here, but some aren't comfortable, some can't, they're busy, but those who speak another language. I had two parents share messages with me that they asked me to share at the board meeting. So, let me just read those because they're their words, not mine. Uh Uh the first one says, "My concern is that neighborhood schools should not be removed so children can attend the school assigned to them that is closer. I would choose to reduce it cost in other areas. So, I think she's referring though closing Washington is my guess. Uh the other parent said, "Hello, we are still concerned that the Washington school might close and that would be very terrible for my family since my daughter is only in kindergarten and has many more years at this school. I would love for her
073to finish with her elementary education at Washington. As we live right across the street from the school and it would also be devastating for many other families. That is very certain. We love this school and all the teachers and staff. Everyone is super friendly." That's their words and I, as a teacher, I'm going to bring something up. The survey that was given and Dr. Graham and I communicated about it being bilingual. I had several parents come to me. The text message from the district was in Spanish, but when they went to do the survey, it was all in English. So, several parents, one told me she had her daughter help her do it so she completed it, but there's a lot of things on there that, you know, someone who's 18 or 19 may not
074be able to translate very accurately. I had another parent contact me and say, "Oh, I started this survey, but I only did half of it cuz I didn't understand the rest." And then another parent reached out and asked if the one of the bilingual paras at our building could help them and And said, "Of course." It was yesterday cuz the survey was in English, but she had to go to work, and then the survey was closed. So, we couldn't help there. And then I had a couple others say, I didn't know what it said, I just didn't even try it. So, if I don't know who's in charge of that, but I will be the squeaky wheel. I told Dr. Graham, you're going to be tired of me, man. >> [clears throat] >> And if
075I don't want you to micromanage your people in any way, but I'll I'll be in there like, hey, I know there's a bi- this is survey coming out. Let me know. Right. And if you could, just check is there a way to see if you received any Spanish responses on that or not? So, that we can know. All right, appreciate it. Thank you, everybody. >> [applause] >> Good evening, Julie Garcia, president, Marine Education Association. Um, I'm going to give you something good. The LEA is sponsoring a scholarship fundraiser, March 8th at the American Legion. We give out $1,000 to three or four different students. Um, so we raise funds this way. So, if you're available and would like to join us, tickets are available that day. It's from 10:00 to 2:00 at the American Legion
076post 30 on West Erie Avenue. And And Julie, can I ask real quick, are you still looking for helpers? No, we're good for helpers. We have some of our high school students that are going to come and help, and we have some other admin that have helped um You're on the list. Um, I did have a question though. Somebody said to me that sub sub coverage was being reduced to $125 a day. Can you give us any information about that? Okay. Thank you. >> [applause] >> I think it's at 160, and I That I think we changed any of that. Mhm. Go ahead. It's my turn. Um hello. I'm Regina Almuelle. I teach theater at Lorain High. Um I just had a few questions about First, um when are each individual teachers going to know
077that they have been riffed? You want to answer that question? Yeah, I will. Okay. Um first of all, there The process is we'll list everything and then what happens is your union leadership will meet with HR and they'll go through things line by line. So, as long as it takes to get through the process. Some unions, because it's not just obviously teachers, um we have eight unions in the district and each one has a different process to follow and for the non-riff admins and support staff, we follow policy. So, there's nine different pathways. So, I don't want to speak to yours uh cuz I do get confused. Um but your leadership will work with Carol. Um I know I know she has appointments set up already, but I couldn't give you an exact date, but
078I can't imagine it'll take that long. Okay. Um okay. And then um my second question is um about supplementals. I saw that it said that athletic supplementals are being cut at the middle school level and then ever like other supplementals of all other people are being cut district-wide. Why are high school athletic supplementals not being cut when they do have a lot of coaches per team? Yeah. Uh what we try to do with the process is look at a bunch of different things. First of all, we need to save money, but we also have to protect enrollment because with every student uh on our average is about $8,200 per student. And what this district has experienced in the past and other districts as well, you cut athletics, everybody leaves. So, we would save a little
079bit of money and we lose a lot of money through enrollment. So, it's trying to balance those two things out. And when you look at the overall cost of um athletics at and all levels, the cost The cost is not Uh I think it's about 1% of our budget, actually less than Um and a lot of that's offset through gate receipts. Okay. Um, I have a question. Am I allowed to address the public at a school board meeting? You want to I'm sorry, you want to Address the public? For Typically the purpose of the board meeting is to address the board. Okay. I was just wondering. That's right. Thank you. Thanks. Were you going to tell about your play? Is that what you were going to just to Okay. When is the play? So we
080can tell everybody's here now, so Seussical the Musical. It's just cuz the YouTube can't Yeah, the people that are on our streaming. Um, I know a lot of people in the public are kind of upset with the leadership in our district and that's not for me to decide whether you should or shouldn't feel that way, but the cuts affect us, teachers, who are there with your kids every day. We're the people who are helping your kids through each day, making sure they have lessons that they need, being their after school support, being a counselor, social worker and a teacher all-in-one and that's us who's being affected. And so when you go into the polls in May and you vote on this levy, please do it with us in mind because we are the people who
081are being affected right now. It is not going to affect people at the higher level nearly as much as it will affect us. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for sharing. >> [applause] >> Hello, I'm Denise Barney. I teach PLTW at the middle school. I've been really pushing to try to keep the CTE PLTW class and I do the coordinating for it for all three middle schools. So, I was very I was going to do my one last ditch effort again for it. Um So, I'm going to also give you a good note. Besides, I will still push for that program and CTE being individualized. Uh I think it's beneficial for the kids. It's beneficial for the district for feeding up to the CTE program. But, the better um the good news is I just
082want to let you know as of right now and we have our middle school two teams that are going for middle school are going to states next week for robotics. >> Congratulations. And >> [applause] >> one team team is ranked fifth in the state out of all the um teams in the state. >> And the other one is 22nd. So, feeling confident as long as everything goes. Um hopefully we can make it to it's St. Louis this year for worlds. But, in besides that, this year between middle school and high school teams, we have brought in 24 or 25 awards and trophies to besides the girls team bringing the Inspire Award at Indianapolis. Thanking the board for letting them to go to that and they are making their um going to the brigade seventh brigade
083in competition to um their four world spots for uh the JROTC teams. So, they're competing on Saturday on that aspect. So, what does that mean for robotics? With the supplementals. I'm sorry, what's the question? What does it mean for supplementals with the robotics? >> We plan to continue the robotics. Yes. Yep. Sorry. Cuz Yep, don't ask me speak And by the way, just real quick, side note, not a side note, actually can I just want to give some comment to your comments. Um, year in and year out, your kids are successful, 24, 25 trophies a year. What you It's not by accident though. What you and your sister do are just absolutely amazing. I remember having conversations with you two 10 years ago when you were building it. Um, thanks for creating what you've created.
084So, just our kids benefit from um all that you do and it's just amazing to watch. So, thank you for that. Thank you. So, that was me, like I said, I was trying to do my one last disservice for PLTW. So, I was kind of my heart just really I agree with the mental issue the mental stress though on teachers. It is It is It is there besides the the students. All right, enough. Thank you very much for sharing the positive. Hello. Um, my name is Clayton Larson and I teach a self- contained special ed classroom at Frank C. Zentner. Um, to start with something positive, I wanted to say that I appreciate keeping the neighborhood schools. That was something that I talked about last week and I know that many people have talked about
085a lot and our community Huh? Got you. Is this better? Lovely. So, um I'm very happy that we are able to keep the neighborhood schools because our buildings are an important part of our community and keeping them the way they are is important to me and a lot of people. Um, one thing that I wanted to start with that a lot of people have talked about is with cutting the electives in high school. I can tell you that when I was a kid from sixth grade till I graduated high school, my favorite part of my school day was band. My second favorite part of my school day was jazz band. My third favorite part of my school day was pit orchestra for the musicals. Woo! And I say all of that to say that yes,
086I was good at school and I liked doing the academic stuff, but it didn't come close to the fun things, the light of the school day. And these cuts concern me because we are taking that light away. And on top of taking that light away, making school harder for people who don't have that exciting thing to look forward to in the middle of the day. We are robbing them of their support. We will make the day harder and then give them no safety net to fall on, to lean on. They're just going to have to muscle through it and that is too much to ask of a child. Now, I have a couple of questions from a friend that I would like to answer, to get an answer for him. When we look at the
087population of each elementary school, I mean, I at Jacinto we have five units. My unit can have eight students max. Is that taken into account or is it assumed that every classroom would house the full 28? That's taken into account. Um, when it comes to capacity, I'm not exactly sure where uh the OSFC came up with the exact numbers they have, uh but uh there are some classrooms, yours being one, where the there are laws that dictate uh the maximum capacity. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. And my second question is with the schools that are talking about being potentially repurposed with Garfield and Washington and Jacinto, all of our units are full. In fact, I was hired 3 years ago because we needed another unit. And I started one and here we are. If we are
088closing elementary schools and repurposing them, where will those classrooms be? Where will these kids go? The question is, if I understood you correctly, where will our self-contained units be placed next year? I can't speak to that specifically. Uh we will have to look at everything as a as a big picture overall district-wide uh decision. Um right now, we do have some buildings that have more self-contained units, but that's because of what we talked about earlier, that our our children don't live where they lived 25 years ago. So, as a result, there's more space in some buildings than others because students don't live there. So, as we repurpose two schools and redraw enrollment boundaries for the other eight, we'll build that into the formula. But, as we I hope we always do, we'll reach out and
089make sure we engage the right people to to do the right things. Thank you for answering. I appreciate you guys. >> No, thank you. >> [applause] >> Good evening. Um you might see me in uniform. My name This is a little short wait. You can just take it out. There you go. Okay, my name is Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Joselary Speech and Debate. Or right now, just Joselary Speech and Debate. I come here to talk on behalf of the seniors and my programs. So, I am a part of the robotics program, the JROTC program, and I have been very involved in various different smaller programs around the school, including student council and some other around. So, I wanted to come and vouch for what got me to push myself to be so involved in my school
090and my community. And I would say that all started in sixth grade in that middle school in Longfellow Middle School. I was very shy. I became very self-conscious being in a new environment. Since I'm from Puerto Rico, I came here speaking only Spanish. I knew zero English. So, the Washington Elementary definitely helped so much. And I'm sorry, I'm like a little nervous. I didn't prepare a speech for this or anything. Oh, again, talked earlier, you always represent well. So, thanks. Thank you. So, I came here uh straight to Washington Elementary, and I cannot be standing right where I am without the help that I got there from Mrs. Minnie Loweth that she came earlier to speak up here. She taught me the English that I'm speaking right now. If it wasn't for her, I could
091not be communicating my points to you guys. So, thank you so much, Minnie. >> [applause] >> So, I wanted to really advocate for Washington Elementary. It's a big help for all of us Hispanics that can't speak any English at all, and it gets us to learn and be able to move out to English-speaking um elementary schools. I went to Emerald King in fifth grade, and that's when I started expanding and becoming more aware on how to communicate in English. And in sixth grade was COVID year. That's when COVID started, and it impacted me a lot. I started thinking about like my mental health declined. I became like wondering about my mental well, like, why am I here? What is the point of this? Like, is there really a point in me being here right now?
092And seventh grade being in online classes, it really became hard to push myself through. And that's when I met Mrs. Denise Barney, and she helped me throughout that. She taught me about She taught I do call her Miss Mom because she I spent so much time with her, and I have created such a special bond with her that truly I don't think many people get with their teachers. She helped me push through that hard moment in my life where I couldn't find a meaning. And in eighth grade, I joined the robotics program, and that's when I started expanding. I started doing interviews at robotics competitions. I started winning and feeling I had a sense of purpose. I I thinking about the future and what I could do and what I could accomplish and that I
093was worth more than just my grades. So, that's when I started focusing and I started thinking ahead if I wanted to be an engineer. I joined her project lead the way classes. I joined her medical class. At one point I wanted to be a doctor, but I wasn't fully sure if I would be fully committed to go all those years in school and I also joined her engineering class to see if that interested me more and out of those two classes, engineering really tied onto me and I ever since then wanted to be like some kind of engineer, mechanical, architectural, some engineer. And when I joined went into high school, I already had an idea of what I wanted to do and what I wanted to work towards. So, I wasn't lost in the limbo
094of well, my grades don't matter because I don't know what I'm going to do. So, something that really held me down and I think you should take into consideration when getting rid of teachers or getting rid sounds like very mean, but when cutting off teachers is how efficient they are at their teaching ways and how good they connect to their students. There's a lot of issues with some teachers that just don't connect with their student at all and they're not able to relate to their problems. The students do go through stuff that even though it's just high school, it's a lot more meaningful to us because it's what sets our future and a lot of teachers fail to understand that. They just see a grade and they immediately mark you off as a bad student
095and I think that's so wrong. So, I definitely think that's something you should take into consideration when you're looking at what teachers to keep and what teachers to remove because I know it's not a choice that you guys do have to cut from somewhere, unfortunately. We can't keep all of our programs, but that's definitely something very important to look at when you look at the teachers, their values, if they actually care about their community, and they're not just here to make some money, even though you guys don't make ton. So, I definitely do think that's something big. Um let me look at my points. Sorry. Also, I wanted to hit on being open to new students. So, I became very close to one of the exchange students from last year, um personal relationship. And something
096that happened a lot throughout that year was there wasn't a lot of opportunities opened to him, and he struggled a lot in mixing in with the crowd. I think we have an issue of being stuck within our community and not accepting others in, and not offering the same opportunities to everyone, no like just because they're from somewhere else. I don't I'm not trying to call racist in any way. It's just it's something we do without thinking. And I think that was something that was done many of times last year, and including programs such as after-school activities, or um NHS, or any of stuff of that stuff. I think it really needs to be taken into consideration to care about these students, because after all that brings people into Lorain to learn about Lorain, to learn
097about our community, and learn that we are a community that's worth it, and people do need to see our value, and that we do offer stuff to our students. So, I believe that's everything I wanted to hit. Oh, yeah. And sorry, guys. I'm sorry. I do want to say uh after all of the programs that I've been through and all of my extracurriculars and learning so much, I ultimately did decide to go into Navy into the Navy for my JROTC program. Thank you. Thank [applause] you. As a nuclear engineer, so I learned a lot from my robotics experiences and my um engineering classes, and I really do have a passion for engineering, and that's ultimately what I ended up deciding on. And I could not have done that with any of the without any of
098the help that I got. I think I'm extremely lucky. But, yeah. Anyway, >> Thank you so much for sharing. >> [applause] >> And again, I just want to thank you for how you represent us on a daily basis. We've had this conversation before. Everywhere we go, you represent just so wonderfully. Um so, thank you for the last however many years you said forever you've been here. Um but also thank you for your service moving forward. And a real quick question. Um Ms. Freddy, do we can everybody call you Ms. Mom, or is that a select group? All right, there we go. I'm in. Thanks, Ms. Mom. Hi, my name is Heather Ali Saia. I teach at Garfield. I teach one of the autism units. I also live here. My children went and graduated from Lorain
099High. Um one of my children is Ohio State Patrol. One of them went to Ohio State. Um left during COVID and came here. He was studying zoology, had um lots of grants through Lorain High and through being a public [snorts] educated school. And I've written you guys quite a few emails that um I really meant from my heart and I tried to keep my emotions and my myself out of my emails to you. Um I know you have big decisions ahead of yourself, but I really think you should also be planning on what if the levy does not pass? And who are you talking to or communicating with to look in funds as such as the um lottery funds, the looking into maybe unclaimed funds? Because if the Brown Stadium can get unclaimed funds, like
100why can't we get unclaimed funds for public schools? Like can we think outside of the box instead of just follow let's follow suit? I I know that everybody in this state of Ohio right now is under scrutiny for public education, but that's when it's time for us to look outside of the box and step up and fight cuz we are the rain. And we do fight. I mean, I will fight for my kids anytime and when I'm talking about my kids, I'm talking about my students that I teach. Not just my own children, but that's that's it. That's all I have to say. I really hope you don't close Garfield cuz I love it there. And we have um we have the second Harvard food food bank volunteers that come in on Tuesday. And then
101we have House of Praise that comes in. House of Praise has given for the last 2 years gifts for our students every year, $25 gifts. And if that school closes, that communication and that community built is going to be gone. And it's going to be really hard to set up and get that established in another place just because our principal might move or someone might move there. It's not so easily set up like that. That's not how it works. Okay, let me respond very quickly. Just real quick, let me do the comments just very very quickly. Uh first of all, the lottery funds were put into school funding uh probably 15 years ago give or take. But what they did was they inserted lottery funds and took out an equal amount. So there was actually
102no net gain. And in terms of the the the Brown Stadium with the unclaimed funds, keep in mind that the people who approved that are the same people who approved us receiving $6.7 million less than we're getting. So we're we're in the situation because those folks do not support us. Yeah, I understand that. >> out of the box, I'm all the idea. Let's figure it out. >> But I know. But I understand, but maybe if they can think of funds coming from somewhere else, even if it's just >> Completely agree. J- just I mean there is billions of dollars in unclaimed funds. Even if it's just the interest that they can pull to give, it's something. J- don't give up. >> no, that Yep, we're Thank you. Uh My name is Cameron Tucker and I'm
103on the high school robotics team and I did three four uh out of the CTE programs. Uh Project Lead the Way. It was green architecture, computer science, and robotics. And my favorite things in those like classes were in uh for green architecture, I really enjoyed learning about going green. We learned about a school in Gettysburg. Greensburg. And where they were struck by a tornado and so after the tornado hit, the whole town decided to went green and I just found that fascinating. And also I loved designing my own room and green architecture. That was really fun. Uh for computer science, it was learning how to code lights, messages, and music as it just helped coding and I kind of liked the coding part. It was a lot of fun. Uh Let's see here. And for
104the robotics part, uh it was more hands-on. I really enjoyed that one. I think that was my favorite out of the three. Uh I was able to make like a dragster um and a roller coaster and I just found that really fun. So But um when I was my night uh my high school career, I couldn't do really much CTE programs uh because of how tight my schedule was. But then I like remembered that I was actually really thankful of having those CTE programs in middle school cuz without having those programs uh it wouldn't really help me who I am today because uh having those CTE programs and being in a robotics team uh helped me realize that I actually really love engineering and so I decided that I want to go aerospace engineering and
105without doing robotics through CTE, I wouldn't have found aerospace engineering. And so, yeah, that's it. Thank you. >> [applause] >> I'm jumping in now. Hi, I'm Stacey Starr, um Lorraine City Schools graduate and lifelong resident, also an educator. I have always told my students that they were confused to ask a question and I have to say I am absolutely confused. Did I miss the plan? I I've been at the last three meetings or viewed it online. Um when we were at the last town hall, we said we'd have a plan. I'm a very educated woman. Was the slide with the acronyms on it the reduction plan? Just speak to that. Yeah. That was the gist. That was a summary, but actually it's attached to the board agenda. Wait, um the one that's online? Because there
106wasn't Right there. You should Yeah, it should be should be it's a it's attached to the plan or attached to the agenda. So, the the whole printout is with that because mine was only three pages. Is there a printed copy somewhere? Or are we not allowed to print copies? Okay. Well well played. Well played. Well played. I mean, I I understand. I I know cuts are coming. There are a couple copies back there, but I don't know if they're Copy. Yeah. That would be great. I attended Elyria City Schools reduction plan and they very methodically went through and explained, "This is what's going to be happened with cuts from administration. This is certified. This is classified. These are people's lives." It is extremely important and I know I know many of you on this board
107and I respect you and I appreciate you. But if I am confused as an educated woman and I don't know where these things are located because I did that and mine only says three pages. And the slide with all the acronyms on it, I thought I missed the whole plan. I've been waiting to come here to hear the plan. So, Did anyone hear the plan? I didn't hear the plan. It's an attachment on the board agenda. But believe Is it there? Can we Okay, great. Yeah, I don't have a plan. It was literally three pages. We have the wrong We have the wrong We have the wrong code. I apologize. Okay, we got the wrong QR code. We will get a new one out to you. But this information is being presented Thank you for
108bringing that up cuz we I didn't know. >> I understand, but like you're you're going to vote on this tonight. The public is not aware of a plan. You keep There's numbers that are being mentioned about so many teachers being cut, this being cut. We are not aware of who's being cut and we're expected to have this knowledge so that we can make the choices for our community. I'm sorry. I am confused. I wore this shirt today because this is what I feel like. All the ducks are not in a row. Sorry. >> [applause] >> Hi, my name's Ann Seresio. I am elementary music at Lark and Garfield. I also help with the high school musical. Come see Sue School. I also play piano all around the district. So transparency for us talking with some
109of the other music teachers, the dance teachers, that's our performing arts little bubble that we live in and I know we all advocate for ourselves. That's our performing arts bubble, that's our safe zone. Transparency is really wild for us right now to read it on a slide when we were told that that wasn't going to be our reality. Um So to see all of those cuts, I forget his name but he was up here talking about how band was the thing that got him to school. That was choir for me. I wouldn't be in this job, I wouldn't have any of that if I wasn't a choir kid in high school. I also did band but there's something very human and innate about singing. I won't go into the science of it, you don't not
110right now. Um But just know that we have those kids here. Um and so I hope they don't mind me outing them a little bit. Um I'm over on Lark more. Um a lot of my kids feed to Longfellow. I love to go support them. I went to Mrs. Herzl's choir concert. This is from October 21st so I know numbers slightly fluctuate but I am going to pass this to each of you. I urge you to look at this um, because Mrs. Herzl did a wonderful job at listing the name of every student we have in choir. And this is just at Longfellow, this isn't TJW, this is not Southview. Um, this is 33 sixth graders just at Longfellow in choir, and this is 51 seventh and eighth graders that are now going to have
111that pulled out from under them. Um, so I know when people pass things around, you do the little like cursory whatever. I can't make you read every one of their names, but I urge you to because these are our kids that like now have that taken away. So, I will let you That's [applause] I did the counting for you. Thank you. Um, I'll come get that at the end. >> [applause] >> I I already signed up over there once, but I just wanted to say in support of choir. My daughter was in choir at Southview, and I've never been to Longfellow, but Southview's choir was filled every time I went there, and still is every time I go by there. They put on a great performance every year, like two or three of them. I
112I I would have to agree that cutting extracurricular activities, um, doesn't seem like a positive way to do it, especially choir of all things. That seems like a pretty big stable type of, uh, extracurricular. Um, my daughter wanted me to pass on a message that I I don't remember the para's name, and that's my bad, but she has a favorite para here as well, and and she was actually literally She's had an emotional day today. She cried on the way home like over a para. And I had to as a therapist and social worker myself try to calm my own daughter down cuz she says, "I just want to vent. Like how am I going to get from here to here? Or all these people that help me do these things are now going to
113be gone." And I would think logically as a social worker myself if I or someone like me is not there to stop whatever is about to happen meltdown wise, that means your primary teachers are going to have to pick up that slack. So, if they pick up the slack, who's going to watch their extra 10 kids? My mom taught for 30 years. Back when she taught in California, it was like 20 was unthinkable. And and I just don't see how they're going to do it. And lastly, I just wanted to say that as much as everyone's upset about that one video, they forgot that in that same video, it it compares white people being nepotistic as well. And it also there's a post that says that you don't dislike your hometown just the mindsets of
114the people in it. >> [applause] >> Hello guys. I am Lindsey LaRoche, a um preschool teacher at Helen Steiner Rice. I have a couple questions. Um I'm not sure if you can put the slide back with all of the different unions on it. Um can you explain what each of those unions are? Like LEA, I know what that is. What is LAA? Uh Administrators Association. Okay. And what's the OAPSE 377? >> can put it up there. >> Uh they'll be cleaners and uh 377. This is This cleaners couple others, but I cleaners are the big one. 377B, what's the difference? Uh transportation. What is non non-represented admin? I don't If you put it back up. >> Central office people, district-wide administrators. And then what was that but support? Uh coordinators that provide support to the
115central office admin. Coordinators who provide support to the admin center? Yes. Yep. And then what are the non-rep admin support? That's what we call >> Or the non-rep hourly, what is that? Hourly, oh they'd be uh administrative assistants. Why does it get weird? And why are we asking questions about what these admins do? What is USW? >> Uh safety officers? I think this is I think this is what we mean for transparency. Not a lot of people know what this is and I only know LEA because I'm in it. >> and and the breakout is on the uh is on the attachment in the board agenda and I apologize for the wrong QR code and we'll get that stuff out to you, but it's all everything is broken out by everything. Okay. Here's I think
116the the Here's like an eight-page table, I think. Yeah, so that's it's all right there. Okay. When I printed it out today, 10 of my prints Um I printed it out, I didn't see any attachment on it. >> see you had to scroll over to open up the new tables. Okay, it's not very mobile-friendly then. Um so then also in the sake of transparency, on item number 10.09 the Fallon research public opinion research study, is that the one that went out? Um >> That's correct. Okay, so we spent $22,000 on that. Is that correct? >> That's correct. And it wasn't in Spanish at all in our It's not consistent with what I was told. I'll look into it. And for the sake of transparency, is there any way that you guys can elaborate on what
117the changes are going to look like losing counselors and how that is going to be handled if a counselor is at one building addressing a crisis and there is another crisis happening at that paired school or whatever, how How we handling that? Like what would it really look like? What are we going to be I'm not sure how much of a detail I can go into here, but the same way it does when we have two crises in one building. Uh we we did do the best we can with the people >> the vice principal. You got We would call >> if that person is at the other building >> in and help. Yes. But I don't think that is being relayed very well because like Stacy said, that was how many slides? And was
118there a preschool slide in there that you put up tonight? >> the specifics are on the table to be discussed. It's all part of the board agenda. I know, but transparency. We shared it Yeah, it's You have it >> Today Today you did not share that and I think I think that's what's frustrating. Um Yeah, it is. Um so another question and I only know this not because of what is going on right here in this meeting. I only know this because we had a preschool meeting before. We are going down to a half-day preschool, which means we don't get field trips anymore. And it is really unfortunate because we have a great relationship with the Lorraine Historical Society. I don't know Brandon, I see you back there. I don't know if any of the
119other ladies came tonight. Um but I just want to share something that I know I shared with Alicia because it's really important that people understand going to a half-day preschool model is going to affect kids a lot. Um research shows that children who travel and I take travel as a field trip because a lot of our kids don't travel. They tend to perform better in school and grow more open to new cultures and experiences. When kids encounter different places and ways of life, learning stops feeling abstract. History becomes tangible. Geography clicks. Curiosity sparks because the world has given them something real to question and explore. Studies have found that young travelers often show higher classroom engagement and stronger academic outcomes. Being exposed to unfamiliar environments builds adaptability, confidence, and problem-solving skills, all of which directly
120support learning. The truth is simple, learning goes deeper when it's lived, not just taught in a classroom. Curiosity grows fastest when the world itself becomes a classroom. Travel teaches children how to navigate uncertainty, notice details, and connect ideas across experiences. And according to research from the Student and Youth Travel Association and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, students who travel show greater cultural openness, higher engagement, and improved academic performance compared to their peers. Some of the most meaningful lessons don't start at a desk, they begin beyond the classroom walls. So, when you guys vote and you guys put that half-day preschool option out there, we are taking this kind of opportunity away from our kids. And I know we are cutting money in many places, but I also urge the community who don't want to
121vote for our levy because they see the people up here making lots of money, we still need to vote for this levy because somebody else had said it, it's not going to affect these people up here as much as it will our students and our teachers. So, when that levy comes on the ballot, I just urge everybody, no matter how you feel about these people up here, or wherever Mariah went, because that video was horrendous, please do not take it out on our students, and don't take it out on us as teachers. We need to pass the levy. >> [applause] >> Um I know Lindsay asked for um the attachments to the agenda a couple meetings ago. Um we don't have access to those things if we go on BoardDocs and we know how to
122use BoardDocs or if we are sort of trying to find our way around BoardDocs. Um and there was no attachments back here. Um that's a normal thing. It's not um just during this time. Um I I don't know why that's happened. I know years ago when we had Mr. Weber, uh we used to walk in and pick up the packet and everything was right there. Um although I I I uh urge you to make that available online. That way, you know, somebody is passionate about something that's there, they can come in or submit um an email or whatever. um the other issue um that I would like to address is we had the young lady um that spoke about uh um EL services and um I'm very concerned about um our kiddos that will be
123losing some paras and um losing I'm not exactly sure if director coordinator or something um or other um Miss Silva uh um won't be here to help coordinate um care um and education for our kiddos. Um we talk about the a link to a $22,000 survey um, might not have been accessible. Most of the things I think we do are not translated. I asked about the um, uh, the career or tech and um, electives day if there was a translator there for our kiddos. Um, I know from being um, dear friends with with our Sandra that that has been an issue in the past. Who is going to look out for our kiddos? I know we don't have as many new um, families coming in um, but we have we have kids that need um,
124services that need um, to learn the language and the culture. It's not just um, just simple language. It's it's everything. Um, and if we if we place um, weight on on one thing or one um, group that might need um, some extra services or care concern, how do we how do we weigh that? If there's if there's one kid or five kids that um, need those services versus you know, a hundred that need other ones, how do we say, "Well, we're we're cutting we're we don't"? To me that means we don't place value um, on those children the same as we do others. And I know you hate this, but I truly feel like we're failing some of our kiddos. And definitely now our our staff. [applause] I know that's not necessarily um, um out
125of your hands, but when you guys vote, um I don't know if it's a cut and dry your vote for this plan or that plan, or if you can take and plug in different things that you have learned from tonight, or um whenever your talks throughout the day, if you can say, "You know what? This was on this plan to be cut or whatever, maybe we need to look at that and not a deep but as cut here and we'll take from here." I I know that's happened a lot, but are you going to be able to think about what you heard tonight before you vote? Can you answer just that one? Are you Do you have time to consider? Are you going to consider what you learned tonight before you vote? Uh yeah, actually,
126uh we have to vote on a on a forecast tonight, but like every forecast we vote on, we can always tweak it after the fact. So, is this the financial forecast? Is this That's the plan? Give me 1 second. I'm going to show you what the What's that? No, the the the overall spreadsheet with all the Yeah. Can you just sit out there, buddy? No. Again, I apologize for the technology. I thought we did. >> Hi. Is this on? There we go. Hello. Hi. Um, I'm Elizabeth. I am who Hi. Um My department chair has reached out to me tonight. Um So sorry. We just learned tonight that our department is on this list. Um, so in conversation of clear like consistency, clarity, um transparency. My department chair has been on FMLA leave since September
127taking care of her husband. Um So I'm going to read this. The K-12 dance program was founded 4 years ago with a vision that in these schools our students deserve to experience and learn from all arts. >> [snorts] >> Not all students experience expressivity through music and visual art in the same way, and dance is integral to equity in arts education. It gives a voice to all of them, including our students who are English learners, who are disabled, able-bodied in any way. They can come into this classroom and be equals. In 2022, the Lorraine community asked for dance specifically. And we've delivered it. All studies show students need more movement, more arts, and more expression. Students don't get recess in middle school. They're sitting in these classes for 6, 7, 8 hours a day staring
128at screens. >> [snorts] >> They need more arts. They need more expression. They need imagination, collaboration, and problem-solving. They need grit. They need to play. Our students don't go out into the playground often past a certain age. They can't Their parents can't be with them all the time. They're not going outside and playing make-believe. They come into our classrooms and they get to look at art and turn it into a lived experience. They live here. We talked about students who who are not getting outside of their schools or outside of their houses, and we get to bring that experience to them in our courses in dance. They get to embody other experience, other worlds, other cultures, other lives, other ways of thinking. This is rough. Sorry. [laughter] Um Since our inception, we've employed nine dance
129positions consistently. I I don't know how many people here have lived in the dance world. That doesn't exist. But it's not a reality of our world. We are being consistent with that. We are artists. We like to go travel, go experience things, go do things. Professional dancers, professionally educated dancers are drawn here. For a reason. Four years ago you had this vision. I jumped ship from from a very comfy position. I loved it. I built it from the ground up. And I heard what you said about your district, about your students, and about what the community needed and wanted, and and was willing to explore, and you were risky. You took chances, real real chances for your students. And now I'm seeing a plan that is just like every other plan. You're seeing it across
130the board at all the other schools. I didn't come here for that. I came here because you challenged the norm. You looked at your community members and you said, "You're not the norm. Let's get creative. Let's do things for us." We are the only school district in the state of Ohio with a K-12 dance program. The only one. We offer this experience that is usually only given to very privileged people. Studios cost a lot of money. Dance costs money, and if you're not willing to put in the work, do do the grunt stuff, it costs money. We're giving these students an experience that they might not have access to. And we are giving it to all of them, no matter what. That's impressive. That's something to be proud of. That's something to boast about, brag
131about. >> [snorts] >> The passion demonstrated by our Titan Dance Company at the high school, I am going to speak about myself. And [snorts] well, my students have been They've been invited to invited personally invited by companies to audition and perform at these festivals that are open internationally, quite frankly. Definitely nationally. And they get into them. We've gotten in twice to Cleveland Dance Fest. We were just accepted to Ohio Dance Fest in May to perform at Sullivan Hall at Ohio State University with professors in the room. That's scholarships. They don't have to go to school for dance. They don't have to become professional dancers, but it gets them in the door. Imagine what students who have been dancing since kindergarten would be able to achieve. I've been in the high school position for almost 2
132years to put that into perspective. Imagine what our programming would look like if we fought for these arts and we fought for these experiences for these students. >> [snorts] >> We've made a difference in all the schools at all levels. We have engaged students that have been difficult to reach because we have multiple ways to do it. We don't have to talk. We don't have to argue. We don't have to fight. We can dance it out. Nothing's funnier than having a lot of frustration, and I say this as someone myself, having a lot of frustration catching myself in a window or a mirror with a little move. Pops you right out of it. We have supported literacy and tested academic content. We are part of the reason, part of the reason, not the whole reason.
133The whole reason is sitting in this room right now. Part of the reason for enrollment increases and departure from state control. We are part of the future, not because of any reason other than the fact that our students need us. Thank you. >> [applause] >> We will have a second hearing of the public if anybody wants to share after. Um can I have a motion to approve the February 9th regular meeting minutes. The board waives the right to read the minutes from the February 9th meeting. So moved. Support. Any discussion? Roll call. Dr. Ballard. Yes. Mr. Sturgill. Yes. Mrs. Nazario. Yes. Mrs. Rosario. Yes. Mr. Ballard. Yes. Any old business? Reports and recommendation of the treasurer. Um the forecast being approved tonight reflects the fiscal oversight plan that the district is submitting to the Ohio
134Department of Education and Workforce. Um the one that Dr. Graham presented earlier. Uh this plan leaves us with a cash balance of about $300,000 at the end of fiscal year 2018. So have items 8.01 through 8.05 for approval. Make the motion. Do I have a support? Support. Any discussion? Roll call. Dr. Ballard. Yes. Mr. Sturgill. Yes. Mrs. Nazario. No. Mrs. Rosario. Yes. Mr. Balor. Yes. Uh reports and recommendation of the superintendent. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. I'd like the board to consider for approval items 9.01 to 9.06, personnel matters. So moved. Do you have 11.06? 11.06. Do you have 11.06? No, I don't have 11.06. I only have 11.05. I'm just want to make sure so that it's No, I'm not sure if I have it. Okay, 11.05. Okay. Uh we have a bus
135requisition for somebody fixing the bus at the bus stop. Okay. Okay. Thank you. I'm sorry. Do you have a motion? So moved. Second. Any discussion? Roll call. Dr. Balor. Yes. Mr. Balor. Yes. Mr. Sturgeon. Yes. Mrs. Nazario. Yes. Mrs. Rosario. Yes. I'd like the board to consider for approval items 10.01 to 10.09, operations matters. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Roll call. Mr. Sturgeon. Yes. Dr. Balor. Yes. Mrs. Nazario. Yes. Mrs. Rosario. Yes. Mr. Balor. Yes. I'd like the board to consider for approval items 11.01 to 11.03, other matters. Just to share, if you're looking, 11.03 is a fiscal oversight plan. To be transparent, it is not on there. It's not on there. Did they get it? Cuz I don't have it. Yeah, I don't It was emailed to you before. Emailed to you before the
136meeting. Did Did they have it though on theirs? Is what I'm saying. Do you have it on yours? Do you have an 11.03? She's going to send it to you. 11.02. Okay. But I'm just saying, this I want to make sure that they have the correct one as well, transparency wise, cuz mine only goes to 11.02. Yours is 11.02. Thank you. Uh can I have a motion? Do I have a motion? So moved. Support. Any discussion? I'll roll call. Dr. Ballard. Yes. Mr. Serda. Yes. Mrs. Nazario. No. Mrs. Rosario. Yes. Mr. Ballard. Yes. That's it for tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Any new business? Any committee reports from board members? And second hearing of the public. Good evening. Not sure if this is tonight. Okay. My name is Brian Baker. Um I have five grandkids,
137one graduated from the school. Three or or four of them are still here. My daughter is Courtney. Since October, I've been fighting with the commissioners on this $1.2 million. I challenge every one of you not to go to talk to the commissioners, show up at a meeting. I challenge you, Dr. Graham, get all the other superintendents in this county to go do it. They have to vote on it again this fall. Mark, you know him. Me and you have fought for years on this. Let's go back to the streets and fight. I'm I'm ready. >> This is wrong what's going on. They took 17.5 million dollars away from public entities over one vote. Mhm. This is totally wrong. They took a million two from you guys. That's six million dollars over five years. This has
138to stop. Not having a meeting with Commissioner Moore. Hell, I called him. I said, "Dave, this is wrong what you're doing." Courtney, we saw Gail Manning at the firefighters dinner on Saturday. We cornered her. We talked to Kelly Deeters. I've talked to Joe Miller. We have got to go back and start fighting. This place here, this town, I was gone a little while, don't get me wrong. I worked in DC. We fought years ago. We won in this town. We have to go back to it. Tough decisions had to be made here tonight. I understand that. It's not good. I lived through it when D. Morgan was the superintendent here. We cut then. It was terrible. But at the end of the day, we survived it. But a million two back in your budget left
139you out of the red. We can do this one vote at a time. I would challenge you. They meet They meet every other week on Tuesdays and Fridays. Show up. Get everybody from this Every school district needs to show up. I've challenged it. Mr. Bansik from Columbia. I've challenged Avon Lake. We have got to go out and challenge these commissioners. Cuz the first thing they say is, "I've heard from nobody. No public's complained. There's no issue." There is an issue. They put their meetings at a bad time, 9:30 tomorrow morning. I've spoken on this in October. I've spoken on it in November. I can only speak about it so many times. Cuz then you're a complainer. Public starts showing up, teachers start showing up, unions start showing up, they don't like it. The pressure will
140get to them. So, I challenge every one of you, and I know everybody except you, Mrs. I've met you once, I think, but everybody else here I know except for the two assistant superintendents. We need to fight, us as a community. That's the only way we take this back. They are arrogant there. But, I'll tell you, when you go in public comment, they don't like it. And there's election come in May, and there's election comes in November. That's the only way we change it. So, I do challenge you. Mark, I really challenge you, cuz me and you have been in a lot of fights together. Yes, sir. They aren't done at these meetings here. They're done when you go up there and you challenge them and put the pressure on them. So, I challenge you
141guys. >> I'll see you in the morning. >> All right, thank you. Hello again, Mark Verbancic. Um the last slide talking about the administration cuts, I did have a question on that. Uh just out of curiosity, I've heard some things. Uh they show the cuts in positions, how many new positions were created, such as like the communications director, I think we had a um human resource director position added. Are those reflected in those numbers? We kept uh the net number of people to communications department at three, and the person that is was I guess technically added for to HR is it's Nick Mascari, he's filling in while Faith retires. So, he's learning the job and then she steps down and he'll take over. So, are those represented in those cuts? So, if one job was
142cut and a new job >> The net It's all net numbers, that's correct. That's your That's correct. Um funny story about myself, I kind of wanted to add into this uh talking about central office. I am a third generation teacher. Verbancics Schools since 1953. You do learn some things from parents as you are in this role. Um, Ms. Ballard, I hope you do learn some things from family that are in roles. My dad taught me one lesson when I started teaching. Two people you need to impress in your building, your custodian and your secretary. Very important people. If you don't know that as a teacher, please I hope you learn that. Second lesson he taught me at Central Office, get to know Juanita. There are people at Central Office that make such a difference. I
143don't know what every individual does at Central Office. There are some people that do amazing things, some people that do 20 different jobs and I can't imagine how they do it. Juanita being one of those people. I looked online last night at how much Juanita makes on public record. I was kind of appalled. I'm like, she should make triple that. That's just my opinion. Um, so seeing hiring a position for communications for $90,000, to put that in perspective, a 91 uh, a teacher with a bachelor's degree could work 35 years in this district and not reach that. I think 87,000 is our max pay >> [applause] >> with a bachelor's degree, bachelor's plus 20 even. Um, third, I forgot what I was going to say now. I'll come back. Sorry. I'm going to keep it
144on there cuz I can't remove it. Um, no, it's fine. Um, my name is Selena Vasquez. I'm a media clerk at Tony Morrison and Hawthorne Elementary. I'm in my second year. I'm also proud graduate of Lorain City Schools. Um, and I I'm getting very emotional because I have so many friends that are in LAA and I've made so many connections even though I'm not in that union, I'm in LACE, um that I feel their struggle in a lot of different ways because I see those kids on a daily basis. I have, you know, almost between the two buildings a collection of almost, you know, 600 kids that I see and I can tell you all of their names and their stories. And it's so amazing for me. I will say on the topic of the
145levy, my job before I came to Lorain City Schools was I worked with Craig Snodgrass. I was in the tax settlement office. I got to deal with, you know, amendments of the situations that you guys are talking about with budgets. I saw you guys, um, on the budget forecast. So, I understand what's going on with a lot of different schools, um, seeing as how it wasn't only 2 years ago that I was there. And the one thing that was constantly talked about in tax settlement and with Craig was, "You want levies to pass, you need to show the community what the levies are going for. If you want it to pass, we haven't passed new money in decades. If you want this to pass, and we all do cuz we want our friends to stay
146here, we want our kids to get this community that they are actively having right now, we need to show, not just on our side, but on your side, what is this levy money going to? And give it to us in as openly possible as you can." I just want to urge you, as somebody who saw it on that side point, public government saying it, "You want these levies to pass, you want us to start marking off that this district passed their levy, you need to show the community and the people who are paying for it what it's going for." Especially because most of the people who are taxpayers and homeowners, they don't have a tie to this district anymore. Their kids have gone. So, you need to show it. You need to help us show
147it. Tell us what it is honestly, so we can also move with it, also. That's all. Thank you. >> [applause] >> I remember what I was going to say now in that line of thinking. Being teachers since 1953, I don't know how many riffs my family's been a part of. I've been here for 17 years. I this is I've been through three that I've personally been riffed. Um I've taught in seven different buildings because of those riffs. Some of them were mid-year. My least favorite riff that I could say it was at the end of the year in May, my principal walked into my classroom while I was teaching, handed me a letter and said you're riffed. Right in front of all the kids. My kids, some of them were super supportive, some of them
148were very combative and said haha you're getting fired. I had other teachers in my building, Miss Larson, Mr. Joiner, some OG teachers that have been here a long time. They immediately stepped in and supported me. I hope that our teachers are supporting each other through this riff. This riff it's very confusing. I think the community and the teachers have stepped up. The message is not clear. It could change. This is what we're doing. This might be what we're doing. The clarity part of that is the stressful part. I do appreciate the earliness of this. All of the other riffs I've been a part of we were just told in May. There was no communication. There was no chance to come up here and speak our minds. It was just a letter handed to you in
149May. So I do appreciate the timeliness of this being early. But I think some of the community members also said like Amherst, Cleveland, they've had their plans Elyria really straightforward. So the consistency in the communication is what we're asking for. It is causing a lot of stress and mental health issues with our staff and students to go along with this. So that is just my advice. Thank you. >> [applause] >> What's up, Clover? So, hi. It's me, Clover. You might um recognize me from like a few weeks ago. And I'm here to say like um about we really need more layers of support and you keep on giving titles and like um you're like cutting off people who I really like. So, here's a reference. What if you cut off Miss Gabby? Um that's for
150Girl Point Church. And I see her helping preschoolers and special ed kids like lots of smaller kids than me every single day. Thanks, Ruby. Awesome. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Anybody else? Our next board meeting will be March 9th at 5:00 in the board room. Can I have a motion to adjourn? So moved. I support. Vote. Mr. Sergio? Yes. Dr. Ballard? Yes. Mrs. Nazario? Yes. Mrs. Rosario? Yes. Mr. Ballard? Yes.