001Um, I'm thankful that you guys are here. Thank you to Dr. Graham for allowing us to use the auditorium. Thank you to Mr. Mike for live for us. And thank you to Miss Sandra Pelquin for coming back to the building and MCing our evening. And she will welcome our candidates. coming. Um, I'm gonna ask our candidates to one or two minutes about yourself and introduce yourself to the community. Microphones are right there. Oh, Dr. Graham wants to speak first. I guess I go on before introductions. And my name is Jeff Graham. I'm superintendent Lorraine City Schools and just want to say thank you for showing up. Barbie, you thanked everybody else in the room, but Barbie's the one who put this together. An opportunity for uh us as a community the first time to meet
002the folks who want to run our school district. So, thank you very much for your interest and your leadership. Um, but I was asked to speak for a couple of seconds on our renewal levies plural that are on the ballot here in about a month. Renewals means no new tax, not additional income to the district. Um, actually, as a result of the le a vote that was just taken at the county office, taxes will go down for some people. But for us, there are two different levies that are renewals, both of them. And the first one is a combination of levies that passed. one in 1991 and the second in 1992. And when you pass a levy for the kind school districts collect, you collect the same amount of money as what was originally passed.
003We cannot by law collect anymore. So the money work we've been collecting for the past 35 years has not gone up. The second levy is a levy that was originally passed in 2013. Again, it was a smaller levy, but again, we're still collecting the same amount of money as we did in 2013. not a new tax doesn't increase, but for us, this is critical. Um, we just cut $10 million out of our budget. I say we accounted for because we had a teacher severance package that took teachers at they were getting paid because of their experience at a higher rate and encouraged them financially um to take work elsewhere to retire. So, we could bring in people at a lower rate, which saved the district millions of dollars. The second thing we did uh to
004offset some of that is our enrollment increase. And I think when we talk about um support for the school district, I don't think there's a stronger statement than folks choosing to come back. We were projected by two different independent companies that do enrollment projections to have 5,400 students this year. We are closer to we are I think just a little over 6,200. So again, folks are voting with their feet and choosing to come back because I think we're earning their trust. The state also um is giving us, we just found out in late June that we're going to receive $4.1 million less than what they told us we were. So money's really tight. These are renewals. It's not a new tax. Please help us out. Our kids need you. All right. Thank you very much.
005[Applause] Okay, this is not a get you. We wanted to be informal, make everybody feel safe, the community feels safe, the people running feel safe as well. I'm going to start with questions from we have some students who submitted questions first. And um I think we'll start here with Mr. Sergil for the and then go on and then >> yeah. Oh yeah. introduce yourselves and then when I ask the questions I'll ask you first and then you can go and then the next question you can start first. Okay. Go ahead. Yeah. >> Okay. My name's Bill. Can you hear me? >> Can you hear me? Okay. Okay. My name is Bill Sturgil. I've been on the board for 16 years now. And uh I'm originally I wasn't from I came to Lraine when I was
006seven years old, but I don't want this to be be like the Goonies or anything. So, I'm just gonna I have uh I have uh two great granddaughters in the district right now. All of my kids, my six grandchildren went through Lorraine City Schools and my son works here, my wife used to work here, and uh I came on the board of education because I seen something that I didn't like around 203. So, I I went to board meetings for seven years and just sat and watched and decided that I if I was going to change anything, I needed to get a vote. So, I I got lucky and uh I've been here for a while. So, thank you. >> Hello, my name is Devon Marie Jeffers. I am 47 years old. I'm a married
007mother of four. My oldest son, aged 29, is a proud United States Marine Staff Sergeant. His name is Devonte Jeffers. I'm very proud of him. My three youngest children, age 15, 11, 12, and 11, all have autism. They're on an autism spectrum. and I worked with the city of Lraine schools to secure IEPs, occupational therapy and speech therapy as well as psychiatric um outside services for my children. Uh I moved here to Lorraine seven years ago. I've seen both the potential and uh some issues that Lorraine schools have and I am running for Lorraine school board to ensure every child regardless of their ability has the services and support they need for quality education. Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Diamares Rosario and like my the candidate here, I'm also 46 years
008old. I have I'm married for 23 years. I have my two youngest children that came through Lorraine City Schools. They were part of early um sorry I'm a little bit nervous. They came through the early college. They also participated in um Ohio State um scholars. Um sorry about that. Um sorry I'm a little bit nervous. Um my children graduated from here. They're very successful. One of them is also in the Air Force currently serving in United Kingdom. My youngest is going to be a firefighter. I'm very proud of them. I joined the board or I would like to join the board for the simple fact reason that I also was a parapro for six years. I was also a um look at my cheat. Sorry, I shouldn't be this nervous, but I am. I was
009a formeral uh Laurian City School employee. I have an associate degrees in early childhood. I have a license as a chemical dependency dependency counselor. I've been I have five years of experience with mental health and behavioral health field. I am a guardian at lightam for over 15 years and that is for children that are neglected through children's services. I am a sexual assault advocate for Rivian. I served as a treasurer for Lorraine High marching band booster for over four years and I also hold a bachelor's degree in social work. I want to join the board because I also want changes. I also would like to continue to pour into the positivity, the changes that are heading our way. I want to be part of that. I want to make sure that we're all served equally
010and that we are all um walking in the same steps. And um I'm going to pass it over to Mr. Mark. >> Uh good evening. I'm Mark Beller II. Uh born and raised here in Lorraine, Ohio. um graduate class of 2012, Lorraine High via the early college program. Um so very excited to be back. Um graduated from Morehouse College in 2015 with a degree in economics and my law degree from Mississippi College School of Law in 2018. Um ever since I was young, I always knew I wanted to come back home, make a difference, help inspire the youth in our community. Um, and that's what I really want to do here as a as a board member. Always want to kind of instill the life lessons that I've learned through this great educational system that
011we have through just being involved in the community. Um, right now I'm a parah professional here at the high school. Uh, I also do urban farming here in the city. So knowing what it takes in the community, um things I've seen in the community and different ways to pour into the community. I've worked with youth since I was about 13 years old myself. I'm 31 now. So just excited to give back and to continue, as you said, just pouring into our youth and be able to make that change in our community that we see. our our children are I don't want to say even the they're the future because they're the now. So instilling in them life lessons and and lessons to prepare them for these next few years is very important and I want
012to be a part of that journey. Thank you. [Applause] >> All right. Thank you. So now I I have my watch so I'll be timing no more than two minutes. Um, first question is from a senior here at the high school. What would you do to make Lorraine High more appealing to parents and those in the community? >> More what? >> More appealing to parents and those in the community. >> I hate to say this, but I think Lorraine High is already appealing. Uh, I was actually on the uh construction committee because I've been here for for a while. This wasn't built when until six years after I went on the board. But, uh, I think it's I think it's I think it's good because the way we set this up is so that we
013could have something in the auditorium going on and we could have something in the gym going on at the same time and we have separation. That was one of the one of the big things we asked for that. As far as appealing, I sure would like to see if we ever had a horiculture class or something like that. I'd love to see a bush or something on the outside of this building because I think it's just bland. Okay. I think uh a few a few more trees would be good and then definitely some landscaping things like that. And as far as appealing to parents, if you if we're talking educational wise, uh the only thing I can say is I'm the one who believes that you can get a really good education than Lorraine City
014Schools. However, you need to have a parent that is engaged with you. It doesn't have to be two. As long as there's one taking care of you, I I think that you you would be would be fine. And and I I I can't say enough about I've seen a lot of really good kids come out of here. I've seen a lot of successful people. >> Okay. And if you want me to repeat repeat the question. Sure. >> Okay. Not a problem. What would you do to make Lorraine High more appealing to parents and those in the community? >> Okay. Well, I will say I agree that I think that um Lorraine High has it's a beautiful school. Um I got a chance to take a tour when my 15year-old, he as I stated has autism.
015He has multiple diagnosis. Uh he has autism, he has oppositional defiant disorder, ODD, a speech disorder, two kinds, receptive and expressive. Um a few things going on. ADHD, I don't know if I uh um said that, but um it's a beautiful school. So I wouldn't change as far as the landscape or anything, but what I will say is uh from going doortodoor, I'm sure we all are doing that. Um I would set up a parent and teacher listening session. uh because I see what's going on. I I speak to a lot of parents and they have a lot of concerns with what's going on with the schools and I see that they put a lot of it seems that they put a lot of pressure on the teachers and the administrators and from firsthand experience
016I learned that you have to work together with the teachers. I mean I learned that firsthand. So you want to give the teachers the support to help your child. They can only do but so much. and uh there seems to be some sort of disconnect. So that's what I would suggest. I don't know if they do that, but that would be great to do. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Oh, okay. Do you need me to repeat? Okay. >> What would you do to make Lorraine High more appealing to parents and those in the community >> and the infrastructure of the building? I would just make sure that housekeeping, you know, the lawn is cut, make sure there's flowers that way. and inviting right so it can feel home not just to the students but
017also to ourselves our community curb appealing is is big if it looks beautiful you know people want to come in and say this is beautiful I I enjoy it take pride in our community as for the education part of it transparency really big on transparency I would like as a parent I would like to when I walk in the door to feel invited to feel welcomed to feel like I am being someone's being honest with me and transparent as a parent. That's what I would appreciate. That's what would make it more appealing to me as a parent. And I know that we do every effort through texting, through emails and Facebook. However, when you walk in the building, that's what makes the difference. >> Okay. Thank you. Did you beat it? Okay. Um, what would
018you do to make Lorraine High more appealing to parents and those in the community? >> Um, I think for for me, I think a big aspect is expanding our career tech. So, expanding opportunities for students to be able to uh like like kind of like I said earlier, prepare themselves for the next few years. Um, when they're out on the job, whether they they don't want to go down the college path, they more career focused. Um, and also I think offering some program and I don't know if the school does this but offering some programming to parents. So allowing them the opportunity to whether it be get certificates, whether it be um expand on different career tech institutes for themselves because um I've noticed or just seen in our school district and in school districts
019before if a parent kind of isn't prepared or if they don't have the the resources and skills that kind of trickles down to their their child. So they don't have the res the parent doesn't have the resources, they can't afford to get the car to the school and drop the kid off. now the kid has truency issues etc etc uh so allowing them the opportunity to get upskilled trained and have the opportunity to expand their career paths as well I think that would be very appealing for our district >> okay thank you all right Miss Jeffers um you'll start with this next one this is from a sophomore the high school she says I missed the block schedule so those were 90-minute classes um why did the district move away from the block or at
020least the hybrid schedule. It makes no sense to me as my day was better organized last year. As an early college student, it is sometimes overwhelming this year with having seven classes. Can something be done for next year to create a better situation for me and my fellow students? >> Okay. Well, um I certainly um understand um what she's saying about it being overwhelming and I know that the district was working on uh expanding long longer schedules. Um they were having um uh I believe they were having some learning issues or um academic issues. I'm not sure. But I will say that um I look forward to working with the school board of what can be done. I can't say what could be done, but I look forward to working with the school board on
021my campaign trail. I met a few of them going about their day-to-day life and they are very knowledgeable people that's been on here for many years and I look forward to working with them to fix that because we don't want our children to be overwhelmed and tired. They need to be able to learn an effective way in an an effective effect effective way and if they're tied they certainly can't, you know, learn effectively. So, um I look forward to working with the school board to have figure that out. Thank you so much. >> That was a big You want me to repeat it? >> Okay, sophomore. I missed the block schedule. Why did the district move away from the block or at least the hybrid schedule? It makes no sense to me as my day
022was better organized last year. As an early college student, it is sometimes overwhelming this year with having seven classes. Can something be done for next year to create a better situation for me and my fellow students? >> So there I'm not I'm not quite sure exactly why we moved from the 90 to the um the skinnies, what we would call them. However, what I could what I can in introduce would be perhaps towards the end of the next school year before the school ends, perhaps we can take surveys, we can look at data to see was it effective, was it not effective, what can we tweak, what can we change, are did we do better? Because ultimately that's our goal to do better. So something as simple as collecting data, speaking to the students, speaking
023to the teachers, how has it impacted them? Has it benefited them? Has it hurt their mental health? Just a simple conversation with all the parties involved would perhaps get us a solution to either change back or keep them the same. >> Great. >> Do you want me to repeat it? >> No, because it's um similar. I think I was going to say surveying not only uh the teachers but the students and seeing has this change really been um you know has it hurt you? Has it helped you etc. Um asking the teachers uh does this fit? Does this not fit? Um from the experience in the school it we get into a lesson plan and then 15 minutes later class is over. So I do understand from the current perspective of the challenges and issues
024but again I'm not sure why it switched but survey and data I agree. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. You're be next. >> Oh yeah. >> Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Mr. Churchel. >> I thought I got away with something. I'm not going to sit here and tell you I know everything about this. But I would say five years from now when all these people are gone and people were used to this schedule and they changed it again that they would be just as uncomfortable. So usually I put my faith in in the people who we hire to to you know to to make these decisions and hopefully this is for the better. Now, I mean, they can always re-evaluate it in a year or two if they see something isn't going the way
025they think it should, but uh I I think this is to help us improve, and I'm hoping that uh that it uh that it works. I mean, I have, like I said, I have a great granddaughter in early college, and she hasn't she hasn't complained at all because she doesn't know how the other schedule was. This is just It's very hard. She does take a lot of naps though when she comes home. >> Okay. All right. So, um, Miss Rosario, you ready for the next question? All right. This is from a senior. Why isn't there a nursing class for high school students and more jobreated courses? >> From my understanding, I thought there was a nursing class or at least a STNA. I I don't know. I'm I'm retired. >> Right. That's what I thought.
026Yes. Um I know Chaquita Jones, I'm pretty sure. >> And I believe there was one more um staff that he also Mr. Not who to check. I believe it was another gentleman. He did the STNA class. So I know those are being offered. >> Yeah, I did not edit these class. >> Oh, no. It's okay. But I'm also pretty sure I know that perhaps like Mr. Bards mentioned earlier, we can add definitely either at least a STNA RN or expand on that. I'm sure that can be a conversation that we can have. >> Okay, Mr. Ballard, do you want me to repeat it? >> Um, I can. No, it's all good. Um, I think yeah, if there is STNA already offered, that's great. Uh, is there a way to expand it out into maybe specifics
027of it like, you know, um, phbotomy or or blood drawing? I mean um things of that nature always an option. Career tech expansion I think just kind of covers the gambit of offering more program here at the school would be great. >> Okay Mr. Sergil >> well like everyone said we have an SDNA program that they go for certification. You can get a job out of that. Do we have a a nursing program? No we don't. But I believe the way that I see things going, I believe our career tech should expand with hopefully within the next couple years. I mean, there's things that I would like to see. I would I would like to see an an electrical program where we partner with people on the outside like the IBEDW and and and you
028know, and and different types of different types of things. There's all kind I mean, it's it's it's unimaginable the things that that can be done. Okay. Okay. But you have to do it a little bit a little bit at a time. But but no, we don't have a a bonafideed nursing program right now. We do we do have quite a bit though. >> Do you need me to repeat it? >> Uh no. Okay. >> Um I think it's great that they do have a STNA program. That is excellent because that's the foundation that they can at least get started. Um we all know that the medical field, especially nursing, is a very good field to go into. So that is a great question that that student asked and that is something that possibly the school
029board could could talk further about because that would be excellent if if it can be done. I look forward to you know looking more into that. So I can't answer why it's not at the moment. Thank you. All right, Mr. Ballard ready a long one. Um this is from a senior kind of goes back to the other one. Um, why change the hybrid schedule when it worked? You also changed credit requirements on classes, leading students to need more classes when there's no room for more kids. As a senior, I sit in the same class for four hours doing nothing because the only place I could fit was the study hall. There was supposed to be uh fewer kids in the study hall, but they are packed with even more than last year. Also, the lunchroom
030is also packed going from four periods down to three, which made zero sense as well. I did not edit anything. These are from this these are from the children, >> right? And I mean, we all remember being in high school, so like they're they're literally in the moment. So, of course, this, you know, it might feel like a lot and it and it likely probably is a lot, but um there's a reason kind of why things happen. Um I'm not privy or aware of why certain situations are made or why the schedule's kind of been cut back, but I would assume that if the credit um requirements have changed, that's likely the state probably required that change. Um and with that state change, school is just trying to abide by and try to get those
031kids the credits that they need um so they can graduate. Um with it being I guess so it was different last year. I'm assuming that the question is saying it's different last year. Kind of like coach Serg said, there's probably an adjustment period that needs to happen. Um, giving grace to our counselors as well who help kind of help with the schedule. It was hectic early on. I I know. Um, but just trying to get kids in the right classes, trying to um, listen to the kids' voices and them sharing what they're interested in and letting them have that freedom to pick and choose where they want to go. I hope and pray that by next semester um, or next yeah, next semester is going to be kind of a easier breeze through in class
032selection and scheduling. Um, so I think right now I don't know much to say to that senior other than we got to talk to your counselor about changing study hall next semester. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Sturgil. You want me to read that one again? There's a lot in here. Um, why why changed a hybrid schedule when it worked? You also changed credit requirements on classes leading students to need more classes when there's no room for more kids. As a senior, I sit in the same class for four hours doing nothing because the only place I could fit was a study hall. There are supposed to be fewer kids in a study hall, but they are packed with even more than last year. Also, the lunchroom is also packed going from four periods down to
033three, which made zero sense as well. >> Did you just did you get these questions recently? >> Yes. >> Okay. because I I know at the start of the school that that this room would probably be full be because of the scheduling and you you know that to be be true also. I really can't give you this this answer but but uh we could ask a counselor. Okay. But I think the best year that we ever had is when we actually did the schedules and they were done by spring >> and they were done by spring and everybody knew what they were doing the following year. uh as far as the messing with the hybrid schedule. Okay. If if we weren't doing very good before, maybe you just have to change try to change something
034once in a while and see what change does. You you can always reverse it out. Okay. And but but you need to try to do better. >> Okay. >> Miss Jeffers, do you want me to repeat it? >> Um I don't think so. Uh I can say that I don't know why the schedule was changed, but I will say that um I did do a tour with my son who special needs. Um and I did notice we were I was talking with the school administrator and she was showing us the lunchroom and it was packed full of ch kids and I asked what's this and she said well it's study hall. So it was a lot of students there and uh but they seemed okay. I mean they were on their computer but I can
035definitely understand when uh the children are saying they have nothing to do and they don't want idle time. I'm sure as parents we don't want our children with just idle time either. So we want to fill that in with things that are more useful for them. And I'm so glad that student asked that. They want things that's useful and it is packed their study hall. I've seen it myself. So, uh, but I can't answer why it was changed, but I look forward to working with the school board or, uh, to see how we can solve that. Thank you. >> Thank you. Oh, I keep doing it. >> You want me to repeat anything? >> No, I think I got it. That text was it had a lot. It was overwhelming to listen to as a
036parent because my child's sitting in study hall for that many hours. That's concerning. Not sure why it occurred. Well, I have an idea of why it occurred. So, my thought would that on that would be I would like to see more classes being offered because clearly that's what it sounds like that there's possibly maybe not enough classes being offered. So, I would start with that. you know, recommending for more classes. Um, the perhaps also offering wraparound services or additional support, you know, maybe smaller groups that way the cafeteria is not or the study hall doesn't have, you know, 80 kids all piled up on one table. Maybe this is time where we can also use our our support, our parapros, our case managers to come down and do small groups. Make effective of those that
037time that they're sitting in study hall. As a parent, I don't want to hear that my child is sitting in study hall for four hours. Definitely something to consider and to really think about. >> Okay. Thank you. Stop. Okay. Um, no, Mr. Sturgil, you're up, right? Yeah. Okay, Mr. Sturgil. Um, this is from an anonymous student, so I don't know if it's a male or female. Where do you see Lorraine City Schools in 5 to 10 years? What would your main priorities be to get us there? What I am more What um ideas do you have to make our school safer and create a better environment for students and teachers? I thought in in 2016 I thought I thought we had the best the best opportunity and and I thought that was one of our
038one of our best one of our best years when we opened when we opened this high school. I think our schools are safe. Okay. I I've I've always thought that thought that they were safe. Uh where do I see us in five years? Well, I definitely don't want to be number 607. Okay. And I'd like to see us uh I'd like to see us improve academically and and I think to do that I think maybe maybe we have to look to the teachers and try to make sure they have everything they need to be to be successful. I think uh I mean I I heard someone say thank you once and it was actually to my son and she was telling me a story. She says, "Your son, when he was principal, he did everything
039he could do to make sure I was successful." And I hope that everybody's like that, you know? I mean, I like to I like to but but like I said, if I could do one thing for for children, I would give give everybody a parent who cares, a parent who's engaged, a parent who will call your teacher if they have a problem. Okay? if if I'm just I I just see that engagement as being as being so so important to you know to this school especially since we uh you know we we're actually increasing our enrollment again and that wasn't supposed to happen under the state. We were supposed to we were supposed to be down about a thousand kids right now but we we're we're we're still there. Okay. But okay, I was going
040to say something else, but >> No, you only had 10 seconds left, so that was good. I am timing. Okay. Do you want me to read it again? >> Um, you said, "Where will we be in five years?" >> Yeah. Where where do you see Lraine City Schools in 5 to 10 years? What would your main priorities be to get us there and to be safer? >> Okay. Well, uh, we all know that Lorraine has a twostar rating. Um, so I definitely would like to see in five years, uh, we prioritize, um, reading and math and, uh, early literacy. Um, five years, I certainly would like that to improve. Um, I understand that we also had some failed levies. So, Lorraine schools have some funding issues. Um, and it also didn't help with the uh
041ending of uh pandemic funding. Um, so I would like to see um us prioritize, you know, hopefully get some levies um passed and we'll do that with transparency with the community. Um, I know that Lorraine also has behavioral problems. Um, and we want to get that taken care of as well. I know with the elementary school, it's it's it's a lot more there. And I have firsthand knowledge because my children had issues in that area before they were diagnosed fully, but um, I would like to see that resolved and we get a handle on that. Um, creating a safer environment for our children. Um, and those are the areas that I would like to see improve and I know we will improve that in five years if the parents work together with the teachers. It's
042about teamwork and work also with the school board. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Do you need me to repeat? >> Okay, >> I'm you good? Okay. So, I made sure I brought out my cheat sheet because I want to make sure that I'm communicating exactly what my goals are. I want to make sure I don't lose track of that. My first goal would be to improve the connections between parents, students, teachers, and our community. Without that, it's going to be very difficult to take us to the next part, which is the finance part. Right? finances is passing the levy, getting us where we need to get the direction we need to head to. And for that, we we do need funds. Um, we want to make sure that we're focusing on our priorities. We
043want to make sure that we set long and shortterm goals, which will also take us to my next one, transparency. If we're transparent and we're honest with the parents, with the families, with the communities, with the students, and we all come together, we can definitely meet all three of my goals. >> Thank you. Do you need me to repeat? >> I It's like we're playing a game of telephone. So, I think I think I got it, though. Um I think in the in the next five years, I would love, as Coach Serg said, I I don't want to be at the bottom of that list anymore. I want um of course all of our fundamental skills to improve. Um I think that starts um at kindergarten preschool. um reading at the basic fundamental level I
044think has to um whether that be after school programs or just more resources resources allocated to the to the littles little Titans um so when they become uh Lauren High Titans that we're not seeing a lapse in in reading or you know somebody who may unfortunately be at like a first or second grade reading level or comprehension level. Um, I think also in in regards of safety, I'm I'm a big proponent of being proactive instead of reactive. So again, kind of going back to the littles to I guess everybody in general of providing opportunities for outlets of if you know if there are kids and and I'm not meaning like put them in a separate building or separate location or anything like that, but if there are people who are having struggles with um discipline
045issues or safety issues or whatever may be the concern, having um proactive measurements, having community groups, having whoever needs to come in and kind of work with those groups whether that be internal here at the school or you know a group like the Urban League or Rivon coming in or providing uh added resources to the kids that helps them prevent the um reactive situation where they're now being taken out of class by the safety officer having to be suspended etc etc so I think um providing those resources at the front end would help alleviate the problems on the back end. Thank you. Um that's you you answered it. Yeah. Um that's it for the uh student questions. Um now I have audience questions if so if you have any um there's cards here. I only
046have Oh, it looks like I have three. All right. So, uh I think it's Miss Jeffers is up right now, right? Yeah. Because you just started. Yeah. Um, current policy for years indicates no grade shall be below 50%. Meaning, if we gave 10 assignments at 10 points each, a student who scores six out of 10 on just two of those will pass without even attempting eight out of 10 assignments. Are you in support of this policy? And do you believe this rule has created a culture of I can or a culture of I don't have to? >> Okay, please read that again. Absolutely. I won't even start the timer yet. Current policy for years indicates no grade shall be be below 50%. >> Okay? >> Meaning if we give 10 assignments at 10 points each,
047a student who scores six out of 10 on just two >> of those will pass without even attempting eight out of 10 assignments. Are you in support of this policy? And do you believe this rule has created a culture of I can or a culture of I don't have to? >> Um I will say that we need more um right now we're struggling academically in Lorraine and I my opinion I think we need to work with the students more before implicating uh something like that. We definitely just want to get our children more stronger academically and um I'm not sure if that would be effective. We we we don't want our children failing any more than they are and we don't want to discourage them in any way. Um so I'm not sure if that
048would be effective. >> Okay. Thank you. You need to repeat it. Are you good? Good. Okay. I know that this policy was implemented during COVID as I was a parapro at the time. My personal opinion is that it has done worse than better has done some damage to our students because it's almost like we're letting them know that it's okay to do the minimum. And that's something that really needs to be revisited. it's harming our students instead of being helpful because it's not holding them accountable. I understand that during COVID there was not direct instructions. There was not that support one- on-one. It was through camera. It was it was difficult. I was a staff at the time and it was difficult for me to be effective, let alone for what we were producing to
049be effective and to be taught. Therefore, we're moving away from that. So, it's time to perhaps maybe implement what we what we did have back then and and set the bar and have them meet that. And I know our students can do that. We just have to set the bar up there. >> I can Yes, please. >> Yes. Okay. Current policy for years indicates no grade shall be below 50%. Meaning, if we gave 10 assignments at 10 points each, a student who scores six out of 10 on just two of those assignments will pass without even even attempting eight out of 10 assignments. Are you in support of this policy? And do you believe this rule has created a culture of I can or a culture of I don't have to? I think that it
050I think it does create a kind of culture of I don't have to. But I think there's also a part of it that if somebody who may not pick up things as fast as everybody else, it kind of gives them an opportunity to um kind of slow things down and help them like catch up. But I think with eight only being able to pass two and getting not having to do the eight that that is not beneficial to anybody. So I think there needs to be a happy medium of if you aren't processing or helping understand this like come on let's let's slow this down. Let's you know have if if that is implementing summer school because I remember when I was a kid I I I had to go to summer school at least
051once um to to get help and assistance. Um, I don't know if they still do summer school anymore. Um, they do. Okay. Um, implementing um programs like after school, like maybe extended hours, not being a detention or anything like that, but um providing incentives for kids to want to come and help out. If that's something simple as like, hey, you know, we got pizza in the afternoon. Come come after, do your homework. Come after and help with stuff. Hey, we got, you know, career opportunities. you know, you might be able to go to we got Cedar Point tickets or whatever incentivizes uh kids because, you know, Gen X, I think this generation is. Um they they it is a very we you know, wanting to adapt with the times and understanding that a lot of
052that is they're worse than the millennials, people will say, as a microwave generation and it's like a instant gratification kind of now. So, we kind of have to play that long game of like, hey, you this might bore you now, but I know you want to go to a Cavs game. I know you want to enjoy free time later on. I know you like pizza. Whatever kind of helps incentivize the kids into fun stuff to almost trick them into learning and I kind of but honestly giving them the the chance and the tools to catch up and learn in a fun environment. >> Mr. Sturgil, would you like me to repeat it? >> I've wrestled with this question for about 10 years and uh was the person I was coaching with. He asked me this
053question and and I didn't get it because I'm really not an educator. I' I've coached in Line City Schools for 30 years, but to say I'm an educator would be a far stretch. But I think that the that it was mainly created to give the student that was maybe a little mediocre a chance to be successful. Now whether we did a a good thing there, I'm still not sure. I mean, has it has it been successful? Maybe it's time we reevaluate it. But I mean, if it was me, I'd rather start at 50% than, you know, but and and understand it. That's if I I think it gives a a teacher a break too because they want kids to be successful and they want to give them a chance to be successful and and this
054is kind of a way is it good? I think that's up to the individual, you know. I mean, there's people who say they don't they're not if you don't earn it, you don't get nothing, you know? I mean, that's if you're they're giving you 50%, but you would you would think that that people would take advantage of somebody trying to give you a break. >> Thank you, >> Mario. Next question. This is also from the audience. Safety and security. How do you plan to hold male female students accountable for their actions when it comes to sexual harassment so all individuals are treated fairly? >> Not sure if I can maybe a little bit clarification. Will this be on this on the stand of safety officers >> or is it the students? I can um I
055I I I overheard a conversation, so I'll try. Um I think a a young man was blamed for something and they took the the young woman's word over it because she, you know, was upset and I think that's what this is referring to. So I don't think it's really referring to security. >> Okay. >> And if that person wants to put something on the card to clarify, I think I think I got it. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I got it. >> So Okay. So the final question was how would we address those issues? >> Yeah. So, so that males aren't, you know, just take the I guess take the girls word for it. >> Okay. >> Where the gist of that that conversation was. >> Okay. That's difficult because I know that a lot of
056investigation, well, there's supposed to be a lot of investigation that goes into it. You know, you get this the male side of the story, you get the female side of the story, any witnesses there. Um, and you can kind of bring the story together in the meeting and kind of think that you can sort it out. Um, but definitely maybe we can also the the individuals that are conducting these interviews. Perhaps we can also properly train those individuals to make sure that they're biased that they're, you know, nonbiased. I'm sorry. Nonbias, nonbias to make sure that they're listening, you know, to the student, to the male students, to the female student, not pick a side, just be neutral. So perhaps maybe more training to those individuals that are doing the interview. That way they're not
057jumping into conclusion. Just kind of listen to all the parties. >> Okay. Do you need me to repeat? >> Um no. Um I agree. I think um mediation between two parties um not wanting to jump ahead and be accusatory of any side. Um I think the school is you know obviously reflective of kind of um outside influences and things like that. So I think innately you know if if if a certain situation looks a certain way it might automatically kind of be taken and assumed um that one side's at fault opposed to the other. kind of like you said having mediators or counselors or whoever handles that disciplinary action in that specific case. Um have the training to be able to kind of remove that bias, remove um those kind of thresholds to kind of
058give both sides a fair shake at the story or or um and maybe not be so quick to issue out punishment on one side opposed to the other until kind of a full investigation or things are are able to be handled in a appropriate way. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right, Mr. Steril, >> I have that question again. I'm not sure I got it the first time. >> Um, how do you plan to hold male female students accountable for their actions when it comes to sexual harassment so all individuals are treated fairly? >> I don't hold anybody accountable. I'm a board member. Okay. But I I think that we it all goes back to policy and uh we have ways to investigate things. You separate them. You take all the information in and then
059you have someone someone make a make a good a good decision as far as a board member how we would hold them accountable. I just want things to be fair and I want them to be fair whether you're male or whether you're female. I I just like you know I just I guess I just have a sense of fair fairness. It doesn't matter. But, uh, usually somewhere there's a there's a policy that takes care of just about everything. And I just hope that that people make, you know, that people make good decisions. >> Okay. Thank you, Jeffers. Do you need me to repeat it? >> Um, I don't I don't think I need you to repeat it. That is a hard situation. But um my my suggestion if this is possible if they can use
060outside agencies to come in get involved when situations like that take place. You have um outside agencies with trained uh psychologists. I know they have school psychologists but trained psychologists and psychiatrists that can get both of the students side of the story. That takes the element of people saying, "Oh, they're biased." You know, now you have an outside agency hopefully that can work in collaboration with the schools to get both sides of the story and uh get to the bottom of it. That that would be my perspective and opinion on that. >> Okay. Thank you. Um again, um I just overheard the conversation so I kind of I didn't want to look at the person to I think I lo dropped a question somewhere. Do you see? I thought I had Is there any more
061from the audience? >> Yeah, these ones I read. I thought there was a third. Not a third. Okay. I didn't get Did I get yours? Oh, okay. All right. I'm I I thought I was losing. Okay, I'm good. All right. Here we go. Um, ready? So, you Oh, it's it's Mr. Ballard's turn first. Oh. Oh. Is it was it yours, Mrs. Arari? >> Yeah. Okay. Um, how should the district handle debates over curriculum such as topics related to race, history, gender, identity in a way that respects families while supporting student learning? >> Um, great question. I I feel like we, you know, we're in a world that we need to teach historical accuracy. I think because, you know, if somebody doesn't just like the way something comes off, if it's based in history, if it's
062based in um things that actually happened in the past, let's not I don't think it's appropriate for our youth. and it's not preparing them for the real world that they're entering into to not only alter history but also and truthfully I guess soften history like I think um in order history is my favorite subject so if we don't know our history we're bound to repeat it so that's the old cliche but I I love history so it's it's one of those things that if it's not addressed in the appropriate way and addressed in a way that's not only just digestible but doesn't ostracize a certain group or or you know um make a certain group uh feel like their voice isn't being heard or again like this this history is being washed away or things
063of that nature. We have to get back to that concept of you know this is a institution of learning. We don't want this to be an institution of lies. We want this to be an institution where people are prepared for when they go to school at college, they're equipped with the tools for not only college, but the u they're equipped for life. >> Thank you, Mr. Sturgil. Would you like me to read it again? >> Yeah. How should the district handle debates over curriculum such as topics related to race, history, gender identity in a way that respects um families while supporting student learning? I think that one was too hard for me. >> Well, f first of all, I I think that uh I I think it should be taught the way we've taught it
064for 50 years. I I mean I I think it should be truthful. I mean that that's the only thing I I don't think you should sugar sugarcoat anything and and I I I just hope that it it's handled with uh with a lot of common sense, you know, and so that it doesn't really hurt anybody's feelings. But but uh I don't know. I guess maybe I would leave that up to a the law and then the teacher. Thank you. >> Okay. >> You good? >> Yes. Well, what I would say is um as I stated, I moved to Lraine seven years ago and one of the things that I researched before I I came to Lraine was the demographic and I love that the city of Lraine is like a melting pot. I I said
065that's amazing. So, we are we are one step ahead there. We're interacting with different races and different ethnic ethnicities in Lraine every day, you know. So, we can expand on that a little bit more. Um, I don't know if they already have, um, African AfricanAmerican studies, uh, things like that. Um, American history. I'm sure they have that. We can, you know, expand on that. But we are already one step ahead. that is such a melting pot here in Lraine and they can introduce that a little bit more into the curriculum as well. I will start we are the international city. So that's that's real big. And when you walk these hallways it's literally the international city. We have every type of ethnicity walking through these hallways. Going back to the teacher, how can we perhaps
066assist the teacher in the curriculum and you know teaching it through training training the teacher how to be equal you know we're not going to pick and choose one topic over the other we should like m Dr like Mr. Serg said, "Be honest honest about it. Be upfront about it and talk about all the history. Not pick and choose all because we are the international city. That way we're we're educating all of our students on all the ethnicity, not just one over the other. So to me it would be training through the teachers making sure that they're presenting the curriculum in in its intended way the way why it was written for we can all learn from it. >> All right. Thank you. All right. I think we're up to Mr. Sturgil for the next
067question. >> Can I say one thing? >> Oh yeah. Go ahead. >> I wanted to say one thing about Lorraine. I I really think our diversity is our strong point. That's all I wanted to say. Okay, here's your next question. What is your approach to managing the district's budget? >> Oh, God. you know, at as a board member that the two things you do is you pick a superintendent and you pick a treasurer and you hope you hope that that they that they get it right because uh I've always said this and I said and I I learned this back in 2010, every school district is three years away from insolveny. And if you can do anything, please uh you know, please please vote for these renewal levies. They there's no new money and uh
068and we we really need it. We haven't had any any new money since uh 2012. 2012 was the last time we It's been It's been 13 years. And I'm not uh I'm not real. I'll be honest, I'm not real sure with with the way that the state and federal is going right now that I could even answer this question. I think to this point, we've did a fairly good job. Okay. But I don't know what the future's bring and that and that's that's tough for everybody sitting up here. They they may go through some things that they may not they may not realize that. I internalize this stuff. So, it's it's a little little hard for me. I've seen some nice people lose their jobs and I don't ever want to see that again. >>
069Thank you. >> Want me to repeat it? >> No. >> Okay. Um I know that it is a struggle for uh the city of Lraine. A lot of the surrounding districts do have a lot more money than the city of Lraine and it did not help us with the ending of a lot of the federal funding. So, that's another struggle for Lorraine. Um, and so that is a tough question. That is a tough question. Hopefully things will become a lot better, you know, with the funding and um that is a tough question to answer. If I get on a school board, I look forward to working with the wonderful group of people that are there to try to solve this issue because Lorraine, I do know they have a lot of funding issues. >> Okay.
070Thank you. >> Okay. What is your approach to managing the district's budget? >> While it's difficult and we're in a difficult position, I will say the levy is big. I know that we need to pass this levy. Definitely knock on doors, get our community to back us up, be transparent with our families and let them know this is why we need it. This is this is what happened and follow up and update. We can also perhaps maybe use data to see okay, where did we go wrong? What can we improve? What can we get away with? What do we really need? So basically prioritize our you know prioritize what are our priorities. Um and from that just take it from there. I know it's difficult for us, any of us to really be certain on
071how we can do it because of, you know, what our government's going through and and all the changes that we're going to face. However, I think just looking to see what is it that we can change, we can better. I think that's a start just just to see what we can do differently. What are we going to prioritize? And I know that we've been there before. We've had to look at our budget and prioritize. Okay, do we do uh sports or we do away with sports? I know that happened many years ago, but I was a parent of a young one and I seen all the the extra curriculums go away because of the budget. So, definitely we'll go back to the table, prioritize and set some goals and then take it from there. >>
072Do you need me to repeat? >> No, I'm good. Um, I agree. Uh, uh, the levy has to pass. Um, it Lraine is in isn't in a position like other cities to, um, get money that other cities are allowed to have. So, definitely passing the levy is very important. Um, but I think what was mentioned earlier in the night, I think a theme ran of transparency. Uh, being very transparent with our parents, with our community. Um, and I think that transparency can happen through a couple different uh a few different outlets of uh having just listening sessions or having community education sessions. Um when I work for the city of Ayria, I know that that was one way that we wanted to reach out to the community a lot was through just having um listening
073sessions or having designated opportunities to update the community uh whether it be on the south side of town, west side of town, etc., etc. Um, I think in that same vein, the city, I mean, I'm sorry, the schools, um, educating folks on, you know, something that we may as a board think is is little and and not important, but a community member might they might not understand it and they might take it a different way if they don't hear it from the community, if they just hear it in the paper or something like that. So, I think offering those opportunities to educate as much as possible um would help with the budget and and understanding u what goes on in the budget and things of that nature. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Oh, more more
074audience. Those come first. Okay. Sorry. So, it's Miss Jeffers. Um what you what you what would Yeah. Start again. What would you say to a person who does not want to vote for the school levy? >> Well, I would say that it is very important to vote. Um, I know a lot of people are discouraged with voting in general. I'm out going door todo as if as all these people are and people are really frustrated, but we need it. It's the city, the schools here in Lraine. We really need it. We need the secum the community support if we're going to get the proper funding for our schools. Our children's education is very important. And what I would say to a person who does not want to vote, please vote. Um because we need it
075here in the city of Lraine. >> Thank you. >> You need me to repeat it? >> What would you say to a person who does not want to vote for the school levy? I will begin by letting them know that I I understand where they're coming from. I understand that a lot of our families are already, you know, below poverty. I also understand that a lot of our families are also, you know, in our community are uh set on an income, you know, whether they're retired or social security or any other type of source like that. However, what I would do is have an open forum such as this one. invite the community and have a conversation, a heart-to-he heart conversation of why we need this to happen, what is at stake. Like Mark stated,
076people might not know. They might have heard it from a third party. People are frustrated. When you bring them in and you're honest with them and say, "Hey, this is what happened. This is what we need and this is where we're moving." people will probably be more open to coming in and voting for the levy because now they have a better understanding because you don't know what you don't know. And if you don't understand why why our budget is where it's at or why are we doing the levy like um Mr. Graham explained this is not to increase your taxes. A lot of people might not know that. So something as simply as opening our doors and having that heart-to-he heart conversation with them and let them know this is not an increase. This is
077why we need it. this is this is the importance of it and focus on the education. I explain to them, hey, we might lose the extracurriculum, football, baseball, you know, and a parent like me thinking, well, my kids not going to be able to play extracurricular. I'm going to come in there and I'm going to vote yes because I don't want my student to lose that or any other curriculum benefit. So, there you go. >> Ditto. No, but um honestly cuz I was going to say the same thing with Dr. program um at the beginning sharing that um this is not increasing the taxes um that's important um like I mentioned a little bit ago having open discussion educational opportunity to share uh with the community about the intricacies of the budget or just not
078budget I'm sorry of the levy um or just little things that a Q&A with your board a Q&A with your uh superintendent of you know what can I expect you know How often do levies get passed? Or why is this levy any different from the last levy? Like something that may be obvious to a board member or to somebody who's in the in the no in that situation, but somebody really might not know. They might think that of course it's going to raise my taxes $200. My taxes are already high. My water bill's high. Exit. People got a whole, you know, gamut of iss going to help. So again, I think just transparency and and just kind of reiterating um the talking points or that the things that are important about the levy um are
079important to share with the community. >> Okay. Thank you. You need me to repeat it? I can. >> Yeah. Just one thing. Yeah. Go ahead. >> What would you say to a person who does not want to vote for the school levy? I'm not going to let him know the name that I'm thinking of when you know what I'd really like to say. But you know, I've spent most of my life in service of children and and I really feel I really feel an obligation to them. Now, we could think that we pay a lot of taxes. I got news for you. We don't live in Bay Village. Okay? If we did, we wouldn't be having this conversation because your houses, we'd have all kinds of money. you know, we'd have to have have whatever
080we want. But I'm g tell you the one thing that that kind of bothered me today. What bothered me today was when our county commissioners, okay, where they when they they doubled uh they they doubled the tax for the, you know, the homestead exemption and they probably cost us $200,000. Now, that's not a big deal to them, but you know what? 200,000 is for beginning teachers salaries. So, I mean, I think that uh I really think everybody should really really think that I think this is one of the most critical times in our history. Okay? Because I' I've been here a while. I've been through uh 2010, 2011, we cut 21.4 million out of the budget. We uh we decimated everything. We took away the arts, the music, the PE, all the things that are
081are doing well for us right now because everybody knows that that that music has a math correlation and we really need that. Okay. So, I don't want to see I don't want to see anything go. So, I I would appreciate it if everybody would vote for that levy because I mean it we really need it. >> Okay. Thank you. I'll just go through I I don't know if we have a time limit, but um I have a these are all audience questions. So um Miss Rosario, do you feel each school building should have at least a principal and vice principal or should we eliminate one? Growing up, we're used to seeing the principal and the vice principal. Um, I know while I worked at the high school, we also have a couple principles, vice principles,
082etc., etc. I do agree with that. I do agree with having the two because they can each support each other, you know, and it's it's difficult. We're we're running on difficult times where we're seeing a lot of more behavioral concerns at the lower elementary level. Therefore, having that extra support definitely would benefit that building. you know, it's it's almost like a a marriage. You know, you need two to kind of one enforces the other one and the other one when he's picked up, the other one picks them up. So, it's it's something similar. You know, we need to be in partnership and that way they can support each other. Like I said, we're concerned with a lot of our behavior issues that we're having at the lower uh elementary level. So, definitely I would think
083it would be a good thing. >> Yeah, I agree. I think um principal and vice principal are staples in kind of schools in general. Um and I think that like you said they support each other. So I I think that they definitely um are a asset um to the to the students. >> Mr. Sturgil, >> you need me to repeat that? Do you do you feel each school building should have at least a principal and a vice principal or should we eliminate one? >> I kind of changed my mind on this. There was a time when I didn't think we needed a vice principal. But to tell you the truth, the behavior problems in the elementary has become actually as bad if not worse than it used to be junior high and high school is
084where things got pretty tough. But now you you kind of need you kind of need that and and and I like to think that our superintendent wouldn't have put a vice a vice principal there if we didn't need it because it cost a lot of money you know but uh I have seen a situation where we had uh I mean back in like 2010 2011 I think we had five assistant principles and they were covering two schools and uh I mean it wasn't going well but we we were trying to function and and we we've got to a point now I mean we really want to stay we want to stay right where we're at and improve. Okay. So yes, I I would like to keep the principles. I'd like to keep the nurses. I'd
085like to keep the counselors. I I'd like I'd like them all. I would like every class to have 22 kids in it. Okay. But uh sometimes we have to be realistic. You mean to repeat it? >> Okay. >> Well, I am in favor of having a principal and a vice principal. I tell you, I'm not from here. I um moved here seven years ago. When I went to school, uh we had a principal and two vice principles. So, that is a bit much, but um they do have different roles. So definitely the principal can use the support of the vice principal and I am certainly in favor of that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right, Mr. Ballard. What do you think is acceptable as a consequence when a student is physically violent towards other
086students and teachers? >> Good question. Um I think we is I don't want to assume, but um let's say it's just in a realm of an altercation happens um and it's two students get in a fight or something like that. Is is that can I presume that >> scenario? >> I don't know because I wasn't privy. I'm thinking no. We have little ones who just >> Yeah. >> just Yeah. >> Okay. Well, I I know that you know >> I guess it's open to interpretation. reason why I ask and clarify because I know that at time you know you know there are the students who you know if they have um learning disabilities or or might be on the spectrum that their reaction to a teacher or to another student might be different than it
087just being a physical altercation. So just kind of wanted to preface it that way. Um but if you know kids just getting in a fight I think there has to be discipline. um what that discipline looks like. Again, I'm a proponent of proactive methods. So, if we know that, you know, from eighth grade that these group of students are are the hottheheads of, you know, they've been suspended five, six, seven times. um we don't over monitor them, but we put them in in and give them resources in the high school level where they can be um kind of shown deescalation tactics, understand um emotional intelligence and stuff like that. Understanding that everything doesn't have to end in a fight. Everything doesn't have to end in you slapping somebody or cussing somebody out or whatever the
088case may be. Um, ISA, I think that's a uh option that's available right now. Um, kids going there for in school suspension. Um, unless it's something like super crazy, super egregious, um, I guess like if a weapon's involved or anything of that nature, I don't see more than a week of suspension being um, happen. And even in that suspension, not giving kids because some kid sometimes it might seem like that's just a vacation. They might just they don't got to go to school. So, uh providing them with that discipline, but also with the corrective course of, you know, during that week that you're out, you got to do, you know, go to Rivon. I keep I love Rivian, but bringing up stuff like that, going to Urban League, etc. >> I'm sorry. All right. Um
089Mr. Sturggil, >> what do you think is acceptable as a consequence when a student is physically violent towards other students and teachers? >> I'm going to have to apologize for this one because I'm I'm pretty much a zero tolerance person, especially for especially for the aggressor. Okay? I mean, if somebody's just trying to protect themselves and trying not to get hit, I I can understand that. And I hope people use common sense and things, but I don't like to see kids fight. I don't I don't like it. I It just It just doesn't doesn't belong here. And And as for me, I just don't tolerate it. And I don't tolerate it well at all. I don't like And to tell you the truth, I probably got more fights than anybody in this room. But uh
090and it's probably probably why I don't like it. And uh and uh there there's better ways repeat it. >> Uh, no, you don't have to repeat. Um, I actually have uh firsthand experience with that because although I said my children um are autis have autism, I have a 15-year-old that also has OD oppositional defiant disorder and ADHD. and he had a lot of issues um especially during his elementary uh school years and where he was lashing out and that is a very serious thing uh because it puts the students at risk in the class. the teacher can only do but so much. The teacher needs support, you know, and um what I got was help from outside agencies, you know, like Ohio RISE, DDS, things like that. Um but I would say if it's possible
091that the school administrators can give referrals to outside resources so that the child can get the proper help that they need, counseling or things of that nature. And I do recommend suspension. It's happened to my child and I recommend it because it is not safe even if it's just an elementary school child. So that's just my opinion. >> You need to repeat it. Okay. >> All right. I'll begin with the elementary preschoolers. Uh at a le at a preschool level, my recommendation would be to assist the teachers with additional support. you know, when that student is obviously is preschool, there's probably going to be an IEP, a 504, there's there's some type of situation going with that individual, add support to the classroom, whether it's that teacher that that paraprofessional comes in, removes that student,
092calms them down, and brings them back in. Because I understand that it's difficult to continue to teach when there's a student that's, you know, causing harm. Now, you've you've scared the other children. The teacher probably fears for her safety as well along with the other students at the preschool level. Definitely add additional support to the buildings at the higher level, middle school, high school. I know that we have um wellness coaches, get our wellness coaches um properly trained to deescalate to come in here and not suspend a student. Again, it depends on the severity. If we're talking about weapons, that's that's a different that's a little that's escalating. However, if it's a fight, bring them in. Let's these are these are our co babies, our co students, right? So, a lot of these students might
093not have the proper skills and the tools that they need to effectively communicate with other students, you know, how why am I upset? So bringing them in with the wellness coaches, training them, having the wellness coaches come in, work with them, have Rivian come in, have sessions. So instead of suspending them, because now you're sitting at home, now you've missed 10 days of education time. 10 days is a lot. That's a lot of assignments to catch up. And if you're not in front of that teacher, how are you going to learn that material? Especially with math. Math math builds on each other. So sorry. So again, just get everybody trained and that's how we can support and make it better. Sorry. >> No, you were good. You were You had five seconds left. You were
094great. All right. Thank you. I appreciate everybody. All right. Um, so Mr. Sturgil, no. Yeah. Yeah, it's Mr. Sturgil. And I I've not read these. Should teachers be expected Oh, should teachers be expected to administer medicine if there is not a nurse? I don't think they can. I don't think lawfully I don't think a teach a teacher can give it medicine if they're not a nurse. I mean, I think that's Ohio vice code. >> No, >> I I don't know. >> Yeah, I I don't believe I don't believe that. No, I don't think a teacher should be forced to give forced to give medicine. Uh that would just be my my position. They're not doctors, teachers. >> Well, I have personal experience with that because my children take um medicine. Um and one of my
095children take medicine at school during the day to help um you know, just keep him from becoming hyperactive and fidgety. But um a teacher giving him medicine, that's a that's a very difficult situation and I'm sure the teacher herself doesn't want to be put in that situation because those are controlled substances. It's very serious medication. Uh sometimes I mean Tylenol or I'm talking about serious medication and um I wouldn't I'm sorry I don't think that a teacher should be put in that petition. That's just my opinion. >> You need me to repeat? >> Should teachers be expected to administer medicine if there is not a nurse? >> No, I wouldn't put my lensure in jeopardy. I wouldn't expect a nurse to put her licensing in jeopardy. Back to what Mr. Sergio said, we're going to
096let the nurses be the nursing do the nursing and the teachers do the teaching. Um, it's a it's a liability. a liability that it potentially can come back on the school. So, I know that is not something that I agree with and I agree it's it makes the teacher uncomfortable. Maybe that student, you know, something along the line, maybe the dosage isn't correct or she doesn't know what to look for because she's not trained in in that field. Therefore, it can open up to a lot of things that we really do not want to be part of like lawsuits. >> Yeah, I agree. Liability. Um, don't I think the nurse should be able to and be the only one to administer medicine. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, do you think a student should
097be passed on to the next grade if they have not earned the grades needed and relying on the 50% rule? Well, um just passing our children along is not a good idea. Um a good education is the foundation for everything and we want our children to be able to succeed in life. We don't want to just pass them along. So if they are struggling, if we can get them some remedial courses, um summer school, I I heard that mentioned earlier. I don't know if they have that. Um but just um allowing them to pass along um even though they haven't met a certain benchmark. I I don't agree with that. >> Okay. You want me to repeat it? >> The no child left behind law that was put in place to help. However, it didn't
098help us so much. Therefore, I would have to somewhat disagree with passing them along to the next grade because every grade is is it builds on the last grade, right? So, if we skipped an entire grade, we're catching up the entire time. That's frustrating to the student. That's frustrating to the teacher, frustrating to their peers because now we're holding the class back because we need you to catch up because you you didn't learn what you needed to learn in order to build on the next step. So therefore, something to really consider. Yeah, I agree that I think it does a disservice to the to the student. Um because it again, like you said, you're building off of what you learned the previous year. So, as I mentioned earlier, I I do believe that if it's
099summer school, if it's, you know, let's take a break and we'll put you in a specific kind of one-on-one kind of training course, whatever the case is. um have them feel that um uncomfortness now so when they're 19 20 they're not in those situations of you know unfortunately having a second or third grade reading level or things of that nature because it it it will affect them the older they get. So no I don't agree with passing them along. >> Mr. Sturgil. >> Okay. >> Do you think a student should be passed on to the next grade if they have not earned the grades needed and relying on the 50% rule? >> Okay. I I know what our uh what our policy is and and from the studies that I've been told and heard of
100is that is that it's bad to hold a child back and then that you would be better off promoting that child and I've seen situations where I think they maybe it was left up to the parent. I think that that a child can start school too early maybe not not be ready. So, I hope if they're held back for and I would say one year that uh that I would hope that it would be early early on, you know, but uh as far as holding them back more than a year, I don't think that it's good for the child, you know, it's just I think that we have we have the right policy. I think some of this is left up to the parent. >> All right. Okay, Miss M Miss Rosario, right? We're up
101to you. Yeah. All right. There have been a couple of questions and comments along the lines of the board deferring to the administration, which is disappointing considering the board is entrusted to be our representatives and provide oversight. What would you do to be more engaged and help sure ensure a higher level of transparency and accountability? I read that one more time. That's a big one. Okay. There have been a couple of questions and comments along the lines of the board deferring to the administration, which is disappointing considering the board is entrusted to be our representatives and provide oversight. What would you do to be more engaged and help ensure a higher level of transparency and accountability? rapport building pretty much rapport building. I would go out to my community, parents, students, build a relationship with
102them. Once you build a relationship, they entrust you. Once they entrust you, then that's when they'll believe you because you've actually shown your true colors. They know that you're transparent, that you're honest. So again, it would just be rapport building, you know, letting them know that you can be trusted and that you're telling the truth because people know when you're being genuine and when you're not. So therefore, being simply as transparent, opening doors, knocking on doors, going out, meeting them in their community, not just expecting for them to come to our community here at the building. Let's walk the streets. Let's let's go out to our community and show them that, hey, we're here for you. So, it's not just all the time, how are you going to support me? It's also going out there
103and saying, how can we support you? How how can we do this better? How can we change it? Getting their opinions because parents also know best for their children. >> Mr. Ballard, do you want me to repeat or you good? >> No, I think I'm good. Um, I think kind of like I I mentioned earlier, uh, when I worked for the the city, um, a lot of times it wasn't just the mayor who went out into the community and talked to residents. it was also the councilman. Um, so that that council person. I think that's similar in this situation of it wouldn't be just Dr. Graham going out and the administration talking to the community when the as I mentioned before the listening sessions and things like that. I believe it's the board members uh
104duty and responsibility to like yes we you know the the administration they you know we work in tandem together um but just not putting the the brunt of the issue on their shoulders like we also have to be knowledgeable about what's going on. Um like you mentioned the transparency like we've like it's kind of a running theme of transparency. Um, but yeah, just being comfortable, not just hiding. Not hiding, that's not a proper word, but not being comfortable not going up to the events and just allowing the administration to be the face and the answer for it. Allowing all of us to sit in those situations, get those questions, and be able to respond in the manner that we will be able to respond. >> Mr. Sturgil, you want me to read it again? Yeah,
105I guess. >> Okay. There have been a couple of questions and comments along the lines of the board deferring to the administration, which is disappointing considering the board is entrusted to be our representatives and provide oversight. What would you do to be more engaged and help ensure a higher level of transparency and accountability? The only thing you can do is try to ask as many questions as you can and be as honest with yourself as you can. I mean, you're not always going to agree with everything that the administration says, okay? But you have to remember that when things are brought to us that we we get a certain perspective because we work off of the recommendation of the superintendent. And so a lot of the information we get is I don't want to say
106biased, but but it's it's told it's told you how they want you to receive it. So you you have to be kind of you kind of have to ask your questions and maybe ask around. Isn't it? I I haven't always voted straight with the ad administration. Me and this another lady over here in the pink have have did this a couple times and a person in the audience has because we we just we just didn't believe the situation or thought that this situation didn't warrant the outcome. Okay. So, you you have to I think you have to be a freethinker. >> Do you need me to repeat it? >> No. Um well I think it's uh goes back to what I said earlier um parent teacher administrator listening sess session um everyone um listening to
107each other's concerns um and that is the only way you would be able to handle that situation. Teamwork um being transparent with one another. I know speaking to parents uh when I go doortodoor, they're frustrated, but the only thing is when you ask them when the last time you've been to this meeting or that meeting, they haven't been. And the only way you're going to get to the to solve some of these issues that we have within the district is you got to be present, work together as a team, and a lot of the things that we're dealing with can be resolved. >> Thank you. All right. Last audience question. >> All right. I think it's Mr. Zario. You're next. >> Oh, how how do you handle disagreements or conflicts on the board? >> Who's
108is that? Oh, it's Mr. Val. I'm sorry. >> Um I I think just kind of um in any situation that you got individuals who have collectively have their own thoughts and things like that. So naturally people are going to butt heads or not be in agreement. Um I think it's you know we always deal with each other and speak with each other in a manner of respect and understanding that you know my ideas although they're my ideas they might not be right and that's okay. and being open to um another person's ideas or um suggestions um I think is that's the best way to kind of collaborate and build teamwork and um work together. >> Okay. Thank you. So, Mr. Sturgil, how do you handle disagreements or conflicts on the board? >> Oh, we never
109disagree. when you uh when you come on the board, you're going to read something called the code of ethics. And what it what it says is is that uh the num the number three is the big number. Three out of five and everything passes. And you're you're not going to like everything that that passes. And uh you know, if you do, there's probably something wrong with you. But what it also says is that you listen to the other person's point of view and and and you try to understand it and if you get outvoted and you probably will at some point uh you move on and you you try to make the best of whatever the situation is. I mean years ago I mean uh there there was one that I definitely disagreed with but
110it may it may turn out okay. Just want to let you know, but don't think that you won't get a couple votes wrong. You will, you know, but the important thing is to keep communicating, you know, keep those lines open and keep because it's not personal. And it's it's not for for you. I mean, when I came on the board, I asked myself, I only have two questions. Is it good for children? And is it sustainable? Those are the questions I ask myself. How do you handle disagreements or conflicts on the board? >> Well, for myself, I would say if I was on the board, being new coming in and we have this great group of people that's been here for many years before I got there. I would definitely take that in consideration that
111I'm here to learn and listen first. Now, we definitely are going to have different opinions. We all have our our own perspective and I think it's still about finding a mutual understanding and common ground because at the end of the day we're here for the children the students and I would try to focus on that uh whenever we do hit a bump in the road. >> Um how do you handle disagreements or conflicts on the board? Well, as we all know then we're all different individuals. We have different personalities. We got obviously we joined the board because at some point we had the same goal. So I think that with that in mind just to remember that everybody's that we're on the same we're all in it for the same reasons to achieve the same
112goals which is student success. You know make make good things make good choices good decisions that are ultimately going to benefit our students. Are we going to bump heads? Chances it is. But I go back as a social worker also with my code of ethics. I have to understand and keep in mind that everybody has their opinion. Everybody's entitled to their opinions. Therefore, we need to address each other in a respectful manner. Not take things personal. You know, like Dr. uh Mr. Sergil said, um there's going to be five of us, five panelists. And then, you know, obviously it has to be passed by three in order for it to I'm not sure if it's three or four, but there's going to be five of us. So, listening to that individual, listen to how they
113view things. Maybe you might learn a thing or two. And perhaps maybe you were set on no and then once you hear the way they're viewing it or their perception, it can change your mind and say, "Hey, you know what? I didn't think about it that way." So, just just keep it in mind that the same goal that we all came in here with. be responding to each other. >> Okay, Mrs. Washington, do we have any more questions? I think that's that's about it. I I the ones I I had made up which I did on my own, not with Mrs. Washington or anything. I think we're all covered by the audience and the few that I did do. So, I thank you. Does anybody We can go down. Mr. Sturgil, if you want to
114or Miss Jeffers or Mr. Zario or Mr. Ballard if you want to wrap it up. I I just want to say thank you to everybody. I'm I'm glad I got to meet you and hopefully I'll get to work with you, but if if I don't do a good job, >> Miss Jeffers. >> Okay. Well, um I appreciate being invited today and I would like to say as a parent, um as an advocate for my children, I would like to extend that to all of the students here in Lorraine. So I do look forward to uh getting a chance to work um on the students behalf and um bringing a new perspective and a new set of ideas to the board and listening and learning to uh the wonderful people that are there before me. And
115uh that's that's basically it. Thank you so much, >> Mr. Rosario. Uh thank you for giving me the opportunity to come and meet the rest of the candidates and being able to uh demonstrate and and show our public what exactly is it that our goal was and what we want to do moving forward. I'm excited to work, you know, if I get elected with all of you and the ones that are already on the on the um committee. Just I'm excited to work with them. I have a lot to bring to the table. I'm excited and um let's get this levy passed. >> Thank you, Mr. Ballard. >> Um just again, thank you for the opportunity. Grateful to be out here speaking to the community. Um and for me, I just want to continue to
116be an advocate and um somebody who was a champion for our kids and for our community in general. So, I just hope I'm afforded the opportunity and I just am looking forward to working with everybody. Thank you, Mrs. Washington. The microphone. [Applause]