Summit a positive step for Lorain students

BOUQUETS >> To the organizers of the GradNation Community Summit on Oct. 17 at Lorain High School whose goal is to increase graduation rates among students.

The summit included students, teachers, administrators and community members in a day-long event to unpack problems causing low graduation rates and propose solutions.

Dr. Sandy Addis, director of National Dropout Prevention Center and Network at Clemson University, and a presenter at the event, said school districts need to build a foundation with a safe learning environment, a system-wide approach and school-community collaboration with mentors and tutors in greater numbers to increase graduation rates.

According to a 2015 Building a GradNation report, a current national on-time graduation rate stands at 81.4 percent. For the third year in a row, the nation is on track to meet a goal of 90 percent graduation by 2020.

The graduation rate at Lorain High was 73.2 percent, according to a district report card released Sept. 15 by Ohio Department of Education.

Tony Dimacchia, director of operations at Boys and Girls Clubs of Lorain County and vice president of the Lorain School Board, said, “The economic and overall well-being of Lorain County is at risk unless we come together to support our children and youth better. This summit is a great opportunity to do that and to put together a plan that builds on and strengthens what we are already doing so we can serve more children and families, and increase our graduation rate.”

We couldn’t agree more.

BOUQUETS >> To Steve Dupee, who was hired as manager for the village of Wellington, is a good choice to lead the southern Lorain County community.

Dupee, 51, of Wellington Township, was hired after a 6-0 vote during a special council meeting Oct. 12.

Village manager Steve Pyles left the post in July to pursue a similar position in Granville.

What’s interesting about Dupee is initially he didn’t pursue the Wellington job. He was working as the city of Oberlin’s electric director, a job he had the last 15 years.

The Wellington position was advertised in August and 28 candidates responded.

Wellington Mayor Hans Schneider reached out to Dupee to get his feedback on the possibility of him taking over as village manager.

Schneider said council members received Dupee’s letter of interest and resume at the beginning of October.

Dupee grew up in Wellington. His father, Bob Dupee, was the first person to ever have the position of village manager in Wellington.

What’s impressive about Dupee is that he vows to listen and understand the challenges the village is facing, which are good traits for the manager.

BRICKBATS >> To John Alferio, the 22-year-old Amherst Township man who admitted to exchanging sexually explicit photos with a then-12-year-old Coshocton County boy.

Alferio pleaded guilty in Lorain County Common Pleas Court to illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance Oct. 14. Another count was dismissed through a plea agreement. According to the agreement, he can’t have a job that involves children.

Alferio was arrested Feb. 3, 2015, after the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office’s Detectives Bureau, in partnership with the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, executed a search warrant at his home.

After his arrest, Alferio was suspended as a student in the Lorain County Community College early childhood education program and fired from his teaching assistant position with Cascade Horizon Education Center in Elyria.

Alferio will learn his penalty Nov. 10 when Common Pleas Judge James Miraldi sentences him. The punishment must serve as a deterrent to other child predators.

When are people going to learn?

BRICKBATS >> To Paul Endrei, the 56-year-old pastor at Westlake’s Church on the Rise, who admitted to child endangerment of a girl after reaching a plea agreement.

Endrei, of Avon, who is the senior pastor at Westlake’s Church on the Rise, 3550 Crocker Road, pleaded guilty to endangering children July 14, 2013, at his Doral Drive home. Authorities dismissed charges of sexual battery and gross sexual imposition.

Although Endrei avoided prosecution on more serious charges and he will not have to register as a sex offender, he was an authoritative figure who should have been there to protect the girl instead of putting her in any kind of danger.

As part of the plea agreement, charges against Endrei’s son, Jordan, were dismissed.

According to defense attorney Jack Bradley, his client will receive probation when he is sentenced Nov. 17.

Endrei should have known better.