Residents invited to aid in CEO search

The new chair of the Lorain Academic Distress Commission says everyone in the community is needed to wrest the district out of academic distress.

So, Chair Anthony Richardson, a Lorain native, is inviting all to a series of community engagement sessions to inform on the search for the chief executive officer to run the district.

The commission must hire the CEO within 60 days of Richardson’s appointment as chair, or until July 25.

On June 5, the district hired Atlantic Research Partners to provide a nationwide search for a top level administrator.

“The (Lorain Academic Distress Commission) wants to ensure transparency in the search process,” indicated Richardson in a news release. “Our intent is to be inclusive in our conversation with the community to ensure district stakeholders are heard.

“It’s no small thing to lead a district out of academic distress, and we need everyone on board as we move forward together on behalf of our students.”

The sessions, June 19-20, include groups such as community members, district employees, faith leaders, elected officials and community partners, according to the release.

Meetings run from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., broken up by focus groups.

Locations include Lighthouse Grill and the media center at Lorain High School, 2600 Ashland Ave. in Lorain.

Erin Gadd, director of communications and community engagement for Lorain City Schools, said she hopes everyone will help spread the word and will attend the meetings for greater input.

The search is critical, Richardson said.

Paid by the Ohio Department of Education, the CEO will report to the commission and will exercise complete operational, managerial and instructional control of the district. If academics do not turn around, the CEO could change the district or individual school buildings from locally controlled public schools to charter schools.

More information about House Bill 70 is on the Lorain Schools website.