Family University offers free resources

Session planned Oct. 27 at General Johnnie Wilson Middle School in Lorain

Parents, grandparents, family members and guardians of Lorain City Schools students are invited to a family support session.

Lorain City Schools’ Family University fall session will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Oct. 27 at General Johnnie Wilson Middle School at 2700 Washington Ave. in Lorain.

The morning conference features activities and information that families need to understand how to support the education of their students.

A keynote speaker will provide a focus for the event, and adults will attend 40-minute minicourses of their choice.

Lorain Schools CEO David Hardy Jr. credited Chief Family Officer Arliss Prass and her team for creating Family University.

They are creating a way for parents to continue growing in partnership with Lorain Schools while enlightening school leaders about what help the parents and families need, Hardy said.

“We’re excited for that day, and we’re excited for the series of days through the course of this year where Family University Hardy will take off and will run,” he said.

The keynote speaker is a parent within the district who is willing to share family experiences in Lorain Schools, Hardy said.

“We’re very excited, delighted, to have not only that level of support from a parent, but that level of commitment from a parent who says, you know what? Not only am I bringing you my most prized possession in my child, I’m willing to speak and be a part of this larger community event that’s intended to bridge that gap between home and school,” Hardy said.

“So we’re really excited overall and really pumped to see families and see conversations and be part of dialogue that will make us better collectively, as a family, as a district, as a city, and really feel comfortable with bringing that to the light so we can get better,” he said.

The district is trying to make the morning as accommodating as possible for families: the cost is free; childcare is available for youths age 3 to 12; lunch will be served at the end of the session; and talks are available in English and Spanish language.

The language availability has been a point of consternation for some years, Hardy said. Now, the district is spending more time reaching out to Spanishspeaking families, he said.

Families can show up at the door, but reservations are helpful for planning purposes.

Students received flyers for Family University; parents who are coming are asked to return the RSVP slips to their students’ classroom teachers by Oct. 24.

For more information, call 440-233-2271.